La Mode

LAMODE FASHION & GROOMING
By Victor Sylva
I’m sitting here enjoying a hot cup
tea at my office desk, trying to get
the creative juices flowing for this
article. Since everyone loves top
lists, I thought I’d give you guys
something you probably don’t see
too often, a quick list of some
practical fashion tips.
Fit is King – The most
dramatic improvement you can
make in your style is to make
sure everything fits impeccably.
Most guys wear clothes that
are too large. Make sure
everything you wear is almost
hugging the shape of your
body – without being tight.
Bad fit is an epidemic, cure
yourself.
Pay attention to your
supporting pieces - Some
sweaters are lean and others are
big and chunky. The first rule of
thumb is that your top and
bottom halves need to match. If
you’re wearing a big, chunky,
rugged fisherman knit sweater,
your bottom needs to be rugged,
too. Don’t wear a fisherman’s
sweater with a beautiful silk-andwool
suit pant. Instead, wear it
with something as casual as cargos
or jeans, or dress it up with a
Harris tweed blazer (Google that! )
Never underestimate the
power of details – The last
thing on is usually the first
thing noticed. So mind the
details instead of throwing
together the main parts of
your outfit. “Details” can
include a scarf, a subtle
pocket square, or the way you
tie your tie knot.
Disregard trends – Beware
of buying something just
because it’s “in” right now –
stick to what you truly like. A
lot of people rush to get in on
the latest trend and end up
with a bunch of clothes they
don’t wear. It’s better to learn
to build a versatile and
timeless wardrobe first – then
bring in your own twists with
some of the new fashion.
This one tip will save you so
much money!
Ask for real feedback -
Most of your friends and
family aren’t going to go out of
their way to tell you what looks
bad. You have to ask for it. In
fact, ask anyone and everyone
you trust to tell you the truth.
Ask your hairstylist, ask your
best friend, ask your mother! If
you think they might be too
nice, send me an e-mail
(victorsylva@gmail.com), I will
give you feedback.
Keep it simple – You want a
wardrobe that looks great on you,
but don’t overdo it. Don’t wear
more than three pieces of jewelry
or more than three colors. Don’t
dress like a rock star unless you’re
in a band. If you want to be flashy,
a simpler but stylish look would be
sporting a black striped dress shirt
with a white blazer, a dark pair of
jeans, a dressy belt, and your
sharpest dress shoes. You could
also add a flashy watch or a simple
accessory like an interesting
necklace, but nothing more.
Never go shopping alone –
Most of the time, it’s tough to
trust the sales people because
they usually work for
commission. Shop with a
friend who will give you their
honest opinion. (Watch out
for my next article - Shopping
on a Budget).
Invest in a superb pair of
shoes – If it’s one thing that
women will notice, it’s your
shoes. Especially how clean
and sharp they look. It’s easy
to wash and press the rest of
your clothes to keep them
looking new, but most guys
disregard their shoes. Show
that you’re a man of taste by
getting a great pair of shoes
and keeping them in pristine
condition.
Don’t be a sucker for
brand names – Before you
decide to purchase an item, ask
yourself if you are buying it
simply because of the brand
name or because you love the
quality and style. Ask yourself,
“Would I buy this if there was
no logo on it?”
Upgrade your shave -
Even if your fashion is
golden, an unkempt beard
can be an attraction killer.
Achieve a perfect shave by
trying a shave brush & oldfashioned
double-edged
razor.
Change the way you see
casual – Casual doesn’t have
to be boring. Have fun with
collared shirts, or take some
inspiration from those who
approach casual a bit
differently.
Stay a notch above – Don’t overdo
it to a fault, but dare to take some
risks. It’s always better to be a little
bit overdressed than underdressed
in any setting. All you have to do is
think about where and who you’re
going to be with and just step it up
one notch. But make sure you’re not
better dressed than someone who is
more important in a certain setting,
like your boss, we don’t want you
getting fired now do we? (Laughs)
. Fashion Tees with logos
– When you’re going around
with a big logo on your shirt,
you risk looking like a walking
billboard. Lose the lame Coca-
Cola shirt and go for a classic vneck
tee or something artsy.
Continually cultivate your
image – Invest more time
and money into your image.
Cultivate your fashion sense.
Your style is a huge mode of
communication, and is worth
caring for as much as your
education, career, and
relationships.
. Experiment with style – The
only way you’ll really learn, is if
you go out there and try new
things. I make an effort to try
something completely out of
my comfort zone whenever
I’m at a store – many times
you’ll end up loving something
you never thought you would.
If you make mistakes, life goes
on. So many guys are afraid to
express themselves through
their style, don’t be one of
them.