On grooming...and good taste
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Well, some girls dun seem to think I have good taste, but I would like to say taste is something very subjective. Thus, I think I'll share something on grooming instead. Not that I myself follows everything that is said below as it's quite a drag and a lot of effort to look well-groomed all the time. But I thought it will be good to know some of these so called-rules about grooming. A well-groomed man is a well-dressed man I would say.
Women like well-dressed men, we all know that. How to dress well though? I'm no fashion guru, but there are certain rules no matter what your wear that you follow to make you look good. And yeah, I learnt them from an grooming course a few years back.
The key here is symmetry.
Why? Symmetry says "This isn't a fluke, I can create the same pattern over again in mirror image." What it does is show that you know what you are doing, that you have your stuff together so to speak.
Think about how unattractive asymmetrical faces are (think Quasimodo in the hunckback of notre dame).
Symmetry is broken by small differences between sides. The more symmetrical you are, the more slight details stand out. So, attend to even the smallest detail!
How to achieve symmetry? Here are some starters:
1. Press your clothes. No crumpling.
2. Polish your shoes. Not down at the heel.
3. Have the join in your shirt exactly line up with your zipper. Have your belt buckle exactly along that line.
4. When wearing a tie, use a full windsor knot.
5. Have "color symmetry". That is, match the color of your belt to your shoes to your watch strap to your wallet, etc. As for metal (belt buckle, watch, pen) stick to the same color, silver OR gold, not a mix.
6. Have a flat stomach so that your belt forms a horizontal circle around you. Have the belt buckle just marginally below your belly button so that your body is cleaved into two even parts, top and bottom.
7. Have your trousers long enough to fall onto your instep, but not so long so as they drag.
8. Make sure your collar is tight enough so it isn't sloppy, but not so tight that you look like you are choking.
9. Cut a bold outline, a bold silhouette. Try these combos: Black or Charcoal trou, dark gray or dark burgundy or dark forest green or dark navy blue shirt.
10. Avoid yellow ties. Leave them for clowns. Have a tie darker than your shirt (try a dark black/blue tie on a dark grey shirt). Try a stylish red tie on a white shirt.
11. Wear long sleeves (never rolled up) with the cuff coming down exactly to where your hand meets your wrist.
12. Make sure your hair forms near endlines. Shave the back of your neck if you have to.
13. Make sure your sideburns are even.
14. Shoes should announce your presence audibly (hard sole) not make you stealthy (soft soles).
15. Stand up straight!
16. Shave.
17. Have your clothes FIT.
18. Tie should come down so that the point lines up exactly in the center of your belt buckle.
19. Wear over-the-calf socks (color matched OF COURSE), so that they are evenly tight (not crumpled) either side.
20. Do up buttons. Don't leave back pockets unbuttoned.
21. Have a very slim wallet with a card or two. 1 or 2 keys at most (color matched key-ring). Nothing bulging in your pockets ruining the "line". (Oh, and no loose change in your pockets, don't jingle as your walk!)
22. Ask stylish young women in good clothes shop what THEY think would look good on YOU and TAKE THEIR ADVICE EVEN IF IT SURPRISES YOU. (And even if it contradicts something I've written here). Likewise for haircuts.
Oh, and one last thing, on colognes, which I'm sure most guys would be interested to know about. There is some evidence that outgoing, extroverted women tend to prefer men wearing spicier colognes, while the quieter, more introverted women tend to prefer floral scented men. So maybe you should consider choosing your weapon, er cologne, based upon the personality of the woman you're pursuing. Just a thought. :p
These are just some tips to help you get the general principle. The key is to look STRIKING, to cut a bold, masculine figure. Notice why some woman like man in uniforms? These women will say they looks smart and masculine. Well, notice some of the points above are very much in line with the way their uniform is worn, just that it is not that regimental. You get the idea. -
Later im gonna dress like that.
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Originally posted by Q.C.Pak:
Later im gonna dress like that.
Need help call me hor.
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Originally posted by Callan:
Need help call me hor.
You sure you can wake up in time?
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Originally posted by Q.C.Pak:
You sure you can wake up in time?That's why ask you to call me mah
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when do you wear cufflinks ah? and when do you wear single or double cuff shirts?
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Originally posted by Master -_-:
when do you wear cufflinks ah? and when do you wear single or double cuff shirts?
More importantly, does your shirt allow you to wear cufflinks?
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Originally posted by Callan:
That's why ask you to call me mah
Really ah? -
wat u mean? on wat occassion u wear cufflinks? wats the purpose of cufflinks anyway
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Originally posted by Master -_-:
wat u mean? on wat occassion u wear cufflinks? wats the purpose of cufflinks anyway
Cufflinks are used to hold the cuffs together, there are a few styles of using it, the barrel, the double(also known as french) or the single.
The barrel is pretty standard and it is just the cuffs over lapping each other. Most shirts with their cuffs in this manner does not require cufflinks as buttons are already sewn onto the cuffs. You can easily find shirts with barrel cuffs from places like G2000 or ZARA.
The double is more formal, and the shirt has to have an extra length of sleeve to fold back and then fasten with cufflinks. The normal way to do a double it to clip the ends of both sleeves together.
The single is the most formal and only used in evening wear or very formal occasions. It is basically the double but without the sleeve folded. I seldom see this style anymore even at the Tatler ball people dun wear this their cuffs this way. It is a very english way of doing it.
Does the above answer your question?
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Originally posted by Q.C.Pak:
Really ah?Really lah
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Originally posted by Callan:
Really lah
Noted. -
thats good advice callan!! duly noted!
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Since we are on the topic of cuffs, I notice women tend to take a second longer look at me when I wear double cuffs. And no, it's not a look of distaste but one which means they are interested.
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Originally posted by Callan:
Cufflinks are used to hold the cuffs together, there are a few styles of using it, the barrel, the double(also known as french) or the single.
The barrel is pretty standard and it is just the cuffs over lapping each other. Most shirts with their cuffs in this manner does not require cufflinks as buttons are already sewn onto the cuffs. You can easily find shirts with barrel cuffs from places like G2000 or ZARA.
The double is more formal, and the shirt has to have an extra length of sleeve to fold back and then fasten with cufflinks. The normal way to do a double it to clip the ends of both sleeves together.
The single is the most formal and only used in evening wear or very formal occasions. It is basically the double but without the sleeve folded. I seldom see this style anymore even at the Tatler ball people dun wear this their cuffs this way. It is a very english way of doing it.
Does the above answer your question?
No..What occassion do you wear cufflinks?
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Originally posted by Master -_-:
No..What occassion do you wear cufflinks?
Well, I wear them to work sometimes. Is there a specific occasion that I should wear them? Please do enlighten me. I'm not all knowing.
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Originally posted by Callan:
Well, I wear them to work sometimes. Is there a specific occasion that I should wear them? Please do enlighten me. I'm not all knowing.
great..answering my question with a questionnvm..i'll wear it for formal meetings
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Originally posted by Master -_-:
great..answering my question with a questionnvm..i'll wear it for formal meetings
Meetings and work should be ok. I even wear them on a night out if I manage to make it look hip with a tug out shirt. There are no hard and fast rules to dressing though. But just a note to mention, GQ mag says cufflinks are outdated, but I dun give a hoot about that.
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Wow, this made it to featured topic!
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Originally posted by Callan:
Wow, this made it to featured topic!
congrats! hmm for myself, what kind of dressing style will u recommend?
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Originally posted by Master -_-:
great..answering my question with a questionnvm..i'll wear it for formal meetings
my team mates wear it to the office everyday and it's a double. -
cufflinks' significance has decreased so everybody wears it everywhere
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those guys in my mkt department, wear cufflinks daily too.
try raoul and hugo boss, the shirt material and design with their cufflinks very nice!
guys, to look good, you need to have a neat haircut and shave too.
dun forget nice watch, belt and shoes too...
cheers!
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TASTE is inherent in us, cant be taught
simply u cannot put taste in 1
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oh yeah, the guys in my team tailor their shirts and pants - so the materials are nicer and the cuffs and length of the shirts and pants are "correct"