Dressing up in a dress down world: Why you should dress up more.

Modern society is very casual. Go out to a restaurant or a bar in the evening, and observe those around you. What do you see? A T-shirt, an overly tight pair of jeans, trainers that have been through a field. If you are really lucky, you may see a shirt, or occasionally a blazer, but not often. If you saw a tie, you were more than likely hallucinating.

Why is that?

I recently read an article discussing the very question I posed to Chris Modoo in our latest episode of Perspectives, about dressing up in a dress-down world. The question was asked on PermanentStyle.com, a leading menswear blog by journalist Simon Crompton, and the answer was rather interesting: we have lost our sense of occasion. Occasion, by definition, is an important event or special time, which begs the question, "if we are not dressing up, is it that we do not view it as particularly special?"

Now, I will caveat this by saying I am not suggesting you wear a top hat and tails for evening drinks with your partner, but I cannot help but feel that we have gotten rather lazy when it comes to dressing well. Fashion and style are subjective, of course, but there are only so many pairs of Air Force Ones, Kenzo T-shirts, and haircuts that resemble something like a cruciferous vegetable (I am looking at you, Broccoli...) one can look at and think, how stylish! Flip it around, and you have the rugby jock in his blue button-down Oxford shirt - a great start - only to have my hopes dashed as I spot the curry spots from an overzealous club night two weeks prior, some beer-stained taupe chinos that are three sizes too small, and coupled with a pair of shoes the colour of which should only be reserved for your morning cup of tea. Not good.

Snobby? I disagree, there is nothing snobby or pompous about wanting to dress well. In my own experience, a well-fitted shirt, some tailored trousers, and a pair of suede loafers are both incredibly comfortable and give me a confidence boost I am yet to find anywhere else. Why would you want to look like everyone else?

"So what is the solution?" I asked Chris, who has styled many celebrities, presenters, and even the iconic David Gandy.

"What are your golden rules when it comes to style?"

Nothing groundbreaking, just nail the basics. Grooming, polishing your shoes, pressing your clothes, taking some care and thought when looking at your outfit. Visit the barber for a shape-up, crack out the polish for your shoes. "A pair of well-polished Chelsea boots paired with some well-cut jeans can look so cool." The basics, done right. Considered.

A term Chris uses often to describe a look, I quizzed him on what he actually means when he says someone looks 'considered.'

"My sweet spot, and something I absolutely love and strive for when I am doing consultations, is to be unassuming, almost anonymous. By that I mean if you are walking down the street, someone may look at you and just think, 'Oh, he is wearing a suit.' But for those who are interested in clothes and menswear, they will notice the details; the longer pocket flap, the style of the lapel, the nature of the cuff, the shoes that are well polished, the smaller details. That, to me, is considered."

Menswear and personal style are not about bold statements all the time, which is often the association we default to when thinking of style and fashion. It is the small details, executed correctly with intent.

As Marco Pierre White said: "Perfection is lots of little things done well."

Dress Well.

Reece

A big thank you to Chris Modoo for joining me on Episode 015 of Perspectives, a thoroughly enjoyable conversation.