How to Polish Your Look
Clothes may make the man, but accessories make him stand out in a crowd. Below are some guidelines to help you make the right choices when adding these finishing touches.
Shoes
Choose shoes that match the tone of your outfit. If you’re wearing a business suit or going to a formal occasion, you should wear dress shoes, and the most common colour is black. Despite popular opinion, you can wear black shoes with a navy suit. Brown shoes also work well with navy, although it’s best to avoid brown shoes in more conservative business environments or on an interview. You also need to keep the style of shoe in mind. Low-slung Italian slip-ons will clash with a traditional business suit, and wingtips will clash with everything but a traditional business suit. The best approach is to add a variety of styles and colours of shoes to your wardrobe so you’re ready for any occasion, formal or casual.
Shoes should always be polished, scuff-free and in good repair. To get the most out of shoes, polish them on a regular basis or after wearing them three or four times. If they get worn down, take them to your local cobbler for a professional polish and repair, and invest in a new pair when it’s time. An old saying goes that a man’s watch and shoes speak volumes about him. Keep in mind you never know who’s listening.
Jewellery
Fashion-forward men will often mix and match the metal colours of the accessories they wear. If fashion-forward isn’t for you, it’s fine to play it safe. In this case, colour coordinate everything, including your belt buckle, cuff links, tie chain, watch, suspender keepers, rings, metal buttons and buckles on clothing or shoes. The one common exception is your wedding ring. No one expects you to switch to a platinum ring just to match your silver cuff links.
Belts and Braces
Braces are fancy suspenders; they button to the inside of pants rather than clip on to the waistband.
- Don’t wear both a belt and braces as they do the same job. Pick one and leave it at that. It’s always best to keep your attire simple.
- Coordinate braces or a belt with the rest of your outfit. The leather should match your shoes in colour. Any metal should match all other metal you’re wearing on that occasion.
The Pocket Square
Coloured silk squares should complement the rest of your outfit. Try to echo a hue in the tie or the shirt, and avoid perfect matches.