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THE EFFORTLESS GUIDE TO
GRADUATING YOUR STYLEE F F O R T L E S S G E N T . C O M
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM II
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 INTRODUCTION
04 BEFOREWEBEGIN
09 ASSESSINGYOURCURRENTWARDROBE
16 BUYINGTHEBASICS
32 THELISTOFESSENTIALS
39 PUTTINGITALLTOGETHER
53 CELEBRATINGYOURVICTORY
56 CONCLUSION
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 1
AN INTRODUCTIONWHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
MOST LIKELY YOURE A REGULAR READER
OF MY SITE, THE EFFORTLESS GENT, or per-
haps a friend told you about this, and, knowing
there was some room for improvement, you
put your faith in my advice and purchased this
guide. Regardless of how you found out about
this, Im glad youre here.
To me, true style was never about being up on
the latest trends, or knowing which article of
clothing to purchase for the sake of fashion.
Truestyle,inmyopinion,istimeless. Its about
understanding the basics of how to wear
clothes, and then discarding the rigidity of
those rules and bending them however you
please. Its about learning how to mix custom
made, high quality, tailored pieces with thrift
store finds. Its about combining a classic
look with a taste of current trends. Its about
understanding the basics, and building upon
them to make a look all your own.
Thepurposeofthisguideistohelpyoubuild
thatfoundation. You need a solid foundation
in order to make any progress in graduating
your style. How can you confidently pair com-
plex patterns and textures, for example, if you
still dont know how to pick a great fitting pair
of denim?
Most guys I talk to are looking for a place to
start. This guide is that place. Start here, fol-
low each suggestion, and by the end of this
guide, you will be confident in your decisions
and have a solid foundation from which to
build on.
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 2
AN INTRODUCTIONWHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
A SMALL THANKSI APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU, MY READERS, and am extremely thank-
ful that you bring your excitement, insightful
questions, and never-ending optimism to the
table with each email, tweet, and comment on
effortlessgent.com.
When I first started EG, I never thought Id
catch the attention of such a great group of
readers and supporters, and the emails and
messages I receive telling me how much
youve learned through the site really makes
all this worthwhile.
HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT ANY POINT while
reading this guide, dont hesitate to contact me.
You can hit me up on Twitter (@effortlessgent)
or leave your question on EGs Facebook Page
(facebook.effortlessgent.com).
Theres a huge benefit to asking your ques-
tions on Facebook; its likely that someone
elsemaybewonderingthesamething, and
our mini Q+A on the wall would have helped
others.
And although I love answering your questions
through email, if I have several people ask-
ing me the same thing, my answers would be
much more helpful if posted in a place where
everyone can read it.
In any case, Im always available here, just
send me a note: [email protected].
LETS GET TO IT, THEN.
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 4
BEFORE WE BEGINSETTING THE STANDARD & FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINT
IF YOURE READING THIS, CLEARLY, YOURE
LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE. The rags you
cover your body with on a daily basis arent
cutting it anymore, for whatever reason. Con-
gratulations to you for recognizing the need
for an upgrade.
SETTING THE STANDARDHow can you improve if you dont know where
you currently stand?
Think about this: If you were on an epic quest
to lose 80 lbs, would you just hop on a tread-
mill and start running? Would you saunter over
to the weight rack and start flailing around the
room with heavy dumbbells?
I mean, you could just plop yourself on a
treadmill and crank away, but why would you?
Do you know how far you should be running?
At what speed? What intensity? If you were
planning on strength training, do you know
the proper movements? The correct weight
to lift? How many sets and repetitions to do?
If you successfully did these random exercises
and managed to not kill yourself, would you be
able to tell if you improved? Did your muscles
grow? Did you lose inches in your waist? Did
your body fat percentage drop? How about
the number on the scale?
You catch muh drift. Youneedastartingpoint
fromwhichtoimprove,andyouneedaplan
ofaction.
Heres how well arrive at your starting point in
your epic quest to Graduate Your Style
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 5
FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINTTools: scale, tape measurer, patient wife/girl-
friend/friend/talented dog
1.)GETONTHESCALE
and weigh yourself! Seriously. Hopefully youre
satisfied with that number. Write it down.
Dont have a scale? Heres one I really like. Its
sleek, digital, and easy to read.
In case youre ashamed of that number (either
because its too high or too low), you know you
have some work to do.Maybe your motivation
to upgrade your style will extend into other
parts of your life as well. I know it did with me,
back in 2005 when I was 76 lbs heavier than
I am now. In fact, the motivation to improve
both happened in tandem.
Dont be surprised if you find yourself want-
ing to hit the gym to improve your health after
spending all this time improving your outward
appearance.
The point ofweighing yourself is two-fold.
One, you want a defined starting point, like I
mentioned earlier. Two, it keeps you honest.
If you weigh 50 lbs. more than you should
for a person your height, you wont sit there
trying to convince yourself you belong in a
Thom Browne skinny suit, or a pair of Levis
511 skinny jeans. Or maybe you will, but deep
down, youll know the truth.
And if youre 20 lbs underweight, you wont
be trying on loose fitting denim or full-cut
dress shirts (which you shouldnt really be do-
ing under any circumstances anyway).
So hop on the scale, and jot that number
down.
Next...
BEFORE WE BEGINSETTING THE STANDARD & FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINT
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 6
2.)TAKEYOURMEASUREMENTS
This is where youll need some as-
sistance from your wife/girlfriend/
friend/skilled pooch.
If you have a do-it-yourself tape
measurer, you can handle this part
on your own).
If using a
basic tape
measurer, you
may be able
to measure
some parts
yourself, but
most of the
time it will be easier with the help of
an assistant.
Youll need a few key measurements.
HOWTOTAKEYOURMEASUREMENTSPROPERLY:
1. Keep tape even and balanced as you wrap it
around your body part
2. When measuring, dont wrap it too tightly, other-
wise youll get a smaller-than-expected measure-
ment
3. If your tape is wrapped around too loosely, you
risk an uneven measurement as the tape is suscep-
tible to dropping down without you noticing
Dont overthink it, but at the same time, do this as care-
fully and accurately as you can. Take the measurement
twice, three times if you have to.
Youll be buying clothes based off these measurements,
so accuracy is key. Do thebestyoucan; I believe in
you!
BEFORE WE BEGINSETTING THE STANDARD & FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINT
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 7
YOUNEEDTOMEASURETHESEAREAS:
1. natural waist (standing straight with your
feet shoulder width apart, bend, and
where your torso bends is your natural
waist)
2. waist across belly button
3. hip (where your pants sit)
4. chest (across the nipple)
5. sleeve length (from center base of neck
across traps to shoulder, down to wrist)
6. inseam (from top of inner thigh to heel)
Recordthesemeasurementsandkeepthem
inyourwallet(orsomewhereyouwonteas-
ilyforget). You wont always need all of them,
but at some point in your ongoing quest to
graduate your style, youll find that having
such detailed measurements will come in
handy.
BEFORE WE BEGINSETTING THE STANDARD & FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINT
READY TO GET TO WORK?
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 9
Lets discuss the overarching guidelines to make this
process easier. Keep these in mind as you take a look at
the current state of your closet.
CLEANSE THE CLOSET LIBERALLYThis is about letting go of the old, the
unused, the overused, the inappropriate,
the pass.
T-shirts from high school you no longer
should be wearing, jeans that have the dad
wash (aka light or medium stonewash),
stained, oversized, holey hoodies. Let em
go.
(Feel bad about throwing them out? Well
discuss in a later chapter how to dispose of oldbut
still usablearticles of clothing.)
ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBE
Now that weve established a
starting point, lets examine where
weve been in our lives, stylewise.
Note: This may be painful. It will probably be challenging. It may take a bit of courage, strength, and a couple shots of whiskey, if youre that resistant to change.Most likely, itll just be confusing.
But hey, thats why youre using this
guide... to assist you during times of
confusion.
If youre a guy who at some point in
your adult life has taken an interest
in his appearance, theres a good
chance you will have some winning
items in your closet. Theres also
a good chance that most of it is
garbage and should be gotten rid of
(or at least not worn in public).
WHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 10
HANG ONTO CLASSICS, STANDARDS, AND BASICSGot a good pair of denim you spent hours
shopping for? Have a couple hand-me-down
Brooks Brothers dress shirts your older
brother wore in the 80s? Your dad pass down
his extensive collection of tailored sport coats
to you, and you two wear the same size?
Hold on to these pieces.
They will go through further filtering later, but
they have more potential than your collection
of Hypercolor tees you bought at Daytona
Beach 15 years ago.
KEEP WHAT YOU LOVE, MAKE SURE ITS WORTH ITYour favorite sweat pants, a beloved button-up
shirt, your teams tee from college intramurals.
Theyre not exactly sartorially approved, but
you love them. So keep them! Be honest with
yourself during this process, and dont justify
keeping every single article of clothing. Save
itforthetrulymemorableandspecialthings
inyourcloset.
Ask yourself this, if you find yourself hanging
onto too many items: Will keeping that ratty
sweatshirt hold me back from wearing
appropriate, grown-up outerwear when I leave
the house? Will I continue to default to this
oversized jacket because its so comfortable
and so familiar and Ive been wearing it for
years?
Hanging onto the past is a slippery slope.
Youve made the commitment, so lets see
this through. If youre strong enough to only
wear the ratty hoodie when youre bumming
around the house, then so be it. But be honest
with yourself.
ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEWHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 11
WHAT TO KEEP, WHAT TO THROW AWAYIts time to get down and dirty.
Designate three zones on your bed in which
youll categorize your clothing. If you have a
ton of clothing, you may have to designate
three zones in your room instead.
These are the three zones:
GIVEAWAYS
OCCASIONALS
ESSENTIALS
GIVEAWAYS
Giveaways are considered any clothing with
rips, holes, tears, and stains, things that you
no longer wear, or things that no longer fit.
Some exceptions to this rule are items that
you wear daily and have the potential to be
repaired (leather shoes that need to be resoled,
a favorite pair of jeans that can be patched).
Be honest with yourself when evaluating
each item, and beliberalwhengettingridof
things. Dont think of this process as losing or
getting rid of things, think of it as lightening
your load and easing your burden, making
room for new things in your life. Better things.
A general rule to follow: Ifyouhaventtouched
itinoneyear (or you cant remember the last
time you wore it), getridofit. Youll never put
it on again anyway.
OCCASIONALS
Occasionals are items you wear once in a
while. Youll keep a majority of them, but
youll surely be getting rid of some. Seasonal
clothing can be in this category since youll
only be wearing them for part of the year, and
will have to cycle them out / store them away
once the seasons change.
ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEWHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 12
You may also have those CRAZY pieces that
you like to wear once in a while, or for certain
occasions, but not all the time (my orange
Bonobos pants would be a good
example).
Further filtering:If two to three years have passed
and you havent worn it (or if you cant
remember the last time you did), getridofit.
You wont put it on again.
If its no longeryour style, or you cant see
yourself wearing it again, get rid of it.
If itsclearlydated,orill-fitting, get rid of it.
ESSENTIALS
Essentials are items you wear most often, or
basics that every closet must have. Things
like good denim and chinos, sweaters,
outerwear, solid-colored tees, underwear,
socks, accessories, suits, etc. Youll probably
be keeping most of the stuff in this pile.
Further filtering:If you have toomanyofacertainitem (either
through excessive unnecessary buying, or
neglecting to get rid of older items over the
years), get rid of it. For example, you only
really need three to five pairs of denim at the
most. Your secondary stash? Get rid of it.
If any of your essential items haveholes, get
ridofthemandreplacethem if necessary.
If you have ill-fitting essentials, get rid of
themandreplacethem if necessary.
AFTERYOUGROUPYOURCLOTHING
Once youve completed this exercise, you have
a better grasp on the StateOfTheCloset, aka
your Sartorial Situation. I totally just made
those two terms up right now.
ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEWHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 13
Now that your closet and drawers are gutted,
its time to put things back, and also to get rid
of the things that no longer belong in there.
TEST WHAT YOURE UNSURE OFAre you feeling torn about some of your clothes
(usually the ones in your Occasionals pile)?
Feel like you probably should give a certain
piece away, but you can imagine a scenario
or two where you might put it to good use?
Wore it a few times and youre unsure if youll
wear it again, but you spent a good amount
on it and you feel bad getting rid of it?
Ive felt that way about plenty of things. Heres
how to test those items, to see if theyre worth
keeping.
1. Find a spare closet, bedroom, or empty
section of your current closet (if the
latter, this has to be clearly separated)
2. Hang all your questionable items in the
spare closet
3. When you get the urge to wear an item
from the spare closet, pull it, wear it, and
when youre done, hang it back in your
active closet (the one with the majority of
your clothing)
4. After six months, all the clothes in your
spare closet that you havent touched
can be gotten rid of because you clearly
wont use it. Feel free to extend to a
year if you need to go through all four
seasons.
This is a fool-proof way of seeing which
itemsyouwearmost frequentlyandwhich
youcangetridof.
ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEWHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 14
A more extreme version of this method would
be to put every single Occasional and Essential
item in this spare closet, leaving your main
closet bare. Whenever you feel like wearing
something, pull it from the spare closet, wear
it, and when done, hang it up in your main
closet.
After six months (or a year) of doing so, youll
haveidentifiedyourmost-usedOccasionals
andEssentials. You can easily discard the rest.
HOW TO GET RID OF CLOTHESPurging that closet is a good idea, and is an
activity that needs to happen regularly (at
least once a year). Trust me, itll feel good
once youre done, and youll have more room.
Eventually, purging will happen less and less
frequently, because you will have trained
yourself to buy only whats necessary.
WHERETOGETRIDOFYOURGIVEAWAYS:
sell on eBay
sell to a thrift store (Crossroads, Buffalo
Exchange, Out of the Closet, or your local
boutique thrift stores)
donate to Salvation Army, Goodwill
give to homeless shelters, clothing drives
give to your younger siblings
Donteverjustthrowbagsofyourclothing
away. Even if theyre something you shouldnt
wear, there are many needy people out there
who would be thankful for ANY kind of cloth-
ing on their backs.
Make sure to do the right thing and donate
any clothing you dont sell.
ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEWHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS
WHAT TO BUY NEXT, AND WHY.
PLUS, THE LIST OF ESSENTIALS
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 16
BUYING THE BASICS
Alrighty, so if youve gotten this far, weve set the standard and determined a starting point with your body measurements. Weve also identified the essentials of any wardrobe, as well as the basics every closet should have. This section is about breaking
down exactly what youre buying
andwhy. Its also about finding items
that will stay relevant for years, and
identifying the situations where its
worth spending extra for superior
quality.
BASICSYOUR BASICS ARE THINGS THAT
YOU WEAR EVERY DAY. Things like
underwear, A-shirts (aka tanks or
wife beaters), T-shirts, V-necks,
socks (both athletic and dressy). Most likely, since these
items get a lot of wear, youll be replacing them regularly.
Because of this, I suggest spending an amount youre
comfortable with.
UNDERWEAR
The boxer brief is the kind of underwear I
suggest from here on out. No tighty-whiteys,
no loose cotton boxers, and definitely no man
thongs.
This is a great middle ground; grown men wear
it, and theres enough support for your most
prized possessions, if you know what I mean.
Buy a variety and stay stocked up. I go for the
grays and blacks.
Some people prefer buying designer underwear, but
sometimes they go for $25-$30 or more for ONE pair.
Personally,Id rather spend my money on other things,
so if youre like me, check out something like the Hanes
comfort fit. Minimal branding, solid colors, no frills, but
ITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 17
they get the job done. Alternatively, you can
hit up bargain stores like Ross or Marshalls
and find the brand name stuff in three packs
for a deeply discounted price.
T-SHIRTS
Same goes for T-shirts and A-shirts. If youre
a no-nonsense man, pick up a 3- or 5-pack of
white Hanes tees (or whatever your preferred
brand) and be on your merry way. Id grab
several heather gray shirts as well, and maybe
a couple navy and black ones. This is all your
preference, of course, and it depends on what
youll use most.
I wear V-necks much more frequently. Hanes
and other similar brands have white V-necks
in most stores or online. I usually wear grey
V-necks or colors other than white.
I purchase mine from places like J.Crew, Gap,
and even Old Navy. Youd be surprised at how
soft the Gap and Old Navy tees are, and how
often they run specials like 2 for $15. When
they do go on promotion, pick some up if you
know your basics are due for a refresh.
SOCKS
Athletic socks: same story. I prefer no-show
ankle socks (ones that hit below the ankle
bone). I only wear these when Im working out,
and I do NOT wear them with leather dress
shoes. Thats what dress socks are for.
With dressy socks, you have a wider selection
of stores and price ranges to choose from.
Dress socks are typically made from cotton,
wool, cashmere, or a blend of these materials.
You can find a pair of socks on sale for $5, or
you could go to a high-end department store
and buy a pair for $50. Its up to you to decide
what youd like to spend.
BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 18
I buy a lot of my socks from J.Crew, and a
brand called Happy Socks. Happy Socks has
every color and style imaginable, and is a
great place to start if youre unsure of
where to buy. You can find Happy Socks
at various stores, or online.
I encourage guys to be experimental
here. Its one of the few areas where we
dudes have the opportunity to express a
little uniqueness.
Even though Im classifying these as dress
socks, dont feel like you can only wear them
on dressy occasions. I wear these socks every
day, with all types of shoes, from brogues to
desert boots to my low-top Converse sneakers.
WHATWELEARNED
SHIRTS (A-SHIRTS, T-SHIRTS, V-NECKS)
buy several in white, heather gray, and any
other colors you like
heather gray V-necks are best for under-
neath dress shirts
Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, other brands
from Target are fine
Big box stores with basics are good for
color V-necks (Gap, J.Crew)
UNDERWEAR
boxer briefs
stick with darker colors
spend as little as $15 for a 5-pack, or $30+
for one pair at higher-end department
stores
SOCKS
athletic socks - no-show or ankle
dressy - practically anywhere, cotton or
cotton blend, wool for colder months
BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 19
ESSENTIALSYOURE LUCKY. You went through the steps,
evaluated the State Of The Closet, cleared out
what no longer belongs, and sorted through
the items worth keeping. Youve also just
restocked the basics. Youre in a great spot!
Do a little happy dance. Dont worry, Ill be
right here waiting.
Okay great. Im excited for you too! In case
youre unsure why you should be so excited,
its because yourclosetisnowinbettershape
than95%oftheEarthsmalepopulation.
Lets get started replacing the items you got
rid of, and buying things you never knew you
needed in the first place.
Keep in mind, the shopping lists at the end of
each section are samples, or bare minimums of
what you may need. If you find yourself want-
ing to pick up more, go for it.
COVERINGYOURTORSO
There are four types of shirts that you should
have in your closet. This will cover you (pun
intended) in practically any situation:
T-SHIRTS
We covered this a bit in the Basics section.
There are a variety of styles, from crewneck to
deep v, to u-neck. I stick with basic crewnecks
and V-necks, and I suggest you do as well.
SHOPPING LIST:
one 5-pack white, gray, or black crewneck
or V-neck tees (whichever you think youll
wear most)
one 5-pack light gray V-neck tees (for
underneath your light colored dress shirts)
BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 20
an aside: Remember in Part A (Before We Begin) in the section titled Formulating Your
Starting Point I had you write down your
measurements?
This is when you can whip out that piece of
paper. It will help you find the ideal fit for your
clothes, starting here with your T-shirts.
Youll often see a similar size chart on T-shirt
packaging; this one in particular is from Hanes.
So according to this chart, if your chest mea-
sures 38, then youll want to purchase a size M.
Simple, right? Arent you glad you took your
measurements beforehand?
POLOS
Polo shirts are an awesome, dressier al-
ternative to tees; in fact, I prefer them
over tees all the time. If youre leaving the
house, consider throwing on one of these
instead of your basic tee; youll look ten
times more put together.
My favorite is the Polo Ralph Lauren Custom
Fit polos, they seem to fit best and have a
modern cut that is more tailored to the body.
Practically every mens store carries its own
version of a polo shirt. Go to your favorite
store and try some on.
SOME NOTES ON FIT:
consider a piqu weave, which allows for
more breathability.
sleeves should stop at mid bicep and hug
your arm
BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 21
the bottom of the polo should hit at your
hips, or 1-2 past your belt; make sure its
not too long
overall, the shirt should hug your torso,
but not suffocate you
SHOPPING LIST
one white or heather grey polo
one black or navy polo
one polo in your favorite color
Take a look at this Back to Basics article for
tips on choosing a good color.
DRESSSHIRT
Ah, the dress shirt something the modern
man must have a closetful of, right?
Well, kinda. You really only need a few to get
you through the week, though that may depend
on your profession or how you spend your days
(if youre a cubicle-dweller vs. a professional
mud-wrestler or snake charmer, for example).
I wear a button-down shirt almost every day,
so I have quite a few. At the very least, youll
need what Ive listed in the shopping list below.
SOME NOTES ON FIT:
You want your shirt to be fitted throughout
the body. Not tight or extra skinny, just
hugging the torso.
The image to the
right is an example
of Brooks Brothers
different shirt models.
Shirts labeled slim fit
are great, because
they trim the excess
material out of the
shirts midsection, so you dont have billowy
fabric when you tuck it in. They also trim the
extra fabric from the sleeves so it doesnt look
like you have giant, saggy arms.
BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 22
Even if you think youre too meaty for shirts
that are considered slim fitting, you may be
surprised. Find one in your size, and you may
notice that they actually fit better than you
thought.
Choose a shirt with a basicspreadcollar. This
is by far the most flattering style no matter
the shape of your head and
face. When you button your
collar, there should be room
for one finger in between
yourneckandthecollar. If you have room for
two or more fingers when stacked on top of
(not next to) each other, you need to drop
down a size.
Feelthefabric. For a dress shirt, you want a
lustrous fabric soft to the touch, tightly woven
with a high thread count. You dont need to
remember all that, just know that a softer,
more luxurious fabric is considered a dressier
shirt (and it feels better when you wear it).
Contrast that with an oxford cloth button-
down shirt and youll feel the difference,
which is one of the reasons why oxford shirts
are considered more casual.
Your cuff should hit right at your wrist with
your arms at your side. You want a little length
in your sleeve to allow for movement, but not
so much that you have fabric bunching at your
wrist when your arms are to the side. Use your
best judgement.
Lastly, watch out for overly trendy dress
andsportshirts. Youll know what Im talking
about when you see them. You can find them
in clubs and bars across the country, worn by
douchey dudes who think they look hot.
Whats considered a trendy button-down?
Shirts with dragons or words screenprinted
on. Shirts with double or triple collars, crazy
obvious buttons in odd shapes, excess buttons
on the cuffs and collar, contrast stitching on
BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 23
every button hole, unnecessary contrasting
on the inside of the cuffs, collar, plackets, etc.
If the shirt is screaming Look at me! Look at
me!, please, look away.
SHOPPING LIST
one white oxford cloth button down shirt
one white pinpoint or poplin dress shirt
(remember, it should feel soft to the
touch)
one light blue pinpoint or poplin dress shirt
In general, higher-end stores will have a more
quality selection. If you only own one white
dress shirt, make the purchase count, and get
something thats worth owning.
If youre purchasing patterns and colors to
experiment, check out places like Gap, J.Crew,
and Banana Republic for every type of color
and pattern imaginable.
Remember, this shopping list is the bare
minimum. The right amount and combination
of dress shirts that belong in your closet is
completely subjective, and depends a lot on
how you spend your days.
If you work in a corporate environment, your
need for dress shirts will probably be higher
than someone who works as a web developer,
or a wood chopper, or a line cook.
However, everyone could use, at the very
least, one well-fitting white oxford shirt, one
white dress shirt, as well as one light blue
dress shirt. From there, Ill leave it to you to
decide how to populate your closet.
No matter what, just make sure the shirts
you buy fit you perfectly. Also, buyslow. You
dont want to overpopulate the closet with
unwanted purchases you just worked so hard
to clean out.
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SWEATERS
I have a bit of a sweater obsession. In San
Francisco, the weather is usually around 65
degrees year-round. Sometimes its hotter,
sometimes a bit chillier. When the fog rolls in,
you thank your lucky stars you bundled up.
At the same time, its usually too hot for huge
parkas or down jackets that are necessary to
survive those east coast and midwest winters.
Sweatersareaperfectlayeringpiece. Wear
them over a T-shirt or a dress shirt, and
underneath a coat. You can always take it off
if youre too hot.
COTTON? WOOL? CASHMERE? A BLEND? OR SOMETHING ELSE?
Cotton is easiest to take care of. You can throw
it in the washer, while wool sweaters typically
need to be dry cleaned.
Cashmere is also another nice choice. While
on the pricier side, its softness is unmatched
and the fabric itself is very breathable.
CREW NECK? V-NECK? SHAWL COLLAR?
Again, this is your decision. Try on several,
and see what you like. I have plenty of V-neck
sweaters because I wear them over dress
shirts, and that just seems to work better for
me.
SHOPPING LIST:
one navy cotton or wool crew neck
one cotton, wool, cotton/wool blend, or
cashmere V-neck, your choice of color
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DENIMIVE COVERED THIS ON EFFORTLESS GENT,
and theres a wealth of information out there
about the different types of denim.
To keep it simple, you really only need one
pair of denim. Makesureitsdark,inkyblue
denim,unwashed,notwhiskered,notworn,
notartificiallyfaded. Thats all you need!
Lets talk about fit, and well use the Levis
brand to compare fits since its one of the
most widely-available brands.
If youre a slim dude with a thin frame, the 511
model may be perfect for you.
If you want a little more room in the leg (or
you happen to have a bit more meat on your
bones), try the 514 Slim Straight.
If youre a tall dude, or you do a lot of squats
and you have a rather large derriere and quads,
the 501 or 505 may be your cup of tea. This is
a straight leg with a normal rise, so it will sit
more comfortably right below your waist.
So, in case youre unsure of the type of fit
you want, try these three out at your local
department store, and afterwards, you will
have a better idea of the kind of denim that
fits you.
Bonus points for buying the pair that best fits,
then going home and measuring the inseam,
rise, thigh, and calf widths. That way, youll
be better prepared the next time you try to
order denim online and cant try it on. (See
The Essential Measurements at the end of this
manual for guided illustrations.)
WHYDARKDENIM?
A pair of dark blue unwashed denim is the
most versatile, and since were rebuilding a
closet with the basics, where practically every
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piece can be worn with something else in the
closet, this style fits the bill perfectly.
THE PANTS PURCHASEIDEALLY, EVERY PAIR OF PANTS YOU OWN
WILL FIT LIKE YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF
DENIM. Since every make is different, youll
have to go through the same process you went
through finding jeans.
SHOPPING LIST
one pair of corduroy pants (medium / dark
khaki, slate gray)
one pair of chinos (medium khaki, slate
gray)
one pair of tailored trousers in wool or
flannel (charcoal gray, navy)
Anoteaboutthetrousers: You may find tai-
lored trousers with an unfinished hem. This is
obvious if the pants are super long when you
try them on, and they have no cuff or finished
edge.
This is good and bad.
Bad because you have to take them to a tailor,
and if youre like most guys, youre lazy.
Good because you can take them to a tailor
and get the perfect inseam length.
Muster up the strength and courage to take a
trip to your tailor. Its worth the extra effort and
in the end, youll have a fitted pair of tailored
trousers with the perfect inseam.
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THE ONE SUIT YOU NEEDSINCE YOURE READING THIS MANUAL, YOU
MOST LIKELY DONT HAVE THE ONE SUIT
YOU NEED, or if you had some version of it,
its probably dated and / or ill-fitting.
In the off-chance youve worked ahead and
already purchased The One Suit You Need,
feel free to skip this section. If you havent yet
found The One Suit You Need, read on.
SHOPPING LIST: THE ONE SUIT YOU NEED
Single-breasted suit
100% medium weight wool
Navy color
single or double vent
Plain- or flat-front trousers
Modern cut and tailoring
Notch lapel
WHYNAVY?
Navy is a richer and more flattering color
than black. You can use this in practically any
situation youd need a suit, and youd never
stick out or look out of place in navy.
Save black for funeral-goers and ultra formal
attire (like tuxedos).
THE SECOND SUIT YOULL NEED
THE ONE SUIT YOU NEED, BUT IN CHARCOAL
GRAY INSTEAD.
PLACES TO BUY:
custom: Black Lapel, Indochino
pricier: Nordstrom / Boss Black
mid-range / store: Brooks Brothers
Fitzgerald 1818
mid-range / online: Lands End (jacket,
pants), (may be a more traditional cut)
more affordable / store: Macys
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DONT IGNORE YOUR FEETA MAN CAN HAVE PLENTY OF SHOES FOR
ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF SITUATIONS, but
the smart man really only needs 3 pairs for
a majority of his outings. Here are the three
pairs to start with.
SHOPPING LIST:
BrownOxford: the perfect dress shoe, ap-
propriate for all dressy occasions
Desert/ChukkaBoot: a great shoe for
your off days, comfortable, good looking
Casualsneaker: the ultimate casual shoe,
unadorned, no screaming logos, goes
great with everything
WHYABROWNOXFORD?
Listen, blacks great and all... but lets be
honest here. You probably already own or have
owned a pair of black shoes. Black is probably
your default color for a dress shoe, at least
before you started reading this manual.
Nothings wrong with black. Its great, really.
But we men need to get away from black dress
shoes. Everyone does it! Its the easy way out.
Not to mention, theres only one shade of
black. There are multiple shades of brown
leather dress shoes (tan to cognac all the way
to a burgundy) meaning you have a wider
selection to choose from, and the ability to
add more visual interest to whatever youre
putting on.
SOMECHOICES:
BROWN CAP-TOE OXFORDS
Allen Edmonds Park Avenue in Walnut Grain
Calf $325
Johnston & Murphy Melton in Bordeaux
Brushed Veal (Burgundy, basically) $175
Bostonian Dennison in Brown $95
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DESERT BOOT / CHUKKA BOOT
Clarks Desert Boot $110
Cole Haan Air Charles Chukka $198
Sperry Top-sider Boat Oxford Desert Boot
$100
CASUAL SNEAKER
Seavees Linen Plimsoll in Parchment Linen
$75.99 - $95
Converse Jack Purcell in White $56-$70
Converse Chuck Taylor in Charcoal or White
$40-$50
Those are the three types you NEED. You also
have a bunch of other choices (see this article,
and this one, both on effortlessgent.com.)
TREADLIGHTLYHERE(PUN INTENDED)
Wear with CAUTION, and only in the right
situations... if at all. If youre unsure, just stay
away.
clogs / crocs: youre a chef in a restaurant
flip-flops: youre on the beach
Vibram: youre a barefoot runner
Nike high tops: youre playing ball
Shell Toe Adidas: youre in a breakdance
battle
Birkenstocks: youre... never, actually
Sandals: youre a 89-year-old tourist
visiting a tropical climate; must pair with
stripe-top tube socks
For a basic guide to the Dos and Donts of
your more causal shoes, check out this Back
to Basics post on Effortless Gent.
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MANCESSORIESTHIS IS THE THE STUFF THAT COMPLETES
THE LOOK, keeps things together, adds the
finishing touches... you get the idea.
WALLET
Keep yours slim, and only carry around what
you need. This should be super minimal,
preferably one that doesnt open up, like this
standard card holder by Corter. You
only need your license, your bank
and/oracreditcard,andsomething
toholdoneortwobills.
Receipts? Old Starbucks gift cards?
Membership card to the gym you never go to?
Throw em in that junk drawer in your kitchen
(you know, that one drawer that virtually every
kitchen has). Those useless things are taking
up space in your pocket, and that real estate
is limited as-is.
CUFFLINKS
If you wear french cuff shirts, you only need
one pair of cufflinks. Choose something simple
and elegant to go with all your shirts.
Or better yet, pick up a few pairs of silk knots.
These are my preferred choice when wearing
french cuff shirts. Theyre inexpensive and you
can get them in a wide array of colors.
COLLARSTAYS
Most shirting comes with a pair of collar stays,
so you may not need to purchase extras. But
in case you lost all of yours, you can easily find
some at your local store, or even on Amazon.
No matter what you do, make sure you use
them in your dress shirts. This prevents the
dreaded floppy, flattened collar and will keep
you looking crisp.
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BAGS
The happy medium between your old Jansport
and a leather briefcase is the messengerbag.
Keep it slim, and make sure there are a few
pockets or sections on the inside so you have
an easy time organizing your stuff. Otherwise,
itll end up becoming a messy, bottomless
abyss, sorta like your girlfriends purse.
Youll be tempted to pack your whole life into
that bag whenever you leave the
house, but resist. Bring only what
you need and youll be a much
happier man.
A durable leather is your number
one choice, with a canvas style a
close second. My favorite canvas one is the
Filson model you see to the left. The leather
options can be pricey, but choose wisely and
youll have it until your 200th birthday.
HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS:
J.Crew Montague leather satchel $298
Saddleback leather company thin tobacco
briefcase $423
Property of Tommy Work Bag in Sand
$248
Filson orginal briefcase $216
Ben Sherman Hunt Messenger bag $89
Kenneth Cole Durango Messenger bag $195
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THE LIST OF ESSENTIALSNOT SURE WHERE TO START? WORK ON THIS LIST
IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
START OVER FROM SCRATCH with
an empty closet, and youre looking
to own only a handful of great-quality
pieces with a sufficient supply of stan-
dards and basics, what would you
stock up on? What should you skip?
Hereswhatyoushouldshootforin
yourcloset. If you have these items at
the bare minimum, you could be well-
dressed in practically any situation.
You dont need much, you just need
the right things to create a flex-
ible, interchangeable wardrobe with
items that all work with each other.
This is a good start.
ONEPAIRINKY,FITTED,DARKBLUEDENIM
ONEPAIRFITTEDCHINOS
OXFORDCLOTHBUTTONDOWNSHIRTS
FINECOTTONDRESSSHIRTS
POLOSHIRTSINBASICCOLORS&YOURFAVORITES
3-5MEDIUM-WEIGHTLAYERINGSWEATERS
KHAKISPORTCOAT
CASUALJACKET
CHARCOALGRAYSUIT
NAVYSUIT
NAVYDOUBLE-BREASTEDPEACOAT
BROWNLEATHERLACE-UPS
BLACKLEATHERLACE-UPS
DRESSSOCKS
NECKTIES
HEATHERGRAYV-NECKS
BOXERBRIEFS
NO-SHOWATHLETICSOCKS
BROWNANDBLACKLEATHERBELT
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THESEAREMERELYEXAMPLES
The products I listed are just examples of
what currently exist right now. You dont
have to purchase these specific ones. In fact,
Im certain there are a multitude of brands
across many price points that make the items
I described.
The important thing is that you find these spe-
cific essentials (again, regardless of brand or
price point). Theactualitems,notthecostor
thebrandofsaiditems,arewhatsimportant.
STARTSMALL,ADDWHENNEEDED
You may need more than the quantity I specified,
but start with these and expand as you learn
your needs to avoid acquiring more than you
need. Thepointistohavejustenoughsoyou
dontoverspendandyoudontendupwithan
overstuffedclosetagain. You worked hard to
get rid of all that crap already, remember?
WHATYOUSEEISWHATYOU(CAN)BUY
The image you see next to each essential item
corresponds to the brand and the link I pro-
vided. These photos belong to these brands,
and I didnt photograph them.
ONLINEINVENTORYISFICKLE
Companies change their products all the time.
Inventory runs out. Brands decide to stop
manufacturing certain pieces. It goes without
saying these links may or may not work,
depending on when you read this manual.
Rest assured these examples arent the only
ones out there; youll find plenty of brands
making great oxford shirts or casual jackets,
for example.
Its up to you to get out there in the real
worldandstarttryingonclothes.
THE LIST OF ESSENTIALSSOME THINGS TO REMEMBER
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ONEPAIROFDARKBLUEDENIM
Ive said it once, and Ill say it again (and again,
and again), all a man needs is a great pair of
well-fitting, inky, dark blue denim. Keep it free
of embroidery, embellishments, and decora-
tive anything. Buy a few pairs, just in case.
Gap 1969 Straight Fit Denim
ONEPAIROFFITTEDCHINOS
A man cant live on denim alone. Chinos
should fit as perfectly as your jeans do. When
you find that fit, buy several in different colors
(brown, slate gray, dark khaki, olive green).
Gap 1969 Denim-washed Khaki
THE LIST OF ESSENTIALSBREAKING IT DOWN, PIECE BY PIECE
OXFORDCLOTHBUTTONDOWNSHIRTS
Start with one white and one light blue. After
a while, youll realize you love these shirts and
want more. if the fit is perfect, stock up. Also,
dont be afraid to try other colors (lavender,
pale yellow, mint green, dove gray).
Brooks Brothers Extra Slim Fit Oxford Shirt
FINECOTTONDRESSSHIRTS
Oxford cloth shirts are great casual options,
but when you want to dress it up a notch, go
with a finer cotton shirt. As far as colors, same
advice as above.
Brooks Brothers Extra Slim Fit White Dress Shirt
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POLOSHIRTS
If youre stepping out of the house and think-
ing about wearing a T-shirt again, put on one
of these instead. It will take your look up one
level without really trying.
Pick up a few fitted versions in basic colors
and the rest in your favorite shades. Dont be
afraid of vibrant hues.
Polo Ralph Lauren Custom Fit Polo Shirts
3-5LAYERINGSWEATERS
These sweaters should be of a medium weight,
in a merino wool, cashmere, or cotton (or
some blend of the three). Youll use these pri-
marily for layering (think underneath a jacket
or sportcoat) or as your uppermost layer on
warmer days where a jacket isnt needed.
Same advice on color as for polo shirts.
J.Crew Cashmere sweater
KHAKISPORTCOAT
The perfect alternative to a light jacket, make
sure this fits as perfectly as your suit jack-
ets do. Just because you wear this casually,
doesnt mean you should slack on tailoring.
For starters, wear these with gray flannel
trousers or dark denim. In the warmer months,
white denim looks great.
Orvis pure cotton twill sport coat
CASUALJACKET
A Harrington jacket, leather jacket, or military-
style waxed canvas jackets; these would all
work well here. This will be worn on your off
days, running errands, etc.
You may need more than one. Purchase wisely,
and buy quality. These should last you for
years (especially something in leather).
LEC Canvas field jacket
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CHARCOALGRAYANDNAVYSUITS
If you only owned two suits, these should be it.
Make sure to choose an all-season wool, wear-
able no matter the time of year.
The most versatile will be a two-button, single
or double vented, trim fit model with flat-front
trousers.
J.Crew Ludlow two-button suiting
NAVYDOUBLE-BREASTEDPEACOAT
The best coat for keeping warm and looking
good. Easily dressed up or down, this coat is a
staple in every mans wardrobe.
This coat should be trim fitting, just like every-
thing else in your wardrobe.
J.Crew Bayswater Peacoat
BROWNANDBLACKLEATHERLACE-UPS
The one shoe I recommend for everyone is a
perfect pair of chestnut brown captoe oxfords.
They go with everything from your suits to
your dark denim.
Second would be a similar shoe in black leath-
er. That way, all your bases will be covered.
Florsheim Millport
NECKTIES
The sweet spot for necktie width is between
2 1/4 and 2 7/8. Try not to stray too far past that
range when shopping for ties.
Choose colors, patterns, and fabrics based on
what you like, though its always a good idea
to have a few basics in there.
J.Crew Neckties
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SOCKS(DRESSANDATHLETIC)
Go a little crazy with dress socks and be lib-
eral with color. Fine gauge dress socks go with
dressier outfits and leather shoes. Thicker cot-
ton or wool socks can go with brogues, boots,
even casual sneakers.
The best athletic socks are white and no-show
(below the ankle bone). Only wear these with
athletic shoes and when youre being active.
Happy Socks, Hanes Low-Cut socks
HEATHERGRAYV-NECKS
If youre wearing a shirt underneath your
dress shirt, it should be a heather gray V-neck.
Heather gray blends better with your skin
than white, and the V-neck hides the fact that
youre even wearing anything at all.
Hanes ComfortSoft V-necks
BOXERBRIEFS
Basic cotton boxers are too baggy and bunch
underneath your perfectly fitted pants. Tighty
whiteys are supremely unattractive.
The wonderful invention of the boxer brief
marries the shape of the boxer with the com-
fort and support of a brief. Boom. Choose
black or charcoal. Much sleeker in case you
ever get caught with your pants down.
Hanes ComfortSoft boxer brief
LEATHERBELTINBROWNANDBLACK
Choose at least one brown and one black that
are closest to the shade of the leather dress
shoes you just purchased. Find something
that isnt too casual nor too dressy. Eventually,
youll have several, but for now, this is all you
need.
Dockers Feather Edge belt
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What good is clearing your closet and filling it with great pieces if you dont know how to combine them all?
Thats exactly what this section will discuss.
To be clear, with the items you just picked up,
you have hundreds and hundreds of potential
combinations.
Theres no way we can list each and every pos-
sible combo, but what we can do is give you a
few common situations you may find yourself
in, and how you should dress for each.
EACH OUTFIT LISTED BELOW CAN BE PUT
TOGETHER FROM A COMBINATION OF
PIECES IN THE LIST OF ESSENTIALS.
Remember that these are suggestions, not
hard-and-fast rules. Experimentation is en-
dorsed and encouraged, and substitutions
are more than okay.
Go with your gut, but if you find yourself
wearing the same things over and over again,
force yourself to break out of your rut and try
something different!
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THE DATEDate considerations:
Location: Where do you live? Whats the
climate like this time of year? Dress appropri-
ately for that.
Venue: Where will you be going? Is it a casual
first date? Formal? Somewhere in between?
Thedetails: What will you be doing before,
during, and after? Will you be subject to
changing temperatures? Lots of walking? Do
you get hot easily? How about cold?
THENO-FAILFIRSTDATEOUTFIT
This (or a variation of this) outfit will work in a
majority of common date situations
dark, inky blue denim
fitted sport shirt (subtle stripe, solid white
or light blue oxford, or a plaid)
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERYOU HAVE ALL THE GEAR, NOW LEARN HOW TO WEAR IT
navy or gray single-breasted sport coat
a great pair of cotton socks (go colorful)
a pair of brown lace ups
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DINNERANDDRINKS
When youre going for dinner and drinks, usu-
ally its to more classy establishments. Make
sure you dress the part. Heres something you
can put on:
Navy trousers
lavender oxford cloth button-up
khaki sport coat
brown lace ups
brown belt
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DINNERANDDRINKS,CONT.
ALTERNATIVE #1:
charcoal gray suit
light blue button-up dress shirt
muted solid or patterned wool tie
brown lace ups
brown belt
ALTERNATIVE #2:
dark denim
white button-up dress shirt
charcoal suit jacket (part of suit)
black lace ups
black belt
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MOVIES,MUSEUMS,STROLLSINTHEPARK
(THECASUALDATE)
chinos
navy polo shirt (or white T-shirt)
burgundy or brown V-neck sweater
white canvas sneakers
brown belt
ALTERNATIVE:
dark denim
plaid sport shirt
grey sweater or cardigan
brown lace ups
brown belt
ADDITIONS:
brisk? navy blazer, harrington jacket
prettycold? peacoat
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THE EVERYDAY OUTFIT
Wear something like this when youre
hanging out with friends, checking out a
book from the library, grabbing coffee with
your significant other, running errands
basically any time youre leaving the house
with nowhere special to go.
chinos
gray T-shirt
navy sweater
canvas sneakers
brown belt
jacket (if necessary)
ALTERNATIVES:
dark denim instead of chinos
polo shirt instead of T-shirt
oxford shirt instead of polo or T-shirt
no sweater
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WELL-DRESSED (BUT NOT TOO DRESSY)
Sometimes you want to look polished (your typi-
cal casual outfit wont work) but not too polished.
Maybe youre going to happy hour at a swanky
bar or lounge, an opening at an art gallery,
church on Sunday morning, or having dinner
with your boss and his wife. Here are some
options:
charcoal gray trousers (part of suit)
light blue dress shirt
khaki blazer
brown lace ups
brown belt
ALTERNATIVE #2:
dark denim
white dress shirt
charcoal gray suit jacket
black lace ups
black belt
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LOOKING YOUR BESTSometimes you have to look sharp. Really sharp.
Maybe youre attending a wedding, a fancy
dinner, a groundbreaking ceremony, or meet-
ing the President at the White House. Every
man attends similar events a couple times a
year (except for maybe that last one).
Lucky for you, you dont need a wardrobe
full of dress clothes to look your best. For
the majority of guys, one suit is all you
need. If you shopped the List of Essentials
from Part B, you should already have one.
HERESHOWTOPULLOFFTHAT
CHARCOALSUIT:
charcoal suit
white dress shirt
silk striped or micro patterned tie
black lace ups
black belt
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ALTERNATIVE #1:
charcoal suit
light blue dress shirt
solid or micro patterned wool tie
brown lace ups
brown belt
ALTERNATIVE #2:
charcoal suit
plaid dress shirt
solid or micro patterned wool tie
brown lace ups
brown belt
ADDITIONS:
if its cold, throw on a solid cashmere V-
neck sweater
you may also need a dressier overcoat,
trench coat, or peacoat, depending on
the weather. Just make sure the coat you
wear is slim fitting and longer than your
suit jacket.
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THE JOB INTERVIEW
No matter how formal or informal the people
at your future office dress, its important you
make a good first impression, even if that
means overdressing at the interview.
charcoal gray suit
white poplin dress shirt
colorful striped, plaid, or patterned tie.
black lace ups
black belt
air of confidence
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERYOU HAVE ALL THE GEAR, NOW LEARN HOW TO WEAR IT
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 49
I worked at a tech company after college, and
the definition of formal meant putting on a
shirt with buttons on it.
If you know the industrys standard of
dress is super casual, its still important to
put your best foot forward during the in-
terview; your future boss will be impressed
you took the time to look your best, even if
he doesnt say so.
ALTERNATIVE:
dark denim
light blue dress shirt
striped / micro patterned tie
navy blazer (or charcoal suit jacket)
brown lace ups
brown belt
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERYOU HAVE ALL THE GEAR, NOW LEARN HOW TO WEAR IT
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 50
HEADING TO CLASSIf youre in college, youre most likely surrounded
by a bunch of schlubs running to class in
sweatpants, or faded denim, graphic tees, and
flip flops.
Why be like them? You dont have to dress
with a lack of care just because everyone else
is. Here are some ideas to get you going.
Chinos
plaid sport shirt
cardigan
navy canvas sneakers
brown belt
ALTERNATIVE #1:
denim
red polo shirt
grey crew neck sweater
brown lace ups
brown belt
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERYOU HAVE ALL THE GEAR, NOW LEARN HOW TO WEAR IT
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 51
ALTERNATIVE #2:
charcoal grey trousers (part of suit)
white T-shirt
sweater (choose your favorite color)
white canvas sneakers
harrington jacket or military-style jacket
ALTERNATIVE #3:
dark denim
grey V-neck T-shirt
khaki sport coat
white canvas sneakers
brown belt
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERYOU HAVE ALL THE GEAR, NOW LEARN HOW TO WEAR IT
CELEBRATING YOUR VICTORY
CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER
CONCLUSION
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 53
WOW, YOUVE COME A LONG WAY.
When you first bought this manual, you were poorly-dressed, directionless, and lost underneath a pile of terrible ill-fitting and unnecessary clothing.Youtookastand and said Enoughs enough!,
taking your image and appearance and self-
worth into your own hands.
You assessed your current situation and
establishedastartingpoint, making note of
every measurement relating to your body, and
you armed yourself with this knowledge so
you could make educated choices once you
were ready to buy some good clothing.
YoustudiedtheListofEssentials, taking note
of whats most important for you to own now,
and what youll have to buy soon enough.
You took a look at your currentwardrobe,
decided what absolutely had to go, what was
necessary to keep, and what had potential but
needed further thought and examination.
You discarded all your holey, tattered garments,
pieces you no longer wore, things that no
longer fit. You debated the questionable items,
kept what you loved but got rid of things you
knew youd never touch again.
When you finished, you had an organized closet
and drawers, stocked with items you already
owned that you could continue wearing.
You also had a few garbage bags full of clothing
that needed to be discarded, donated, or
given away.
CELEBRATING YOUR VICTORYNOW, THAT WASNT SO HARD, WAS IT?
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 54
After completing the necessary cleanup, it
was timetorestockthecloset with essentials
and basics meant to last years.
Youlearnedtoshootforquality where it truly
mattered, and to focus on value when it was
okay to do so. Restocking the closet is an on-
going process, but youre now well underway.
Finally, you learned what to do with the clothes
in your newly-organized, freshly-stocked closet.
You learned how to put together outfits
dependingonthesituation you find yourself
in, based on the List of Essentials.
Now, youre a new man! Look how far youve
come. Your biggest challenge going forward
will be to keep that closet clean and free from
unnecessary pieces that arent easily inter-
changeable, or pieces youll only wear once
before deciding you can no longer wear them.
HERE ARE SOME CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER GOING FORWARD
ANALYZEBEFOREYOUBUY
Really think about something before you
buy it. How badly do you need this item?
Will it become one of those things you wear
once, and then relegate to the deep, dark
recesses of your closet, never to be seen
again? Is it a spontaneous purchase that
you may regret later?
Becertainofthepurchasesyoumake. If you
dont really need it, and youre unsure if it will
be something you can wear for a really long
time with many other items in your closet,
then just pass on it.
CELEBRATING YOUR VICTORYNOW, THAT WASNT SO HARD, WAS IT?
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 55
INTERCHANGEABILITYISKEY
Continue to curate a closet filled with
interchangeable pieces, items that go with
practically everything else in your closet. That
way, youll never run out of options nor will
you get tired of your selection.
SPENDMOREWHEREITCOUNTS
Found a topcoat or leather jacket you absolutely
love for $500? Could be worth it. A drawerful of
boxer briefs at $35 a pair? Not so much, unless
youre a professional underwear model.
Then again, what counts is subject to
personal preference. You may be the type to
treasure luxurious boxer briefs. Partofhaving
great personal style is knowing what you
careaboutmost. Maybe top-tier underwear
is a priority for you. If thats what counts, then
by all means, spend those dollars. Just make
sure what youre spending your hard-earned
cash on matters to you.
RESULTSDONTHAPPENOVERNIGHT
Sure, in a span of 24 hours, you can empty
your closet and refill it with the best wardrobe,
but true style doesnt equate to simply having
the right clothes in your closet.
It means knowing how to wear them, how to
pair them, why certain things go with others,
and most importantly, why these pieces are in
your closet in the first place.
This knowledge and understanding comes
with years of observation and practice.
Looking great doesnt come naturally to
everyone; sometimes you have to work at it.
Just like learning a new language or being a
great ball player, understanding and forming
your own personal style takes practice.
CELEBRATING YOUR VICTORYNOW, THAT WASNT SO HARD, WAS IT?
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 56
A CONCLUSIONTHE WORK DOESNT END HERE
CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATING YOUR STYLEYouvemadeit! Thats a pretty amazing feat,
dont you think?
If youve followed the steps in this guide,
youve accomplished much more than you
think you have, and youre well on your way to
being that stylish gent youve always aspired
to be.
Thanks for taking the time to read (and hope-
fully make use of) this guide. Iwouldloveto
hearwhatyouthoughtaboutit. Please shoot
me an email ([email protected]) with any
comments / suggestions; I make sure to read
each and every email I receive.
You can also reach me on Twitter or find EG
on Facebook.
KNOW SOMEONE WHO COULD USE THIS GUIDE?Over the last few months, I spent every spare
minute I had creating this guide. Id really
appreciate if you didnt share it freely. Of course,
Id never know, but I trust you :)
If you do know several friends or acquaintances
who could benefit from following this manual,
Id appreciate if you sent them this link:
http://effortlessgent.com/GYS
Let them know how much you loved it and
how helpful it was; that way, we can help the
world find their own sense of style, one gent
at a time.
Thanksagain,andIwishyouthebestofluck
onyourstylejourney.
GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 57
THE LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO
This guide is not free, so please dont share it. Please? Thanks. You can send friends to: http://effortlessgent.com/gys for more info.
The information presented in this guide is for informational purposes only. Understand that there are some links in this guide that I
may benefit from financially. All product images not photographed by myself are owned by their respective companies and I claim no
ownership of these photographs; they are included for illustrative purposes and are linked to their respective products.
The material in this guide may include information, products, or services by third parties. Third Party Materials are comprised of the
products and opinions expressed / created by their owners. As such, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any Third Party
material or opinion.
The publication of such Third Party Materials do not constitute my guarantee of any information, instruction, opinion, products, or
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looks. Publication of Third Party Material is simply a recommendation and an expression of my own opinion of that material.
No part of this guide shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the
author. All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing in this guide are the property of their respective owners.
Users of this guide are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making decisions, and all information, products, and
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not responsible for the success or failure of your attempts at improving your style relating to any information presented in this guide.