Upclassing My Wardrobe to Look More Presentable

Doggiie on 10/07/2018 - 23:11

I feel like my clothing is too basic. I wear a t-shirt, jeans and joggers every single day. Because I am a uni student and I work in tech, dressing nicely isn't part of my skillsets. If anything, casual wear is well respected in the tech industry because we don't judge a book by it's cover. If you updress, you're probably compensating for something.

How can I find ways to improve my dress code? I am looking into mainly looking more presentable as a fully functional adult. I do have a suit ready for business meetings and formals already.

I have been thinking of buttoned up shirts, nice chinos, and boots (seude?) as a direction to look more adult ready. But price and fear of not looking good really deter me thus far.

My biggest issue is that I have no taste in colour, clothing coordination, and I have a tendency to choose clothes of the same basic style due to decision fatigue so my wardrobe looks exactly the same, year after year.

Any tips in finding a new style would be greatly appreciated.

Fashion & Apparel

Comments

  • Some Human on 10/07/2018 - 23:32

    You could always buy 2nd hand nice clothes if price is an issue

  • smartyhaha on 10/07/2018 - 23:43
    +1

    First, make sure your hair cut is neat like those in a barber shop.

    Second, you need a female (socialable type of) friend go to Sunday markets second hand booth to test out what colors and style mix and match your looking, because second hands mean people who bought before, they filtered the good ones already.

    Keep it as simple as you can is the best for guy, mainly the body shape does matter. Classy leather low cut boot are the best with skinny jean. Put a sigle button outfit on you t-shirt would be nice enough to date a girl or business meeting.

    Hope that help.

    • Pootie Tang on 11/07/2018 - 10:06

      Deffo get a female friend to assist. They love it and they don't judge.

      • dcep on 11/07/2018 - 12:00

        how to find one

    • djkelly69 on 11/07/2018 - 10:33
      +5

      you need a female friend

      You read that he works in tech right??

      • Pootie Tang on 11/07/2018 - 12:10

        $20 on airtasker. Females would jump at that. Most love a project - especially fashion.

    • Ughhh on 11/07/2018 - 12:25

      because second hands mean people who bought before, they filtered the good ones already.

      Or because after purchasing and looking at the dinner photos, they realised how hideous the clothes were and want to get rid of it. So hideous they want a refund, but cant obviously, so selling it is the next closest thing.

      The worst thing a person can do in term of fashion, is wearing clothes that dont fit you/suit your body type. I would recommend stores like Myer to try different styles, due to having a large range of brands and styles, as well as having a decent fitting room with mirror.

    • billy12345 on 11/07/2018 - 14:34

      I Don't think so female will be good idea if you really want to be up to date with fashion and trend. look for a male fashion bloggers on Instagram look photos around take a screenshot of the outfit you like and keep that in mind then try to find similar outfit on shops or online. some times happens that you already have same colors and same outfit of any fashion blogger that you see online or Instagram but you never thought of wearing how he is wearing.

      if you don't want to spend much money… these days ZARA is full on on Sale and some websites like Boohoo, Asos, Topman, good options even if you are buying cheap you need make it look luxury trendy and fashionable it all depends how you wear…

      To start look around on Instagram.

  • Clear on 11/07/2018 - 00:25

    and I work in tech
    have been thinking of buttoned up shirts, nice chinos, and boots (seude?) as a direction to look more adult ready.

    This is basically me. For my daily work outfit (unless getting hands dirty) I tend to wear a nice button up shirt or polo with a blue/grey/dark jumper, nice dark grey/black chinos and a nice pair of chukkas/desert boots. Can mix it up by adding some pattern/colourful socks and even a nice watch. The AliExpress/Amazon cheapies work surprisingly well.

    When I was a cheap Uni student my wardrobe was basically Roger David, yd, Cotton On and Factorie etc. These days I'll go spend money on something much nicer from Country Road, Trenery or Myer.

    • Randxyz123 on 11/07/2018 - 09:21

      Yeah pretty much me as well.

      OP I’d :

      • Swap “Joggers” for converse or something slightly better than jeans and runners shudder

      • Maybe a button down instead of a t-shirt? What do your colleagues wear ?

      • Suede shoes are a good idea.

      I’d personally head to a large clothing department store like Myer or DJs and get someone to help you. Or take a female friend and offer to cover lunch / coffee.

      Don’t buy online unless you can easily return stuff (eg the iconic, ASOS). I’d do the first shop in store and then you will have an idea of your sizes, what looks good etc

  • sahh on 11/07/2018 - 00:44
    +1

    For styling inspiration I like to check out store front and in store mannequins. Good place to start with mix and matching.

    If you’re looking for some good baics, can start out at stores like Uniqlo

  • owli on 11/07/2018 - 04:34
    +1

    OCBD's and chino's, just make sure NO shorts, no one wants to see your hairy legs, it's grotesque.

  • dylo on 11/07/2018 - 04:37

    Are you balding OP? If so buy a stylish hat as no one wants to see a chrome dome.

  • Nalar on 11/07/2018 - 05:17

    Kinda related, check your posture, hygene (smell), finger nails, haircut ect. How you present can matter as much as the cloths you wear sometimes.

    Getting some sun (in moderation ect) can make your skin seem healthier which improves your overall looks and health. Not all IT workers need to look like Chris O'Dowd

  • chumlee on 11/07/2018 - 06:56
    +1

    Swap the joggers for rm williams and you are complete

    • mskeggs on 11/07/2018 - 10:50

      Blundstones or better local alternatives (redback etc.) are also good for a quarter of the price. Just skip the safety toe versions.

  • MrHyde on 11/07/2018 - 07:48

    Take a female friend who is fashionable and you trust to go shopping with you. Let her choose the clothing.

    My way of shopping is to simply walk into a store, see something I like, pick my size, buy it and walk out.

    When I went with a female friend, the process was more like walk into a store, pick out 12 items, wear each and every one of them to see how I look in them and then maybe buy 1 of them. Took the whole day; but I ended up with a new wardrobe of clothes that has improved my confidence and I now receive more compliments from others as well.

  • Ryanek on 11/07/2018 - 08:17

    You can get some good ideas here Styleboards

  • Savas on 11/07/2018 - 09:12
    +2

    You can always go to a nudist colony

    • Clear on 11/07/2018 - 11:14
      +1

      Do you go to the beaches Savas?

      • Savas on 11/07/2018 - 17:42
        +1

        No

        • Clear on 11/07/2018 - 17:46
          +1

          Shame.

        • Savas on 11/07/2018 - 18:31
          +1

          @Clear: Would you go with me??

        • Clear on 11/07/2018 - 18:33
          +1

          @Savas: Absolutely. I'd even bring a long some Golden Gaytimes.

        • Savas on 11/07/2018 - 19:33

          @Clear: Okay, let me know when and where. The gaytimes sound delicious.

  • RandomNinja on 11/07/2018 - 10:24

    My wardrobe is basically OzB fashion - Sportsdirect for casual/sports wear, TM Lewin/David Jones/Tyrwhitt for business wear. Won't be winning fashion awards, but shows I'm adulting just fine haha

    Go through the Fashion and Apparel category and let us know what you would consider for your new wardrobe?

  • try2bhelpful on 11/07/2018 - 10:51

    Worth having a look at Rhodes and Beckett stuff. They have good quality polo tops and pants. Go to the DFO outlet stores and have a look at a good selection of clothes across multiple stores. It is good to look at mix and match clothes, some good quality soft leather shoes and a few standout pieces when you want to dress up. A good quality blazer can cover a multitude of sins.

  • mskeggs on 11/07/2018 - 10:54

    Skip polo style shirts and light colour chinos to avoid the american frat boy look.
    If you want to keep a plain t-shirt, you can put a sports coat/suit jacket over it to dress it up.
    TM Lewin/Charles Tyrwhitt make suitable button shirts in a good range of sizes that match chino's well (or jeans).

  • GUYANDSON on 11/07/2018 - 11:17
    +1

    Start with the basics and figure how clothes should fit. Fit is king.

    Black/white/grey t-shirts, blue/white button downs, slim fitting indigo jeans and navy/khaki chinos is a good place to start. The only place you can really mess up with those is fit. Get a second pair of eyes and try a bunch of things on to get a sense of what fits well and what fits poorly, no point spending big if things don't fit well.

    Once you've got a sense of fit, then start looking at other styles, textures, patterning, silhouettes etc. There's heap of style inspiration album around if you look for them. Just start picking ideas from them.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 11/07/2018 - 11:19

    If you're working IT in the corporate world you will still be judged on appearance just as anyone else would. I usually wear chinos and a patterned shirt, something simple like gingham, not paisley.

    Gentlemans Gazette is a great source of information for this sort of thing

    An article on matching colours/patterns:
    https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/how-match-colors-patterns/

    How to dress smart casual:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbbQxOJbK7s

  • Oz8argain on 11/07/2018 - 11:20

    maybe go to the CBD on a causal friday and see what the 'professionals' are wearing? lol

  • BuyoTheCat on 11/07/2018 - 11:39

    more important that what you wear, its the fit of what you wear. You need identify what your body shape is and find a fit that suits.
    It is not just about wearing a shirt and trousers and proper shoes. It is about wearing something that suits you.

    Look at what how other people are wearing and what you like. However note that what suits someone might not suit you.

    When it comes to shirts and trousers, there is nothing like a tailored fit. You might not need to go that far.

  • DarthAntz on 11/07/2018 - 12:36

    get a role model. someone whose style you like, and they look professional. could be someone you work with, or someone popular (dwayne johnson). Look at the clothes they wear. Im in Japan, and a lot of males dress like characters from Manga and anime. theres plenty of characters to choose from, and im not saying they all wear magic coats or look like power rangers. these characters are based on 'popular image'.

    Ive had a similar issue, and i totally agree with you that the australian climate doesnt really suit being fashionable. And fashion doesnt reflect who you are, and can make you look like you want to be someone.

    but with the research and considerations, dressing better will make you feel better and more professional. its definitely worth it, but do the research and aim for feeling natural, wearing colours and styles that are natural to you.

    And there are plenty of aliexpress stores that make good price and simple quality clothing. getting the correct size is also helpful, so look at a store, and check the size guides. measure on yourself what they measure, i.e. shoulder, arm length, torso etc.

  • Pecan on 11/07/2018 - 12:44

    Google "men's office outfits casual" then view the Images results. Look for outfits that appeal to you then make note of the type and colour of items that make up that outfit to form a shopping list.

  • Neurotrig on 11/07/2018 - 15:10

    Hey!

    Did this with 2 blokes -1 I.T and 1 Industry.

    Like others have said - find someone you want to emulate, bt consider what you're comfortable in and will actually wear. Not much point in buying items you eventually dont wear and go back to the 'good ole jeans'.
    Also you can 'adult' in jeans and tshirt, bt its how you wear it.

    So what u want is a base outfit. Something that looks smart, feels comfortable and take litte decision making. After that you eventually add personality if you want to.

    Solid coloured items usually look smart and colour depends on what suits you BUT generally Black, white, navy blue, grey are an easy move. Plus quality materials -cotton,merino etc

    If you like wearing jeans, go and get a quality black or indigo denim pair in a cut that suits you. Levis the guys went for (not super baggy or super shiny, find a good cut in a dark colour, comfortable, not too long, not light).
    Pair with a solid white/grey/navy or black tshirt and you cant go wrong. no logos or v neck. Buy a plain round neck and cotton, no shiny polyester shite.

    Optional at this stage - bt find two quality cotton shirts. White with blue/black verticle stripes worked for both men. They wore a white tshirt under (ralph lauren was great) again do not buy shiny shirts! Men were concerned about sweat patches and the stripes on white were better than solid coloured ones. Bt at this stage get basic designs- no busy stuff - generally stripes on white are great.

    Find shoes that feel like sneakers but look smarter - found some black and navy polo ralph on catch of the day - theres nothing wrong with sneakers BUT look for a dark pair with dark soles (if you can). But definitely dark boots as you mentioned (the guys found the windsor smiths a great fit for all day wear).

    Try match yo belt with shoes (not a strict rule) but it makes an outfit look put together 'adult'. Perhaps when you decide on the type of boot yo like buy a brown and black and then find two belts that match.

    Find a light jacket/cardigan/jumper in solid colours (saba had some solid navy and solid grey merino hoodies last winter- great with white tshit under). Get quality material (yes you can sometimes find great stuff at op shops - but if you're not good with decisions you're going to find it overwhelming. Bt of course give it a go if you're keen!

    The guys started with this, woke up in the morn - no major decisions as everything matches. Bt from here you can add personality.

    Also another tip (generally speaking) uniformity or obvious contrast looks smart.
    Pair indigo navy jeans with a white or black tshirt and maybe black cardigan with brown boots and belt. But dont match a black jeans with navy shirt or jumper.
    Your eyes can pick up that theyre different, but they look closely alike and in that way it dosent sit well. (Somehow indigo jeans goes with black tshirt…bt anyway..)

    Also generally speaking. When youre putting together an outfit u can have base colours (black/white) and then add one colour. And repeating the colour brings an outfit together.
    But be careful with pairing very close colours or too many colours.

    Last rule - when you know what your doing and your confident, break all the rules hahaha.

    Both guys had different complexions (olive with yellow undertones vs white with blue undertones) different height and different body shapes.
    This base wardrobe worked for both.

    All the very best!!

  • Janko on 11/07/2018 - 21:54
    +1

    The great thing about the tech industry is that it doesn't take much effort to stand out as nicely dressed.

    No graphic t-shirts, no faded black t-shirts, no jeans frayed at the leg openings—all too common in tech circles. Fit is highly underrated; no jeans bunched up on the shoes or poofing business shirts. No muffin top. No untucked business shirts; wear casual button ups if having the shirt out suits your shape. Polos are nicer than tees, just no bacon collar and they especially look nice if you don't let the collar flop flat. Long socks if wearing long pants - seeing skin when crossing legs isn't a good look.

    Grooming too - unkempt hair and beards are way too common in the tech industry. If you're running around and sweat a lot, wear an undershirt.

    Agree on some stuff written above - indigo jeans, brown chukkas or chelseas, grey suede also goes nicely with indigo. It's a nice casual look that no-one could say is trying too hard. Suede is good, but you'll want to avoid it in wet weather, or waterproof it. Not a fan of black casual shoes but appreciate others like them.

  • LyndonBBear on 12/07/2018 - 23:09

    I'd start with just looking at shop catalogues - from KMart, Target, Big W, Lowes etc. These items are mainly pretty cheap and returnable and at least will give you an idea of what you might like before going full tilt.

  • Doggiie on 15/07/2018 - 11:49

    Thanks everyone for your tips. I went shopping with some female friends yesterday and gotten quite a few pieces of clothing. I definitely fit a few of the "do nots" you guys have mentioned and I will try to improve my looks.

    It was definitely hard when they asked me "how do you feel in that?", which takes me courage to say that I look pretty good in all honesty but my brain is too scared to adopt new things. It's a learning curve and will take more than 1 shopping session, but I understand where I need to go from here.

    Thanks everyone!!!

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