HEAD GEARDitch the baseball cap that you wear side ways and wear a trilby or Panama hat instead. Wear a straw one by day and a fabric one in the evening with your formal wear, think Ne-yo. It is one thing to wear a cap when you are playing sport outdoors but it is another to wear one even to dinner.
JEWELLERYIn this case, less is more. If you still want to wear studs you could trade in your huge ones for ones that are daintier. Chuck the extra long, extra blingy chains with spinning pendants. If you must wear a chain, wear one that is less flamboyant and goes into your shirt. Big, sparkly rings can also find their way into the trash. Buy a good brand man’s watch that makes a statement about who you are, be it that you are serious, classy or creative. A bracelet is alright as well. You do not want to wear overstated jewellery, you would rather go the understated which is manlier and less hip-hop.
GRILLZGet rid of these and afford us the pleasure of seeing your Colgate smile. Keep the metal for other parts of your body instead of your mouth.
SHIRTSReplace your over-sized basketball vests with form fitting shirts. Now with the availability of slim fit shirts, looking good should not be too difficult. Just make sure the shoulder of the sleeve and your sleeves do not hang over your wrists. Invest in plain, striped, chequered, bright colours, short sleeved, roll-up sleeves and long sleeves. Cuff links would also go well with your formal shirts.
WAISTCOATSEspecially in this summer, a waistcoat is a smart alternative to your jacket. Worn with a shirt and a slim tie or bowtie, you will look fashionable. A scarf or a cravat are a fantastic variation to the usual tie.
JACKETSInstead of wearing sports jackets when you go out to dinner or club, upgrade to a blazer or military jacket. It takes any pair of pants from drab to fab.
CARDIGANSBuy these in a variety of colours as they are great for layering under jackets or wearing on their own. There are light knit ones and heavier knit ones so some can be worn on cooler days, for instance, rainy days while the heavier ones are worn in the winter.
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PANTSWhen it comes to formal pants, buy separate formal pants that are not a part of a suit and maybe a different but not obvious print on the fabric. They may have a different touch design wise to your usual work pants therefore making them stylish to wear on their own without a jacket.
SHOESBasketball sneakers are great when you are playing sport but for your casual wear you can buy plimsoles, flat top sneakers or loafers. Men’s sneakers now go beyond white, na-vy blue and black. I would not suggest you purchase red formal shoes. For your formal shoes, brown, tan and black are safer. Do not forget to buy the socks that match your shoes or trousers. Red socks are a no-no.
BELT As insignificant as this accessory may seem it actually says a lot about you as man. The leather or material used to make the belt and the buckle speak volumes about you and if it is a terrific belt it will tie your outfit together wonderfully. It looks even better if it matches your pants or shoes.
HANDKERCHIEFSMen generally sweat more than women do, so a handkerchief would come in very handy. Buy ones that match your suit, pants or shirt. It makes you look organised and well put together.
WALLETA leather wallet has a far better look than a fabric one that has Velcro on it. At least when you take your wallet out to pay for something, the person serving you may take you seriously.
How Diddy and Jay-z traded in their robes
I remember a time a few years ago when Puff Diddy and Jay-z thought that dressing up for an event meant reaching for their baggy jeans, white t-shirts with a basketball vest worn over it and not forgetting the baseball cap that was worn sideways.
Then there were the long chains with over-sized spinning pendants, belts with spinning diamond encrusted buckles and huge diamond studs. Then one day, Diddy and Jay-z turned their backs on their gangster style and traded it in for a more sophisticated, classy look.
When we meet someone for the first time, 80% of our judgement is based on their appearance. You need to send the right signals that match how you would like to be viewed as a gangster or debonair.
BY HEATHER R
