“Screw fashion. I’m not conforming to that pretentious crap.” Can you relate? I once made similar excuses [1]:
| Limiting Belief | ⮕ Mindset Shift |
|---|---|
| It’s so much effort | Each step is already an improvement. |
| Waste of money | It’s an investment in how I present myself, thus opening doors to connect with others |
| I don’t feel comfortable wearing different stuff | Stepping out of my comfort zone builds character. |
| It’s just not me | Every decision I make determines who I am, so I’ll choose what’s best for me. |
| I want to be liked for who I am | Who I am is beyond how I dress, but a striking first impression will create more opportunities to make connections |
| I don’t want to be limited by imposing rules | There are ‘rules’ to art; aesthetic guidelines – so why not fashion? |
| I don’t know where to start | That’s the purpose of this guide! It’s the A to Z of you ‘solving’ all important aspects of your fashion. |
What ‘Fashion’ Means for Men
Let’s clarify, so we don’t think of a dude strutting the runway in a bird’s nest hat and assless chaps.
Fashion: the practice of dressing to enhance one’s features and exude masculine grace.
Note that it’s got nothing to do with designer labels.
Four Solid Reasons Men Should Care About How They Dress
- What we wear influences how we think, feel, and act [2]. If fashion can change how you feel, it can help change your life.
- Time management compels women to make split second decisions on men, and fashion gives you an edge. When you approach a pretty maiden, her subconscious is whirring at lightening speed, deciphering who you are. When she sees the lead pic of your dating profile, her thumb is instinctively swiping left unless she’s given a reason not to. A sophisticated style boosts your chances.
- Fashion elevates status. Being well-put together gets noticed by everyone. It assists in business, networking, sales, and even how you’re treated by the barista making you coffee. Is it right? Perhaps not. Is it real? Undeniably.
- Giving her comfort in familiarity. For a foreigner in a Western country, sporting Western attire narrows cultural rifts. Jeans with curly-toed shoes may be all the buzz in India — sadly, not so much in Australia. Similarly, if you’re a Nordic man that’s into Indian girls, sporting an item of Indian influence will be noticed by them. Even within the same culture, dressing right gives her a feeling of you ‘being part of the club’.
What you wear is a statement, so why not make a fashionable one?
You will feel the difference in how others perceive you, and more importantly, how you perceive yourself.
I guarantee it.
Sav Dean
Read Men’s Fashion Part 2: Contrast –>
Elaborations & Sources:
- The above table is an exercise in cognitive behavioural therapy. It’s a proactive change in mindset, which is a skill in itself. Psychologists use it to cure depression, but you can use it to cure mediocrity, and rise above.
- PubMed: Meta-analysis of 40 studies related to ‘enclothed cognition’
