By Elisabeth Reed
All right ladies, this one’s for you. Have you ever looked at your closet to see the many pieces of clothing and still feel like you have nothing to wear? Nothing matches. It doesn’t fit right. You don’t have the right shoes to go with those pants, or the right top to go with that skirt.
Have you ever been jealous of how easy it is for any men in your life to shop for clothing? Are you envious with how quickly men can grab a couple items in their closet and get dressed with ease?
My advice for a simpler, more streamlined wardrobe is this: DRESS LIKE A MAN.
But… not in the way you think.
Here are my 5 tips to dress like a man:
#1: Find a color palette that works for you and stick with it. Generally, men wear a very basic arrangement of colors. To keep your wardrobe simple, you can do the same. When you stick with 5-6 complimentary colors, you ensure that all of the pieces you have in your closet will work together. This means no trendy colors or bold patterns. When you purchase a new item, ask yourself: will this coordinate with the majority of the items in my closet?
#2: Quality over quantity. Men typically have fewer clothing pieces but far greater quality pieces. Don’t purchase clothing on the impulse. Do your research, read the label, examine the stitches—invest in one quality item rather than 5 fast fashion pieces that will fall apart in the wash.
#3: Dress in classic style. Like a men’s dress shirt, find pieces that will still look great in 5 or 10 years. This means to stay away from trends and go for a more iconic, timeless style.
#4: Dress comfortably. Aside from a neck tie, men dress in clothing that is comfortable to live, move, sit and breathe in. This means finding the right size rather than trying to squeeze into those skinny jeans. Ignore the number on the label and wear what feels right. Don’t count down the minutes until you can get home and put on your yoga pants. Be comfortable and confident in your clothes all day long.
#5 Wear your clothes until they are falling apart. Men will wear the same pants for years and years until they are tattered. If you invest in pieces that fit well and that you love to wear, you will have something to cherish and take care of, and you won’t want to part with it until it is falling apart.
So, are you ready to revamp your wardrobe and dress like a man?
Elisabeth Reed teaches fashion merchandising classes at Illinois State University. She grew up in Bloomington Normal, graduating from Normal Community High School in 1996. After receiving an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s in fashion design from the Savannah College of Art & Design, she realized that there was no place quite like home and returned to Bloomington in 2008. Elisabeth lives with her husband, Matt and their two wild little boys in historic Founder’s Grove.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media Inc.
