Changing my style

[Jadedat29]

I'm 29 years old and I don't dress like an adult. I spent a lot of years wearing jeans (black carharts actually), black band tee-shirts decorated with demons and skulls and chains and fire and the like, and big clunky black boots. For most of my life that is how I liked it. My chosen style was an intentional lack of style.

But now I'm growing up. I'm back in school, I have formal meetings all the time, plans to go to law school etc. So my intentional lack of style started wearing thin. Since I started that way to a minor extent, I have let my wife dress me. She is very into the preppy kinda look and the transition from heavy metal rebel and country and western outlaw to your friendly neighborhood prep has not gone well. I don't even really know who I am any more.

So I figure letting my wife dress me isn't the way to go. Which means, I now with no prior knowledge of fashion, have to totally reinvent my style. I wanna dress in a manner that speaks of my maturity and the life I'm trying to create, but I also need to express the harder edge that I am more comfortable with. I'm also interested in a look that is more timeless than it is faddy. Black and purple should be the most prominent color lol

I don't know how anyone here can help me. Maybe tips, suggestions, advice or point me to resources?

 

[pvrhye]

Originally Posted by Jadedat29

I'm 29 years old and I don't dress like an adult. I spent a lot of years wearing jeans (black carharts actually), black band tee-shirts decorated with demons and skulls and chains and fire and the like, and big clunky black boots. For most of my life that is how I liked it. My chosen style was an intentional lack of style.

But now I'm growing up. I'm back in school, I have formal meetings all the time, plans to go to law school etc. So my intentional lack of style started wearing thin. Since I started that way to a minor extent, I have let my wife dress me. She is very into the preppy kinda look and the transition from heavy metal rebel and country and western outlaw to your friendly neighborhood prep has not gone well. I don't even really know who I am any more.

So I figure letting my wife dress me isn't the way to go. Which means, I now with no prior knowledge of fashion, have to totally reinvent my style. I wanna dress in a manner that speaks of my maturity and the life I'm trying to create, but I also need to express the harder edge that I am more comfortable with. I'm also interested in a look that is more timeless than it is faddy. Black and purple should be the most prominent color lol

I don't know how anyone here can help me. Maybe tips, suggestions, advice or point me to resources?

If you're going into the legal field, you're moving into a pretty conservative mode of dress- navy and gray 2 button suits.

 

[Gwarg]

Just take some time to read around this site and learn more, and look at WAYWRN regularly for ideas. You'll soon know more than most people you know.

 

[twistoffat]

The advice above is good. Start browsing fashion sites and this forum to develope a feel for what you might like. As mentioned Law is pretty conservative but the change you desire will not happen overnight. Give it a bit of time and you´ll be alright

 

[jrd617]

the transition from heavy metal rebel and country and western outlaw to your friendly neighborhood prep has not gone well. I don't even really know who I am any more.

So I figure letting my wife dress me isn't the way to go. Which means, I now with no prior knowledge of fashion, have to totally reinvent my style. I wanna dress in a manner that speaks of my maturity and the life I'm trying to create, but I also need to express the harder edge that I am more comfortable with. I'm also interested in a look that is more timeless than it is faddy. Black and purple should be the most prominent color lol

John Varvatos? Just stay away from shiny stuff and footwear from JV.

 

[delavegatailors]

You can find very useful information browsing this forum.

To start building your wardrobe you will need a couple of suits. Plain navy and charcoal -as said above- are good and safe choices. They are very versatile, so you can wear them in many occasions.
Once you feel comfortable and get used to wearing suits, you can add more suits to your wardrobe to make it more complete (Prince of Wales, pinstripe, bird´s eye, etc), but to start and if you have to choose only one, go for a 2 buttons, notched lapel, double back vent Navy suit.

As for shirts, white shirts look always great, and you can combine them with almost everything. Light blue and light pink are a must have too (in plain, stripes or herringbone pattern for example).

 

[Jadedat29]

Thanks for the advice. Is there like a basic fashion tutorial anywhere on the web?

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by Jadedat29

Thanks for the advice. Is there like a basic fashion tutorial anywhere on the web?

You are on it.

 

[acridsheep]

Originally Posted by Jadedat29

I'm 29 years old and I don't dress like an adult. I spent a lot of years wearing jeans (black carharts actually), black band tee-shirts decorated with demons and skulls and chains and fire and the like, and big clunky black boots. For most of my life that is how I liked it. My chosen style was an intentional lack of style.

But now I'm growing up. I'm back in school, I have formal meetings all the time, plans to go to law school etc. So my intentional lack of style started wearing thin. Since I started that way to a minor extent, I have let my wife dress me. She is very into the preppy kinda look and the transition from heavy metal rebel and country and western outlaw to your friendly neighborhood prep has not gone well. I don't even really know who I am any more.

So I figure letting my wife dress me isn't the way to go. Which means, I now with no prior knowledge of fashion, have to totally reinvent my style. I wanna dress in a manner that speaks of my maturity and the life I'm trying to create, but I also need to express the harder edge that I am more comfortable with. I'm also interested in a look that is more timeless than it is faddy. Black and purple should be the most prominent color lol

I don't know how anyone here can help me. Maybe tips, suggestions, advice or point me to resources?

I have recently made a similar transition, except my starting point was more "bro" than "cowboy/goth/rocker." Go slow, read a lot, and get over the color black. Also, follow WAYWRN to see both what to do (Spoo Poker, NiiDawg, MBreinin, Urban Composition, PandArts, Orgetronix) and what not to do (me, though even broken clocks are right twice a day).

 

[Scotty]

Of course, this forum but as a quick guide I like this:
http://www.atailoredsuit.com/mens-st...ored-suit.html
Also, for a transition I'd start with chinos or khakis, button down shirts and sport jackets before going to suits but maybe you need the suits right now?
About the hard edge... I don't know how can you put that together with the law business...

but I'm just a novice here... maybe a 40's gangster look?

 

[etb]

I second Gwarg's recommendation to "look at WAYWRN regularly for ideas." You'll gradually notice and appreciate details and will develop a style that is objectively excellent and coincides with your tastes. For starters, watch the heavy-hitters like Spoo, NiiDawg, Phat Guido, IST66, UrbanComposition, and NewYorkRanger. And when in doubt: buy fewer high-quality pieces.

 

[twistoffat]

Originally Posted by Jadedat29

Thanks for the advice. Is there like a basic fashion tutorial anywhere on the web?

download the three links on this thread. It may be the inspiration you are looking for

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=58879

 

[Thanks SF (a new me)]

Originally Posted by etb

I second Gwarg's recommendation to "look at WAYWRN regularly for ideas." You'll gradually notice and appreciate details and will develop a style that is objectively excellent and coincides with your tastes. For starters, watch the heavy-hitters like Spoo, NiiDawg, Phat Guido, UrbanComposition, and NewYorkRanger.

+1 here...

 

[Dr Huh?]

I think the key is to start off gradually. It's a mistake to jump right into a new style you're not yet comfortable with. So, start off slow. Focus on basics, and fit. And keep in mind you don't have to throw out your original ascetic altogether. Just try to streamline it. You always have the weekends to dress more casually. Instead of wearing band t-shirts, wear simple, solid t-shirts, preferably ones that aren't too baggy. You can still wear jeans, just go for classic fits. Same with boots, just buy ones in a more subtle style. Lose all dragons and skulls. Once you have your casual wear mastered, move on to the more formal. I think Head Banger to Preppy is too huge jump between styles.

You said you wanted to still maintain a harder edge, while still looking grown up and professional. I think you could take inspiration from Milan Vukmirovic, who has a tough guy appearance, but who still looks comfortable in more conservative clothes. Just keep the patterns and colours subtle. Start of with greys, then see what else works and what doest.

 

[acridsheep]

Originally Posted by Dr Huh?

I think the key is to start off gradually. It's a mistake to jump right into a new style you're not yet comfortable with. So, start off slow. Focus on basics, and fit. And keep in mind you don't have to throw out your original ascetic altogether. Just try to streamline it. You always have the weekends to dress more casually. Instead of wearing band t-shirts, wear simple, solid t-shirts, preferably ones that aren't too baggy. You can still wear jeans, just go for classic fits. Same with boots, just buy ones in a more subtle style. Lose all dragons and skulls. Once you have your casual wear mastered, move on to the more formal. I think Head Banger to Preppy is too huge jump between styles.

You said you wanted to still maintain a harder edge, while still looking grown up and professional. I think you could take inspiration from Milan Vukmirovic, who has a tough guy appearance, but who still looks comfortable in more conservative clothes. Just keep the patterns and colours subtle. Start of with greys, then see what else works and what doest.

He also said he was going to law school, which means pretty much anything approximating Milan V would be untenable.