How To Be Fashionable (For Real) in 10 Steps

We all want to look good. Having clothes on that make us feel stylish can instantly elevate our mood. But many of us don't really know how to dress fashionably.

We've heard time and again that great style comes from confidence. But what if you don't know where to start? How do you develop your own aesthetic?

Don't worry, it's not rocket science. You don't need to be Tan France and you don't need to hire a personal stylist. You've got us. In this guide, we'll take you through ten short steps designed to help you be more fashionable and feel more confident.

1. Make Sure Everything Fits

Before you go shopping, start by looking at your own wardrobe. It may sound obvious, but the first step to stylish dressing is making sure everything fits you properly. If the garments you are wearing hanging off you or are too tight, you won't look good.

You might know your basic body shape and size, but to dress fashionably, you need to know what your build is in terms of how clothes fit.

A good tailor will be able to create a made-to-measure suit that will fit perfectly, but what about your everyday wear?

Get a tape measure. Also, look at your whole body type. For example, if you have a wide chest or big shoulders, you may need to size up, even if you have a small waist. Likewise, if you're smaller in stature, big and wide-leg jeans may not work for you.

Different Fits

Remember that your size may alter when buying from new brands.

That's not to say you can't go oversized. Our Blank Sweater offers a slightly oversized fit but the ribbed hem and cuffs keep the silhouette in proportion. It's available in a range of shades including Brown and Vintage Green.

Each of our product pages offers fit analytics, with sizing in centimetres and inches. With us, you can see sleeve length, pit to pit, centre front, and shoulder measurements, so you can feel confident you're choosing the right size.

Balance Your Proportions

Now that you have a better understanding of your body shape, you can decide which bits you wish to disguise and which to highlight. The right styles and fits will help you to balance your proportions.

You can also follow the principles of a good tailor, with a Tailored Pant that looks made to measure. Slim fit with an extended leg and hidden zip leg openings, these versatile pants should definitely form part of your new wardrobe.

2. Don't Be Scared of Colour

A lot of men shy away from colour. It's true that black, white, grey, and navy are hard to get 'wrong'. Yet there is a vast colour spectrum, and you could be missing out on a shade that suits you.

If you're not used to colour, stay clear of busy patterns. Instead, keep it simple with one item in a standout shade.

If it's a top, check the shade against your skin paying close attention to whether it brightens, or dulls your skin tone and eye colour. For example, the Represent Owners Club Hoodie in Pastel Lilac is a soft easy to wear shade that will suit most skin tones.

If you want something brighter that's still uber-simple to wear, take a look at the Represent Owners Club Coach Jacket in Racing Green. Perfect for layering over a hoodie for a relaxed look, this nylon and peached cotton coat is an easy way to make a style statement.

If you're looking at a pair of pants, you may have more leeway in whether the colour will work on you, but the outfit will probably make more of an impression.

Still feeling nervous? Until you gain a bit more confidence, branch out slowly with dark tones or natural tones that don't feel too threatening. Try our 247 Pant in Burnt Olive.

Always check colours in natural light to get a clearer impression of the correct shade.

3. Try Trends

You can pick up fashion tips in the pages of GQ and other men's magazines, but most of the world's most stylish men have gone through a period of experimentation.

Being 'bang on trend' is one way to be fashionable. At the same time, dipping your toe in with one item of clothing is better than sporting one specific trend from top to bottom. After all, trends change all the time, and many outfits don't quite fit into everyday life.

If the trend is patterns, such as a dark check, try a small item such as our Tartan Nylon Phone Bag

4. Emulate Your Idols (but keep it subtle)

All mainstream fashion is technically emulation. Whether we are copying what we've seen in a catwalk, in a movie, or paparazzi shots, there is no harm in dressing like someone whose style you admire.

Copying an entire outfit can look too try-hard. Besides, you want to look stylish, not as if you're dressed as a movie character or music artist. The key is to choose a few of the same pieces that your idol has worn or you think they would wear.

Take Shearling Jackets, for example. Everyone from Drake to Tom Hardy has been photographed in a Shearling Jacket in the last few years, with the actor even inspiring the 'Tom Hardy Dunkirk Farrier Shearling Jacket'.

Our version comes in grey or black and offers the same timeless style, comfort and warmth that has made Shearling Jackets a recurring 'must-have' among changing styles.

5. Find Your Personal Style

Now that you've experimented and taken inspiration from others, it's time to find your personal style. Think about what you feel most comfortable in, which colours and cuts make you feel happy, confident and generally the best version of yourself? What kind of clothes do people associate with you? That's your personal style.

6. Build A Capsule Wardrobe

One of the easy tips lauded by stylists such as Tan France is to create a capsule wardrobe.

You may be aware that most stylish women have a capsule wardrobe - a small collection of clothing that can be mixed and matched every day to assemble different outfits. Since men typically shop less, building up a capsule wardrobe is arguably an easier task for us.

Your capsule wardrobe should mostly be everyday clothing, with a few pieces that can be used to form outfits for different occasions.

Once you find a pair of jeans you like, follow the path of stylish women and buy them in a couple of colours. The same goes for jumpers and t-shirts.

Look for packs such as our Everyday T-Shirt Pack, which you can put together with any pants or pair of jeans to form effortlessly stylish outfits.

Brands such as Blank do all the hard work for you, by creating collections where anything you put together will coordinate. You can mix and match, safe in the knowledge that you really can't go wrong. You may also get a discount for buying multiple items from the same range, saving you money on a matching set.

Underwear

You should keep your underwear simple. The best underwear offers all the support breathability you need but is virtually undetectable under any outfit. Our 247 Boxers Multipack fits the bill.

With a double-layered pouch for support, mesh construction for breathability and anti-irritation seaming, you'll barely know you're wearing them.

7. Invest in Key Pieces

So, which items of money should you spend big on?

Try not to splurge all your hard-earned cash on something you will wear for just one occasion. Instead, save money up for investment pieces that will complement your capsule wardrobe.

Your big-money items should be items that will last you years and always look good. A couple of items that fit this description are a perfectly tailored suit, a versatile denim jacket, and a timeless leather jacket.

Shoes

The clothes may make the man, but you can tell a lot about a man by the shoes he wears. That's just one of the reasons you should always spend a bit more on a quality long-lasting shoe.

Our Alpha Low collection features luxury, handmade suede sneakers that can elevate any outfit.

Choose from neutral tones of Vintage-White, Rock, Perla, or Antelope, or keep it monochrome with the Black or Triple Black.

8. Accessorize (But Sparingly)

Another way to switch up your look is to change your accessories. Women have long been aware of the difference that a change of accessories can make to an outfit. The same is true for men.

As previously noted, accessories are also a great way to try out a new trend without committing too much money to it.

However, your should limit accessorise to one of two as part of each outfit. We've covered footwear, but other key streetwear accessories include caps, sunglasses, and an all-weather backpack.

9. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

This might sound counterproductive after all the previous advice we've just given you. However, once you have developed your personal style, it can be easy to get stuck in a fashion rut. You won't be seen as stylish if you always wear the same thing. Always wear skinny jeans? mix up with a baggy cut or something a little different occasionally. Our Carpenter Denim are available in Taupe and Stone, and include Carpenter features such as double panels for style and practicality.

Tend to stick to the same materials? Introduce a few new different fabrics into your wardrobe. You can also mix patterns and color combinations for a bolder style.

10. Look After Your Appearance

No matter what you're wearing, if you look dirty or unkempt, you've already lost the battle. Have a simple grooming regime that you can complete in minutes. Also, do a final spot check in the mirror before you leave the house. Cut your nails, and moisturise your hand occasionally, particularly if you work outdoors in the winter, or work on manual labour. If you have a beard or a moustache, make sure you keep it clean and tidy.

The same goes for taking care of your clothes. Stay away from wire hangers, polish dress shoes, and clean sneakers regularly. There's a big difference between 'worn in' and just 'grubby'. Pay attention to washing instructions and have suits dry cleaned.

The last of our fashion tips is to take note of what others are saying. Men typically do not receive as many compliments on their clothes as women do. As men don't often compliment each other in general, if your best friend or a family member takes the time to positively comment on your appearance, it means something.

Also, listen to advice from the stylish women in your life. A throwaway comment such as 'that shirt brings out the blue of your eyes' can help you to better understand what looks good on you.

The opposite is also true. If every time you wear your favorite sweater you notice a negative micro-expression on someone's face, it may be time to rethink or replace it.

We hope this quick guide has given you a few ideas on how to be more stylish. We'll leave you with the golden rule - if you don't feel good in something, you won't look good either. Dress for yourself and you won't go far wrong.

If you like our style and want to know more about Represent and how we started, The A Decade of Dedication Book - Extended Edition marks our ten-year anniversary by taking you through the brand's journey from the perspective of the owners. You may even get a few more fashion tips from the pages as it includes some products made, and others that ultimately didn't make the cut.

If you would like to shop any of the products featured in this blog, you can now do so risk-free. Pay through Klarna, Clearpay, or another of our new payment gateways on site.