Clothing
You may also like to read our article spend it like beckham - it has some great clothing advice!
If you remember a few key tips then you will never go far wrong.
Colours
If you have dark skin or hair you can afford to wear dark colours as well as lighter colours. If you have fair skin and hair it is better to stick to the darker shades as lighter shades can make you look ‘washed out’ and even paler.
If you are on the larger side then remember clothes can work wonders but only if you select the right ones. Dark colours such as black and navy are always a good option as they give the illusion of a more slender frame and hide any unsightly lumps and bumps.
Unless you are a confident dresser I would avoid patterns altogether but if you do wear an item of clothing with some pattern or design just make sure the rest of what you wear is plain and again if you are on the larger side, avoid patterns totally.
The best colour combinations are denim jeans with almost any colour or pattern top or dark trousers or khaki type cargo pants.
Suits
You get what you pay for so invest the extra for a suit that will last you years. If you only buy one suit then make sure it’s a dark one but preferably black as you will be able to wear this to any occasion and the use different coloured shirts and ties and give a different look to any plain suit. If you wear suits often then attempt to be a little more daring with your colour but remember to choose according to your colourings as above. Always buy your suit in advance of a special occasion so that there is time for tailoring which is very important. Too long or too short jacket sleeves and trousers legs are an absolute no. Make sure you know which shoes you are wearing with the suit before hand to make sure the correct trouser length is established.
Jeans/Trousers
Shop around for the best fitting jeans and trousers you can buy, again if you are going to be wearing these a lot then invest in a good pair that will last you and if the fit is good then you may need to consider buying two pairs. Original denim blue is the safest and always the most fashionable colour to go for. Again as with suits, leg length should sit 1-2cm off the ground with a slight boot cut and wider length leg will ensure a manly fit rather than looking like a school dinner lady in leggings! Don’t go for anything too high-wasted (Simon Cowell) and don’t go for anything to low cut (Skater boys) and belts are good as long as they match the trouser. The trendier belt is good for jeans and the more traditional belt is for trousers. This will of course depend on your age range as to which type of look you are going for but if you are ever in doubt ask a female shop assistant – it’s what they are there for and the ladies love to give a helping hand when it comes to a poor man in distress over his clothes!
T-shirts
Pretty much anything goes here depending on age and the occasion you are wearing your T-shirt for. Remember that lighter colours can show up a lot more so if you suffer from cold nipples, beer belly and man boobs then beware!
Long sleeved cotton t-shirts just don’t look good but make sure when buying s short sleeved t-shirt that the sleeves aren’t too short. They should fall in-between your shoulder and elbow and also the bottom of the t-shirt should fall just underneath the top button on the jeans/trousers.
If you are older then wearing t-shirts with slogans and designer names sprawled across the front will just make you look like a twit.
Jumpers
Take note of my previous advice on colours and patterns. Round necked jumpers are the best and v-neck is ok if you are wearing a t-shirt underneath but avoid wearing without a t-shirt if you have a particularly hairy chest. Go for soft wool but as with any garment made from this type of material, eventually with wearing and washing you will notice it will start to ‘bobble’ where, for instance, your arms rub against your sides. After a while this will look tatty so discard the old one and get a new one.
Shirts
Rule 1: Collar NEVER turned up!
Rule 2: See notes on light colours above and also remember light colours show up underarm sweat patches
Rule 3: Short sleeves are for summer only
Rule 4: If you are wearing your shirts with a tie then make sure the colours are similar and NEVER EVER WEAR A TIE WITH A DODGEY ‘FUNNY’ PATTERN (this includes patterns of Xmas trees, dogs, cars, cups of coffee etc. They are not funny and they are not clever)
Footwear
For suits and more formal trousers, good leather shoes in black or brown depending on the colour and slip on style or laces are both suitable.
Jeans can be worn with slip on leather shoes for a casual look (never lace ups) or trainers depending on the look you are going for. (For chav’s this will be the baggy blue jeans with the white Nike trainers with what look like four mattress springs attached to the back)