The Power Of A Sharply Dressed Gentleman

Wearing an outfit that you curated with pieces that you appreciate can make you feel like the most important person in the world. You have carefully picked out the pieces of the style puzzle and spent both time and energy sorting through racks and racks of clothes just to find the right ones for you.

With great fit, style, and colours comes great responsibility. A sharp-dressed gentleman has the power to make everyone in the room turn their heads and admire the attire. When they walk into the room, they radiate an aura of sophistication and class, something lacking in todays modern ultra-casual sea of hoodies and cargo shorts. This article explains how dressing well can improve your life:

A Canvas For All To See 

How you dress is an expression of your identity. Whether you are a businessperson or an artistic free spirit, you gravitate towards clothes that convey the same message. Your clothes, in a way, are your uniform. If you want others to know what you are like, paint the canvas on yourself and show them from a distance what message you are trying to send.

There are times, like a job interview, wedding, or funeral, when you may need to conform to a specific type of attire, but outside of these events, you can be creative with your outfit.

In a previous article, we explained basic colour theory and how you can apply it to your outfits to create something harmonious and pleasing. Click here to read our article A Beginner's Guide To The Colour Wheel.

Dressing Well Builds Confidence

Putting together an awesome outfit can make you feel invincible. Even a simple semi-formal outfit like a tailored sport jacket, pocket square, dark-wash jeans, and nice dress shoes can make you feel like you're the CEO of the latest company to enter the Fortune 500. Wearing this outfit out could lead to you getting compliments from strangers and make you feel like you can do anything.

There's science to back up this claim, too. Enclothed Cognition is a term coined by two psychologists, Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky, who ran an experiment where half the participants were given lab coats to wear and the other half were not. They were then asked to complete tasks while studied to see if wearing a lab coat increased their overall score. You can read all about it in this article from the University of Toronto.

One small accessory that often goes unnoticed on men but plays a big part in their style is a watch. Men don't have many options when it comes to jewelry, but a watch can be the finishing touch to an outfit. We got you covered in our article How Many Watches Does A Modern Gentleman Need.

You Value Yourself More When You Dress Better

Upgrading your wardrobe from casual attire like shorts and jeans to button-ups and chinos (or at least dark wash jeans) is the first step in realizing the many benefits of becoming a sharply dressed gentleman.

The more formally you dress, the more valuable you perceive yourself to be. That's why professional athletes wear suits going to games. They want to know they're worth millions.

Now, that doesn't mean you should go to the bank and take out a 5-figure loan. Rather, research what fits your budget. Check out second hand and thrift stores; sometimes you'll find a bargain. Thrift stores often have quality products at all price ranges. If you are willing to spend upwards of $10,000 on a single suit, look no further than Kiton.

While some prices may make you look the other way, know that in most instances, a higher price means higher quality. This can be features such as:

• Higher quality, natural fabric.

• More stitches per inch (8-10 is adequate).

• Straight and even stitching.

• Lining on jackets.

• No loose threads or buttons.

• Extra button or threads in a small bag or attached somewhere on the article of clothing.

• Fit isn't just universal S, M, L but actual measurements like neck, arms, and chest.

Be aware that for some articles of clothing, especially from celebrity brands, the quality may not match the hefty price tag. That also goes for practically any item a celebrity releases.

Always read real reviews and look at what materials they're using. Were it not for the celebrity's name printed on it, the item might only be worth a hundredth of the price. 

Dressing Better Positively Affects Your Mood 

When you take pride in how you dress, it shows through your body language. Whether consciously or subconsciously, you tend to act more professionally when you believe that the clothes you wear serve a purpose.

Something as simple as a sport coat can make you feel more powerful than just a t-shirt. When you bundle multiple items together, you can feel invincible. Your self-esteem shoots up and suddenly you feel like the guy that gets all the ladies in the movies.

Similar studies to Enclothed Cognition have been done to demonstrate the same concept, including researching whether wearing athletic clothes increases the amount of time you work out and your food choices, and whether wearing fancier underwear increases self esteem. The results were basically the same.

Fit Is ALWAYS King 

Most suits, sport jackets, and dress pants won't fit all sizes. Most brands will make universal sizes (like S, M, L, or pant sizes like 32x32, 36x30, and so on). Some higher-end brands will only have waist sizes, and the legs will be longer than what you'd expect. These pants are meant to be taken to a tailor and hemmed down to the correct size.

Even if you purchase a high end article like a suit from Brioni, it will still need to be tailored.

A tailor specializes in altering and repairing clothing, and will be able to make your clothes fit your body comfortably. They will take your measurements and adjust the clothes to complement your body. Get to know your tailor on a first name basis and their expertise will pay off in dividends to your appearance and confidence.

Some duties of a tailor include: shortening sleeves, tucking in around the waist, pinching the shoulders (although this can be expensive when it comes to sport coats and suit jackets), hemming pants, tucking in the leg width, and simple tasks such as sewing buttons, zipper repair/replacements, and sewing rips and tears.

Dressing Better Can Lead To More Opportunities

Even if a sharply dressed person doesn't know advanced calculus, people may think they do based on how they're dressed. Their entire outfit can scream confidence, artist, or even punk rocker if their idea of attire is a leather jacket and safety pins. Dressing for the person you want to be will lead you to more opportunities.

People judge based on appearance, and while this isn't the best way to evaluate someone's character, everyone does it, whether they're aware or not. By "dressing the part", you look like you know what you're doing, and people will believe you do. \

This is why it's always good to do a once-over before heading out; you'd hate to leave the house with a piece of food stuck in your teeth or with your shirt buttoned up incorrectly.

Should you have the chance to woo a possible love interest, take some tips from our articles How Does A Gentleman Dress On A First Date and Men's Hygiene Checklist: The Ultimate Guide for some style advice before heading out on the town.

Before closing on that big business deal, be sure to read our article on how to properly shake hands!

You Will Inspire Others To Dress Better

If you are the first in your friend group to adopt the sartorial lifestyle, some of your friends may decide to copy you. Take this as a compliment rather than thinking they want to one-up you.

Your friends, co-workers, or colleagues may notice your success and all the positive attributes that go with dressing well. They may notice that you are getting more chances to advance, are more popular when you go out, and have developed a strong character. Some may feel indifferent or possibly even take offence to your interest in style, but that's okay. They may not realize all the benefits of being involved in the gentlemanly lifestyle.

BONUS TIP: Dealing With Haters 

Along your style journey, you will inevitably encounter someone who wants to insult you or tease you for dressing well. If they are stuck in a rut and cannot find the motivation to do the same, they may feel threatened that you are improving yourself.

When someone asks you what the special occasion is that caused you to dress up, or tries to remind you that Halloween isn't for a few months, here are a few replies that will not insult them but rather show your confidence and wit:

• "Because today is [whatever day of the week it is]"

• "This is who I am"

• "These clothes make me feel great"

• "It makes me happy"

• "I enjoy dressing well"

Summary:

The classic song lyric "Every girl crazy 'bout that sharp-dressed man" may not have aged perfectly, but the general meaning still holds true: dress well and people will notice. Over the years, society has become more lax when it comes to attire.

Dressing with intention and putting thought into your outfit will make you stand out from the crowd. Personal style takes time to develop, but as you experiment with different pieces, you will find what works best for you.

Did you enjoy this article? Learn something new? Share it with a friend and follow Esteemed Gentleman on social media to stay up to date with new articles and posts!

Links:

Facebook

Instagram

Don't forget to sign up below to stay up to date on new articles and reviews we publish!