Dressing well is mostly three things: clothes that fit, colours that work together and outfits that suit the occasion. None of that depends on budget or on following trends. These 12 rules put the three into practice.
Fit
1. Get the shoulders right
The shoulder seam of a jumper, shirt or coat should sit at the edge of your shoulder. Almost everything else can be altered; shoulders cannot.
2. Check your trouser length
Trousers should rest lightly on the shoe with one small fold at most. Fabric pooling at the ankle makes any outfit look careless. Our guide to how trousers should fit covers every point.
3. Buy for the body you have now
Clothes that are a size too small or too large never look right. If you are between sizes, the size guide gives measurements to compare.
Colour
4. Build on navy, grey, white and one earth tone
These colours all combine, which means every top works with every trouser. Add stronger colour through one item at a time.
5. Keep an outfit to three colours
Two neutrals and one accent is a formula that always works.
6. Match leathers
Belt and shoes should be the same colour family: brown with brown, black with black.
Choosing clothes
7. Own fewer, better basics
A few plain T-shirts, two good shirts, dark jeans, chinos and two jumpers do more than a full rail of one-off pieces. Our capsule wardrobe guide lists the essentials.
8. Dress for the occasion, plus one step
If the room will be in T-shirts, wear a polo or a fine knit. If it will be in shirts, add a blazer. Slightly smarter is always safe.
9. Layer
Three thin layers look better and cope with British weather better than one thick one: a T-shirt or shirt, a knit, then a jacket or coat. See the layering edit.
10. Spend on what people see first
Coats and shoes carry an outfit. A good overcoat makes everything under it look better.
Upkeep
11. Look after your shoes
Clean and polish leather; brush suede; replace worn laces. People notice shoes before anything else.
12. Iron, steam and wash properly
Creases, bobbling and faded collars undo good clothes. Wash knitwear cool, dry it flat and fold it instead of hanging it. See our care guide.
Where to start
Pick the one rule you break most often and fix that first. For most men it is trouser length or the fit of a jacket. After that, replace worn basics one at a time, starting with the pieces you wear most.
Questions answered
How can I dress better on a budget?
Fix fit first, because it is free or cheap. Then buy plain, versatile pieces in neutral colours and look after them.
What is the most important rule of men's style?
Fit. A well-fitting plain outfit looks better than an ill-fitting expensive one.
What should every man own?
Dark jeans, chinos, two shirts, plain T-shirts, a crew neck or quarter-zip, a coat, smart trainers and one pair of leather shoes or boots.
Browse the smart casual edit for pieces that follow every rule here. UK delivery is free and tracked on every order.
