Men's Fashion 101: The Foundations
The basics of going from zero to Chad
Before we can really discuss fashion, let’s lay out the foundation. The basics of the basics. Can’t understand micro without the macro. Hopefully, everyone reading this already knows the below information. If you’re starting from absolute zero though, this will get you on the right track.
Equal opportunity, unequal results.
Fashion is one of the best examples of how this works. You can outperform 80% of other men in the looks department in just a few minutes. Looking good has infinite upside and zero downside. So why not learn more?
What is fashion, anyway? Why should anyone care?
To me, it's your personal style and sense of physical expression. Fashion instantly shows the world what you’re about. Being attractive gives you confidence and inspires confidence in others. The Halo Effect is real. Fortunately, it's a simple process. Fashion is fast and easy once you know the basics.
Even if you’re not “handsome,” if you have good foundations, you can go from a 5/10 to 7/10. With a good photographer at your side, you’d have quite a dating profile. Although real life is better than apps. Either way, fashion can be make-or-break for a single guy. If you want to date 10s, you have to be a 10 yourself. I don’t make the rules.
We will, however, go over some of the rules. Men’s style doesn’t have as many rules as you’d think, but they’re important. Don’t forget to check out BowTiedGerman’s work as well. His approach is different from mine, so you’ll learn more when subscribed to both of us.
And if you aren't sure about something, or have questions, you can DM BowTiedApollo or DM BowTiedGerman on Twitter.
Fashion is personal, and therefore requires personalization for the best results. I'll do evaluations and consultations as needed. My viewpoint may differ from most people because I have an art degree and I’ve worked as a high fashion model. But all the information you’d ever need should be here on Substack or Twitter.
Number one: basic health and grooming
Eat right with Octopod and Ox, and stay hydrated. Crap in = crap out. Ditch any Marie Callender’s frozen dinners and pick up some whole foods. Do your bloodwork and take supplements as needed.
Shower regularly. Being clean makes you smell good and become less disease-prone. Check with Fawn about skincare if you have acne or other issues. Angel can help a little in picking products that aren’t bad for your body.
Change your sheets and towels weekly, or at least biweekly.
Shave as needed. Do whatever you want here. Facial hair is about personal preference and style. There aren't hard rules with shaving other than obvious ones like "no Hitler mustaches."
Get a haircut every 2-5 weeks depending on how fast your hair grows. If you're losing your hair, shave it all off or get treatments. Don't half-ass it. If you’re well-off, a good barber is indispensable. Visit often and tip well. Otherwise, consider the DIY route. An electric razor with varied hair attachments will pay for itself with $500+ in lifetime savings. Scissors and combs are practically free. Plus, you save time by not needing to drive/walk to a barber, giving you more opportunities to get Wifi money.
Clip your fingernails and toenails 1-2 times per week or as-needed.
Brush your teeth and floss daily.
Number two: fitness
Get jacked with Ox and Bengal. Having an athletic or muscular physique gives more leeway in your style choices. Muscle tone makes anything look better. If you're swole, you can generally do whatever you want. The way fabric falls can flatter your shape to absurd heights, and you can be comfortably shirtless at any beach.
This is likely the most difficult step for the average person, since it takes time and effort to see results. However, it has one of the largest impacts on health and style. Fewer rules apply to someone who’s jacked. Tons of benefits.
This is a tough one since 75% of American adults are overweight or obese. Strive to be better than average. At the very least, get in 10,000 steps per day. A good fashion sense is useless if you die of cardiac arrest at 33.
It's important to dial in your physique before going on a shopping spree. Why buy a cartload of clothes which won't fit in 3 months? Get closer to your ideal shape before investing too much money into fashion.
Number three: materials
Honestly I don't know how important it is to avoid polyester, nylon, and other petroleum-based products. People have many opinions here. If you're upgrading your wardrobe though, it’s probably worthwhile to check labels while shopping. Synthetic-based clothing is often cheaply made, alleged health risks aside. I prefer to have natural fibers whenever possible. Look for 100% cotton, wool, or silk. GOTS and/or OEKO-TEX certification is supposed to be better.
Merino wool can be finely woven to the point where it's cool in summertime. Thicker wool garments are great in winter. Wool is also naturally antimicrobial and doesn’t need to be washed as often. Example companies include Wool And Prince and Unbound Merino (note that few of their options are actually 100% wool). I haven’t tried either one, so I don’t know how the fit is.
Note that finer fabrics may require dry cleaning or air-drying. As BowTiedGerman pointed out, you don’t want to run all your clothes through machines.
Don’t overthink it though. In terms of fashion, you’re fine as long as the color works for you and the garment fits well. You can absolutely get away with $6 Target shirts.
Another thing to consider is texture. WellBuiltStyle has several posts about this.
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Read the full series:
The Foundations: Men’s Fashion 101 ←- you are here
Dress Codes and Style: Men’s Fashion 102
How To Choose Your Wardrobe Colors: Men’s Fashion 103
Introduction to Fit: Men’s Fashion 104
Introduction to Shoes: Men’s Fashion 201
Introduction to Watches: Men’s Fashion 202
Introduction to Accessories: Men’s Fashion 203
Introduction to Fragrances: Men’s Fashion 204
Introduction to Hairstyles and Beards: Men’s Fashion 205