15 Habits Of Stylish Men/ Classic Style Routines

No man is born stylish.

It takes effort to acquire a studied perfection in the art of dressing well.

There is an old proverb which says that habit is second nature. 

Effortless style is a habit for some men.

Their fashion choices are guided by certain principles that over time become second nature.

These habits are not difficult to learn. In fact, any man who applies these principles will improve his style to an extent where he doesn’t even have to think about it.

Great style becomes a subconscious part of your daily routine.

Listed below are 20 timeless habits of stylish men.

Enjoy!

Feel Comfortable In Your Clothing

There are two parts to the equation of comfort in regards to clothing.

Part 1 – Be confident in what you wear. 

Stylish men practice being the best-dressed man in the room. Over time, the confidence gained from this simple practice allows them to feel comfortable in smart attire. This is true as much in style as in any other art form – practice builds comfort.

A smart man understands that his appearance is a reflection of his core values, his family, his business and his lifestyle. Dress in a manner that suits these factors.

Part 2 – Everything you wear fits.

Stylish men are not penny wise and pound foolish. They never try to save a quick buck that will cost them a lot more in the long run. Even if an item of clothing is marked at a 90% discount, they wouldn’t bother buying it if it doesn’t fit.

The real value of clothes is reflected in how often you wear them. Well-fitted clothes look stylish and feel comfortable. Consequently, they become the most-worn items in your wardrobe.

2.Dress For Your Body, Events, Weather, & Yourself

Stylish men are never ruled by vanity.

They don’t allow their better sense of judgment to be overruled by fashion trends that are the current rage.

They are sensible in their choices because they understand what suits their body type, the events the attend, the weather and their lifestyle.

Their choices are not dictated by what looks good on someone else. Instead, they base their choices on:

• The weather: Dress appropriately for the climate in your location.
• Natural features: Is your frame small or large? Wear clothing that compliments your build and not clothing that either makes you look like a giant or a dwarf.
• Appropriateness: Dress appropriately for the event or occasion you are attending.

3.Know Your Tailor’s Name

It takes a skilled tailor to create a stylish attire that fits right on your body. A stylish man understands the importance of a skilled tailor and makes the effort to build a friendship with one he trusts.

Get your clothing adjusted – even new clothes. from suits to casual clothing to jeans. Except for t-shirts and athletic shorts, you should have the rest of your wardrobe altered to fit your body.

 4.Clothing Maintenance

Washing, repairing, pressing, shining shoes. 

A stylish man knows how to wash his own clothes. Especially delicate items like sweaters.

Use a batch-processing system that saves time and energy. I wash all my shirts together once a week and let them dry naturally before pressing them all at  once. This system saves me time and ensures that all my shirts are ready to wear at one go.

Broken buttons? You don’t want to find out when you’re running late for work. Scruffy and dirty shoes? Early mornings are probably the worst time to take care of these details. I shine all my shoes once a week.

If you have the money, send it out to the cleaners.

5.Everything Has A Place

Great style is not restricted to the clothes you wear.

It starts with simple decisions like having a dedicated place to store your clothes, your shoes, and other accessories.

Have a dedicated place where everything is stored so you find it when you need it.

A shoe shine box makes it easy to shine your shoes. Having a dedicated space to accomplish simple tasks makes them easier to complete in the shortest amount of time.

6.Know Your Barber 

Know your hair stylist or your barber. Set up a time every month to have a hair cut. Pre-pay if you can, so you are forced to show up for your appointment.

Don’t be reactionary. Don’t wait until you suddenly realize one morning you need a haircut but it’s too late because you have an interview that same morning. You may end up with a bad cut, spend more at an expensive salon or end up with a barber who doesn’t understand what hairstyle suits you.

7.Justifying Cost Of Clothes

Buying good quality clothes is better than buying something on discount for the moment.

Stylish men ask themselves a straightforward question – is this article of clothing timeless?

Is it going to be stylish 5 years from now? If an item costs over $450, this question should be the deciding factor in your purchasing decision.

Remember, the value of clothing is represented by the number of wears weighed against the cost. 

 8.Pre-Set The Details

Pre-setting the details takes the thinking out of the process. 

Where do I store the pocket squares? In the pockets of my jackets. My other pockets already hold a spare set of business cards, saving me precious time when I am rushing out to a conference.

Plan your outfit the night before. Store your watch, pocket square, and other accessories together with the outfit. Pre-setting some of these details will ensure that all you have to do is throw on your jacket before heading out the door.

9.Compliment Freely But Avoid Dispensing Style Advice

Dispense 

style advice only when you are asked.

I was with a friend recently in a public place. While we were interacting, a stranger reached across and straightened my friend’s tie-bar, completely unaware that my friend had intentionally worn his tie-bar slightly crooked (the Italians have a word for it – sprezzatura).

Don’t be the annoying guy who pushes his ideas on someone else without them asking for your opinion.

Instead, when you notice someone who is attractive or gone the extra mile in terms of style – verbalize your appreciation.

10.Function and Comfort Are More Important Than Style

Function and comfort should never be sacrificed for style. That takes you into the realm of fashion purely for aesthetic purposes.

Use clothes as a cover (function) and make sure it feels good (comfort) while paying attention to the third part of the equation – the importance of aesthetics in modern society. Your style and appearance does affect basic human interactions.

There’s a big difference between getting dressed in style and just covering yourself.

Need some more rules-of-thumb to ensure you are always at your best?

11.Own A Well-Fitted Dark Suit

You need to own at least one complete well fitting dark suit. Have it ready in case you are invited to a wedding, an interaction with the president, need to attend a funeral or give a presentation at work.

12.Know The Rules & When To Break Them

A stylish man knows the rules but is confident enough to break them. You first have to know the rules before you can break them.

The Italians have a word, sprezzatura, which describes a certain nonchalance in how a man dresses. To achieve the ‘deliberately-disheveled’ look of nonchalance, a gentleman first needs to understand the inner workings of style.

13.A Weekly Grooming Routine

Good systems are an essential part of a stylish man’s routine.

Have a set time each week to cut your nails, trim your beard and check your nose and eyebrow hair.

Allocating time for these activities takes the pain out of sudden surprises and embarrassments from lack of care

14.Let Go Of Worn-Out Favorites

Use a simple formula. For each new clothing purchase you make – donate an older item of clothing from your wardrobe.

This way, your wardrobe stays clean and minimal, ensuring that your clothing choices are easy, fast and stylish.

No one wants to see you in public wearing your worn-out and tattered t-shirts from college.

15.Building A Core Wardrobe That Suits Your Lifestyle

Own a core wardrobe that works for your lifestyle. Purchase selected items that are interchangeable.

With just 21 core items, you can have a fully functional wardrobe that will be appropriate for most occasions in modern society.

Our habits shape our lives.

Any person who is not conscious about making healthy choices a part of their life is going to end up with some undesirable habits.

Poor taste in fashion and style is a result of not making the effort to learn these simple habits to improve your style.