Appearance is Often Louder...

Every day we pass by hundreds of people on the streets, never saying a word.  Yet despite the lack of verbal communication, unconsciously decisions are being made as to the trustworthiness and intentions of those around you. It may not sound fair and yeah right it’s not. But, you know what? Life is not fair.

We want to be given time to state our stand, who we are and show our integrity but we often do not get that, rather its first our physical appearance.

There are many things that we can’t control — the weather, the economy, our birth, our siblings or parents, but we sure can control some. Like our choice of food, the grade we finish with from school, the choice of clothes we wear and how we choose to present ourselves to strangers and new acquaintances. 

Dress like a thug and people treat you like one; dress like a professional and you’ll have doors opened for you.

First impressions are powerful because until we begin to speak, they are the only bits of information we have to make a snap decision as to whether we like or trust someone.

Ignore your wardrobe at your own risk.

Wardrobe Needs for Men Only

Most men always take a sober time to reflect on life and plans but they fail to turn around and look back at their wardrobe. The wardrobe needs of men are often neglected, especially when they assume 

they are no longer boys.

  

We've rounded up a few of the most important wardrobe needs of men...

A 3 Piece suit that is well tailored and perfect fits: There are no more excuses anymore. You're an adult now. You need at least one tailored suit or two with perfect fit, preferably black and navy or black and gray.

Really, you should have both by now. What have you been doing all this time?

A nice blazer: A nice blazer will make sure that you don't overwhelm the room with a full suit when the occasion doesn't call for it. But it can also separate you from the crowd a bit.

Wristwatch: Even if you're not a watch guy, you should realize the importance of wearing a watch on some occasions. Drop a few thousands to get a timepiece that you can call your own.

A durable leather belt: Instead of going through belts every year like usual, invest in an expensive one that you can wear for years.

The perfect T-shirt: The perfect T-shirt is not a myth. You just have to find it. Probably get a good tailor, a Nigerian tailor or fashion designer if you are Nigerian base to sew to your measurement.

There is no better feeling than to wear a perfect fit shirt or best fit for any type of clothing. 

How You Can Be A Fashion Trendsetter As A Fashion Designer

Trends are powerful demonstration of how social influence motivates people. People follow trends out of a desire to fit in. Trends are typically started by celebrities and superstars because on some level people think looking more like them will give them some of that prestige.

If you have a penchant for looking great and want to be ahead of the curve, you may want to become a trendsetter. Just how easy it is to be a fashion trend setter as a fashion designer!

Make a lot of friends. It will be easier to set trends if you have many friends who are popular and well-liked in their own right. This gives you more social capital and influence on the rest of your peer

group.

Don't make friends with popular people just to be a trendsetter. Make sure your friendships are genuine.

Be charismatic. If you are confident and fun to be around, people will want to be more like you.

When people want to be more like you, it becomes easy for people to want to copy your every move, including your clothing.

Avoid being overly serious. This doesn't mean you have to the society clown. 

Be genuinely interested in People. Being kind and compassionate will go a long way. Express genuine interest in others. Doing this will make others feel good about themselves and they will attribute these good feelings to your presence.

Once you're known as a likeable person, others will want to be more like you. Without even noticing it, they may adopt some of your style.  In other words, they will follow the trends that you set.

Get noticed. You won't be able to set a trend if other people don't see and follow it. Start by trying to be more "seen." Make people notice you and cultivate a presence. Learn how to be the center of attention

If you want to start fashion trends, try to dress well in general. While positive attention is great, don't be too loud or obnoxious. Make your outgoing personality seem effortless.

Fashion Journal

Fashion Journal is one a great way of sharing your style and thoughts on fashion.  It is always a great idea to have a journal of your own which can act as a means to show your creativity and your interest in fashion.

In my thought, I would advise every fashion designer to have and keep fashion sketch book where they can make sketches quickly when ideas comes to mind. Fashion journal can be regarded as part of your fashion portfolio.  

Fashion journal is a documentation of thinking process of the fashion designer.  It demonstrates quick drawing skills, color, fabrics sensitivity etc.

If you aspire to become a great fashion designer in future, you will need to start now to keep a fashion sketch book or fashion journal, because any great fashion designer is expected to be a fashion trend setter.

Fashion trendsetters are people who can spot new trends early on and spread these fads to new locations and social groups. Sometimes they even create their own fashion trends for others to adopt. 

Fashion trends are the most common type people follow. And, a simple act of keeping a fashion sketch book or fashion journal can go a long way to setting you up as a fashion trendsetter. If you have a penchant for looking great and want to be ahead of the curve in fashion, you need your own fashion journal because inspiration comes anywhere and at any time.  

Nigerian Tailored Suit for Best Fit

As far as I’m concerned, there are far too many guys walking around in suits that don’t fit them and there’s no excuse for it.  I attend wedding occasions and I see men-on-suit, men-in-suit, men-by-suit, men-at-suit and so on. Hahahahaha! It’s funny though, but these names were coined according the fit of the suit on the men.

Ill fit can make a very expensive suit look tardy and trashy. I have also observed that

suit made in Nigeria are relatively less expensive to foreign suit or off-the-rack suit collection, the only different is that you will have to have a little patience to have your suit specifically sewn to your measurement.

Tailoring can make a relatively inexpensive suit look expensive, so for the guys out there who think that looking good in a suit is out of their price range – you’re wrong.

Off the track suit is already made with a client in mind, necessarily not you but when you meet Nigerian tailor or Nigerian fashion designer, they measure and sew to your specific, at the end of it, the jacket will fit you in the shoulder, it will hug your shoulders and encourage you to hold yourself upright. 

Furthermore, the trousers fit you in the thigh rather than at the waist.

To help demonstrate what tailoring can do for a suit, my fashion designer at Dr.Legendclothing on 25, Fadunsi Street, Ogba Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria offered us to come and try on a few suits, and then get one tailored to our needs.

Nigerian Tailored Suit for Every Nigerian Male Resident

Personally, I think a man will look better than he does when he wears a suit. It can be worn at a variety of occasions and locations without ever looking out of place, all the while enabling the individual to look and feel truly stylish.

Hence, off-the-track suit that we call foreign suit or ready-made suit in Nigeria, will never be best fit even when it’s altered by a tailor to your specification. . Be it high street or a fashion designer, suits are all cut from a precise block in order to fit the specific sort of clientèle the brand is after and unless you are that client, which is very slim that you are, then forget about fit or perfect fit.

Of course, you don’t need me to reiterate the perfect fit factor to you. You already know that the most expensive and best quality clothing will mean nothing without a perfect a fit.  A good fit should always be your first priority when purchasing new clothing.

One way you can guarantee that a suit will fit you is if its tailored to your specification. And you can only get that when you have a good Nigerian tailor or Nigerian fashion designer sew to your measurement. That is if you are a resident of Nigeria. To be continued…

Style Rules for Men

1.  Care about your appearance.

2.  Have understanding of the menswear that came before you.

3.  Know that sometimes you’ll be the best-dressed man in the room.

4.  Realize that “rules” are there for a reason, even if they can sometimes be broken. And be sure of your own reason for breaking any of the rules.

5.  A good fit should always be your first priority when purchasing new clothing.

6.  Avoid temporary fashion trends and fluctuations of fashion

7.  Treat your clothing like an investment, and shop slowly but smart.

8.  Make excuses to wear the good stuff, instead of letting it get dusty in the closet.

9. Dress appropriately, whether that means dressing up or dressing down.

10. Expand your wardrobe with clothes that work together, not standalone pieces.

Men And Clothing!

The average guy doesn't  have a lot of ready-made excuses to wear a suit and tie. I get that. But looking good doesn't mean suit and tie all the time. It means cultivating the habit of wearing your best clothes as a matter of routine.

There is nothing like “Sunday best” Practice wearing your best and teach yourself that they’re just clothes and you wear them because they look good on you. 

Different situations and occasions call for different clothes.  It’s a good thing to always consider your wear, will have to be ignored or accepted. 

environment while dressing up. A good dresser does that. It’s disappointing that most men don’t do

this. There is just something that makes most feel it’s a man’s world, so anything they

I regret to announce to you that the fashion world doesn't think in your direction. Yeeh! Disappointing right? Sorry! 

Environment to consider in dressing are physical and social environment.

Physically, you want to be comfortable or you should be comfortable.

Socially, you want to look respectable and you should look respectable at all times, without inviting trouble. 

Make the effort to fit in while looking sharp.

If you’re always wearing the same basic outfit, rethink your strategy.  

It will be best to stay away from anything that’s completely single-purpose, with one or two unavoidable exceptions like suits. 

This way you can mix and match to get more mileage out of individual pieces. 

This is very easy to achieve if you stick to simple, solid colors for most of your base pieces. There’s nothing wrong with a little pattern and texture here and there, but if you make sure that most of your big items aren't overwhelming on their own, you’re free to liven them up with smaller accents when you want to make the look unique.

Developing Your Personal Style

Start your personal style journey every day by giving a damn about who you are and what you represent. If you don’t care how you look, you’re never going to look good. Attitude is everything, in style and in life.

It all starts here. Dress everyday like you care, of course you care if you are reading this article. Let it show as your dress up every day that you care about how you look. This is how...

Be ready to Explore

Don’t be scared to be the best-dressed guy in the room. As long as you don’t take all the attention from the celebrant of the occasion. 

Though you could feel overdressed initially because it’s a habit you are just forming. It’s not a bad thing.  Learn to embrace it. Trust me, people will start treating you differently and it will all yield to positive reception by people. Our clothing does that. It opens doors for you; people start respecting you and trusting you more. Be ready to explore from the trend you were to an adventurous you.

Understand Clothing Fit

Fit is everything, probably the most important in style. If you don’t have the right fit, everything else is wasted effort.

A good fit should flatter your body. Take the time to get to know your body, get a tailor or a fashion designer help you get accurate measurements.

Buy Clothing That Will Be Style Ageless

Focus on a “timeless style,” while creating your personal style

Always buy pieces that are both classic and associated specifically with men: suits, blazers, sports jackets, and trousers, both dress and casual. Buy the best quality you can afford and practice wearing your best.

The Only Way To Get Her Attention

Do you ever go out and feel a bit… underdressed? It’s not that you think you should have worn a suit and tie. It’s just that you think there’s something missing. You want to dress better, you want to impress, whether you’re running errands, making the town or heading out for a first date. The good news is that dressing to impress is probably a lot simpler than you’re making it out to be.

This is how.

Get Groomed...!

It doesn't matter what the occasion is, grooming is important. You should be seeing your barber at

least fortnightly. Showers are a must every day. Also keep your facial hair groomed, whether that’s a close shave or just trimming the mountain man beard before you head out for the night.

Your grooming and personal hygiene are essential parts of your overall image.

A Word on Scent...!

We consider your scent as much a part of your outfit as your pants or shirt. You should pick a scent that’s distinctive, look for good cologne that you think matches your personality and the image that you want to impart on people. Don’t use too much, though.

Suit Up...!

Suit up! Invest in a good, expensive suit, and keep it clean and essentially ready-to-go at all times. Standard black is usually your best bet, for day as well as the evenings.

Facts to Consider About Your Clothing

1. People judge others based on their physical appearance. Think about it, how someone chooses to dress is usually one of the first things you notice about them.

2. Your appearance is one of the most basic things that you can change about yourself. If you look professional, well-dressed, or dressed according to the occasion, you’ll come across as someone who’s well-groomed, is capable of doing a job, professional enough to understand what is necessary for success, and has a good personality as well.

3. In order to leave a lasting impression on someone, you need to dress appropriately and according to the occasion. A good suit, ironed trousers and a shirt, polished shoes and a good watch will go a long way when it comes to making an impression on others.

4. A well-dressed person tends to stand-out. You immediately gain an edge over the others.

5. Your clothing shows that you are prepared, and did your homework.

6. There’s a ‘feel good’ factor associated with dressing well. Dressing professionally can make you feel better about yourself. It gives you more confidence 

How to Get Her Crushing for You

Gone are those days when people say fashion is a girl’s thing. Well, even if it’s true, it means a guy needs to be fashionable to get a girl’s attention. Hence, beyond knowing something about color, fabrics and style, when it comes to impressing girls, the most important is confidence. Confidence is fashionable. 

To understand how to impress women with your clothing you must consider five things: Color, Cut, Context, Confidence and Cleanliness. 

These are the cornerstones of male fashion. Note that cost does not factor into this list. Cost does not mean class. 

Now let's address color.

Know that different colors send different subconscious and conscious messages to women. Consider carefully primary red or blue clothing. Two basic colors that send different messages 

Consider other colors such as pink and green. Pink is viewed as a light-hearted, fun loving, confident and sweet color on men and women, so don't discount it just because you heard when you were a child "Pink is a girl's color." 

Cut

Understand that cut is even more important than color! There are certain connotations that go along with the way your clothes fit you, not to mention, it can determine whether or not you look attractive

Avoid 'over-sized' shirts. 

Context

 There is nothing tackier than an inappropriate outfit. Wear what suit every occasion. Don’t try showing off your talent by dressing out of context.

Know when to dress casual, When to dress semi-casual,  Learn to wear semi-formal attire appropriately and when to go formal.

Confidence

This factor can never be over emphasized. Wear confidence as clothes. It appeals to every woman. It makes women feel secured around you. Confidence is the most impressive quality known to man (and woman).

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is the last point to touch on. This is not only a matter of impressions. It is also a matter of basic hygiene.

Be Fashionable Stay Fashionable

Being fashionable in any situation takes more than just putting on the right clothes, making sure your hair is in order and making your face look fresh. Every part of your outfit, including your nails and shoes, are important details. When your nails and shoes are tardy, it shows you as having lazy tendencies and are not putting your appearance in the forefront.

Looking fashionable has the potential to advance your career. An interviewer will know, within 10- seconds, if you could be the right person for the job. This opinion comes from your overall look

first.

Improper attire and imperfect grooming leads to rejections while searching for a new position. Your credentials are important, but when you look the part, you are more likely to get the part.

You can still stay fashionable even when you need versatility in your wardrobe but your wallet is discouraging. Use a couple wardrobe tricks to minimize your spending. Your wardrobe should fit your lifestyle and have inclusions for every aspect of your life from shirts, pants, suits, to casual native wears and native senator wears. 

Great Design Inspires!

Some days you just don’t feel like spending an hour or more at the mirror or take your time to find the right outfit. I understand. Some days are potentially like that. This is why I advise that you go for the exclusive designs when you are shopping, meeting with your fashion designer or at your tailor’s. When your wardrobe is filled with simple but classy designs, be it casual tops, etibo, nativewear, shirts, agbada or suit. You will always be at your best no matter the time you spend dressing.

Always be prepared for the unexpected when you leave the house. You could run into an old flame, or meet someone new, always look your best. Make sure your outfit is complete and that you have a neat appearance.

A potential employer or talent scout may be out looking for a specific look. You could be approached by a potential employer anywhere,  or be offered an interview. 

Even if you are not in business attire, displaying confidence through a completed outfit and overall look shows others that you can be trusted.

When you have your look for the day together, you will feel better about yourself. A boost of self-confidence on a day when you are feeling less makes a great impression. It shows that you understand the importance of always looking your best and making an impression no matter where you are.

A lifted spirit does wonders for accomplishing goals. You have confidence and a will to succeed no matter what the day has to throw at you.