Step 1: Inspiration
Inspiration falls off.
An article is not enough to get you to throw out half your current wardrobe and rebuild it with basics, and even if it were, you wouldn’t magically Phoenix rebirth with a stylish closet. Personally, I spent 3 months before I did anything to start.
Being in Japan, however, forced me into seeing the difference between my everyday wear and that of the locals. “No one does style like Japan” (Brian Sacawa, HeSpokeStyle). I was in a t-shirt, jeans—sweatpants half the time—and sneakers every day. I found little practicality for a pair of dress shoes, and never even considered wearing a decent pair of boots. In Japan, most student’s dress code is pair of slacks and a blazer, with a tie, and optional dress shoes. From there, casual falls more in the realm of an OCBD shirt, chinos, and leather sneakers when compared to the prior. Still to my curiosity, blazers are all too common as jackets for men of all ages here. I still can’t think of one blazer a man wore in my hometown.
By comparison, I could—and did—wear sweatpants and a hoodie to school every day. So if that was my “presentable” going-out outfit, pajamas were a natural step down from there. I am also guilty, as many of us are, of consistently wearing my PJ’s out and about. As though jeans were too difficult an alternative!
If you are to progress your style, as is with any practice, you must surround yourself with like-minded individuals and knowledge. At the time of writing this, though, we cannot surround ourselves with anyone. Moreover, we tend to spend more time alone and online than interacting with other humans anyway. Finally, if you so choose to take on this “learning curve” (Hugo Jacomet, Sartorial Talks), you will most likely be the odd one out of your friend group.
This will be difficult. That will be a topic for another day, though.
Here I will present you with some profiles that inspire me, Instagram and YouTube mainly. Since you are already scrolling through these applications, you might as well spend 10 minutes watching a “style basics” video to supplement our writings. After all, you never know what you might like until you try it.
Without droning on further, here are a few IG Profiles I resonate with particularly well:
I added these profiles, in this order, for a few reasons.
The first two men are a bit taller, the next two of average height, and the last two on the shorter side. Find someone who compliments your build, skin tone, or style alone. If you see someone who really catches your eye, give them a follow.
They are arranged more formal/ more casual in their height groups. Again, finding those you fall in line with stylistically will give you small bursts of inspiration every time you scroll past a new post of theirs. Checking out who they follow is also a good way to find more people in the same niche!
They are all well-known, well-respected contributors to the men’s style community.
They almost all own white leather minimal sneakers. #getsome
Next, a few Youtube Channels. Here are my personal favorites:
Sartorial Talks: I cannot say enough about this channel and the duo Hugo Jacomet, and his wife Sonya Glyn. Something about a Frenchman describing a three-piece suit as “a very romantic piece of clothing” will just do it for ya. 10/10 would (obviously) recommend. His books are also up there with the greats!
Men’s Fashioner: Ashley Weston, the “Celebrity Men’s Wear Stylist.” She, along with her husband Dorian, offers a very realistic, straightforward, and “idiot-proof” guide to Beginning a daily wardrobe “no matter your age, height, body weight, skin color, etc.”
HeSpokeStyle: Brian Sacawa is, I believe, the current leader in the direction I hope to take this blog into a YouTube Channel. From lookbooks to watches, cologne to bartending, and just general advice on how to be a modern gentleman, he is the industry standard.
Alex Costa: appeals to a younger crowd usually, and definitely follows trendlines harder than other YouTubers. He does speak a lot on Basics, a key to starting this journey.
The Kavalier: Everyone’s go-to when they are not sure if a brand is right for them, and my personal channel of choice for finding new brands to empty my bank account. SO many reviews. Also a good follow for style, specifically for the taller man.
There are so many more I want to include, but this is a shortlist of a few I recommend to start you off on the right path. If you have a favorite or want more recommendations in a niche, comment below! If you have an IG account you’d recommend to others, also comment below!
Hope you find some inspiration in these, as I have, to get your Style in Sync with today’s world.
