” Dress shabbily, and they remember the dress; dress impeccably, and they remember the woman,” Coco Chanel
It’s hard to disagree with her because clothes are a very important part of our image. Any flaw can be noticed — especially when you are going to meet someone for the first time. Here are the five dressing rules everyone should know about –
1. ADD A BLAZER TO YOUR CLOSET
There’s nothing that completes almost every look quite like a blazer. Once you nail the perfect fit, pair it with denim for a more relaxed feel or with chinos to balance that fine line of smart casual. Mix up what you wear underneath one too, from polos to t-shirts to sweaters.
2. PLAY WITH PROPORTIONS USING PRINTS AND PATTERNS
An easy way to change up your routine is by mixing in prints and patterns in different sizes. Remember to stick with complementary colors. Try pairing a dark blue dotted tie with a light blue striped shirt. Wearing a striped tie? Add a striped shirt, but make sure the stripes on the tie are larger.
3. ALWAYS CHOOSE THE RIGHT FIT
This is the most important rule, and should be followed the most. It doesn’t matter if you’re dressed casually or sharply, your clothes need to fit your body shape, from your neck to your wrists to your inseam. Example: Your shirt shouldn’t be billowing anywhere. The body of your shirt should be a close fit, but not too tight, regardless of your size, and your sleeves should fit the same way.
4. LEARN WHEN TO MATCH YOUR SHOES AND BELTS
It’s a good idea to match your shoes to your belt. This works well for those formal occasions that come up from time to time, like big business meetings, weddings and date nights. For everything else, skip matching exactly, but stick to the same color family (like tan with dark brown).
5. GET FAMILIAR WITH AN IRON
Avoid looking like it’s your first day in the workforce with wrinkle-free shirts, pants and suits. An iron with a steamer is great for when you’re in a time crunch, and reinforces the fact that you care about how you look and always mean business, even when dressed casually.
Follow these dressing tips to get a better look and to feel good about yourself. It’s always better to iron your dress to avoid looking shabby and be more presentable just like you put an extra effort and thought on what you’re wearing.