Whether it's choosing the perfect fit or knowing exactly how to put together a classy ensemble, men's fashion can sometimes feel complicated.
We won' try to regurgitate the usual style tips like your belt color should match your shoes or wear a pocket square with jackets.
Instead, we will focus on those tips that go beyond making you look stylish but also simplify your life.
Photograph Your Labels
You've probably heard that every man should wear well-fitting clothes. These create a flattering silhouette and are generally more comfortable. But in today's age of e-commerce, getting the fit right it's no longer that simple.
Since cuts and measurements often vary widely from one brand to the next, it's easy to end up with a bunch of ill-fitting outfits, especially if you prefer shopping online.
Our tip is whenever you find something you like that fits perfectly, take a photo of the label and save it for future reference. This will remove all guesswork when it comes to updating your wardrobe.
Get Rid of The Creases with Ice Cubes
Wrinkles on clothes make you look sloppy and out-of-sorts. Having well-pressed clothing shows the world that you're a man who has his stuff together and understands that the details matter.
So the next time you don't have the time (or patience) to lug out your iron and board, try this clever trick using ice cubes. All you have to do is throw three or four cubes into your dryer, along with the wrinkled garment.
Then let the dryer run for about 10 minutes as you take care of something else; like reading up on manly etiquette rules.
The cubes will melt and have a steam-like effect that will zap creases and leave clothes wrinkle-free!
Invest in Quality Shoe Trees.
We are big proponents of investing in a quality pair of dress shoes. A nice pair of men's dress shoes can easily cost a couple of hundred dollars. Some even cost upwards of a thousand, but you don't have to spend that much.
Buy the best pair you can afford, take care of it properly, and it will serve you for years to come. For your finest dress shoes, we recommend you invest in a good pair of shoe trees.
These will help maintain the shape of your dress shoes and prevent the leather from warping or cracking. Shoe trees also absorb any excess moisture from your shoes, so they don't rot from the inside out.
If you've been viewing these wooden shoe inserts as an unnecessary purchase, hopefully, that has now changed. This is an essential step to keeping shoes in fantastic shape as they age.
Undo Shrinkage
At some point in your laundering life, it's inevitable that you will accidentally shrink a piece of clothing. It happens to the best of us.
If you discover your clothing has dramatically shrunk on removing it from the dryer, all is not lost.
- Fill a bucket with lukewarm water, and swirl in a tablespoon or two of hair conditioner or baby shampoo.
- Submerge the item for about 30 minutes
- Remove from the solution and gently wring the garment dry (don't rinse)
- Place the item on a towel and gently stretch it back to, or something close to, its original shape.
- Pin the edges of the garment to the towel or put a heavy item on it. This stops the garment from shrinking back as it dries.
Invest In a Shirt Stay
There's nothing more annoying than a dress shirt that keeps getting untucked. In fact, many men experience this problem every time they lift their arms for a moment. There are many solutions to prevent this from happening, including doing the military tuck or tucking your shirt into your underpants.
Alternatively, you can always invest in a shirt stay. It's an elastic tool that helps keep your shirt tucked in no matter what you're doing. Shirt stays are clipped at the bottom of your shirt and attached to the top of your socks, so they're not restrictive.
They're comfortable and secure that you can go about your business throughout the day without any worries.
Fix 'Shoulder Horns' on Knitwear
The integrity of the knitwear is often compromised by gravity. When hung, clothes like sweaters are prone to stretch out, become misshapen, and get ruined on the shoulders.
If you've ever made the mistake of hanging your knitwear up in the wardrobe before, you'll know what we mean when we say 'shoulder horns .Suffice to say; it's not a good look.
But there's a simple fix: just put the garment on, apply a small amount of water to the affected area and massage it with your finger until it lies flat.
Then let it air dry and things should be back to normal. That being said, prevention is key. For a more permanent solution, fold and store your knitwear in drawers instead.
A Scientific Approach to Decluttering
Cluttered closets are not a problem that's exclusive to women. Most men are afraid to get rid of clothes because they don't know what needs to go or stay. But cheer up: there's an easy way to reclaim and maintain an orderly closet.
- Start by turning all of your hangers to face in one direction.
- After you've worn an item, return its hanger to the wardrobe facing the opposite direction.
- After a year or so, take stock of the clothes on hangers that haven't changed their position.
- It's probably time to donate these pieces to your local charity.
Narrowing down your wardrobe selections to the pieces you actually wear regularly will help alleviate decision fatigue and enable you to create looks quickly and easily each morning.
Also, it will ensure you don't waste money restocking outfits you didn't know you no longer wore.
Simple Trick For Fixing Stuck Zippers
We've all had zippers that got stuck. To fix this, rub some candle wax on the zipper, covering all parts. If you have white pants, you definitely want to use white wax. If you don't have any candles, you can also use bar soap.
That will have the same effect— it greases the zipper. Basically, you just apply it on both sides and then wipe off all the residue. Your zipper should be good to go.
Get a Skin Care Monthly Subscription
Nowadays, more men are looking into self-care, and it's becoming more stylish for men to participate in it. After all, clothing and fashion styles can only go a long way. Don't you want to wake up looking radiant? The key is to make sure that your skin is clear, smooth, and hydrated.
However, washing your face with a cleanser is simply not enough. While it can get rid of dirt and excess oils, most products can be too harsh on the skin.
If you've ever tried researching skincare products for men, you probably quickly realized you don't want to go down that rabbit hole. There's too much contradicting information on the internet.
Here's where subscription skincare systems like Tiege Hanley come in handy. You get all of the necessary products for your skincare regimen delivered to your doorstep every month.
Because such companies have cut out the middle man, you get to pay a fraction of the cost mainstream brands would charge you. Good skincare needs not to be exorbitant!
Wash Your Dress Shirts in a Delicates Bag
If you wash your dress shirts in a delicates bag, you'll get a lot more wear out of your shirts because the edges don't fray as easily. The delicates bag acts as a barrier between your shirt and the washing machine.
Therefore, the edges wear less. Now, don't stuff your bag with shirts! Add 2-3 shirts maximum per bag to ensure they all get a thorough cleaning.
Bonus Hack: Practice Tying Knots
If you wear suits often, tying your tie the same way every time can get pretty dull. You can get away with it knowing the classic tie knot, but consider being open to learning new ways so you'll have options.
There are plenty of tutorials online, and knowing several types of knots can change up how some of your suits look. As for being more efficient in the morning, you can do your tie the night before.
You'll only need to put it on and tighten it up in the morning after buttoning up your shirt.
There you go, ten hacks to make your life much easier. Which one did you find the most helpful? Let us know in the comment section.
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