The document discusses color as the most important element of style. It states that color is the "secret ingredient" that can make the biggest difference in how attractive an outfit looks. While other details like fit are also important, focusing on choosing colors that complement one's skin tone and contrast well can make a much greater impact than small details. The document provides examples of good color combinations for different skin complexions and encourages the reader to start incorporating more color into their outfits.
The Forgotten Style Secret of Gentlemen: The Power of Color
1.
2. The forgotten style secret of the
gentlemen
Ok,
I admit that, for more than a year since I’ve been studying style, I’ve
learned A LOT.
I learned how to adjust even the smallest details of my outfits for
maximum effects.
I’ve learned how to match my outfits for great results, how not to throw
away money on expensive clothes, how to pick what’s right for me, how to
organize my closet, how to take care of my clothes…
But did all these things that I’ve learned improve my life THAT
MUCH?
I thought so. In fact, I was convinced, until some day that I heard of this
so-called rule. Here it is:
80% of results come from 20% effort.
3. What does this mean? Basically, if you want to get to a certain result and
you need to do, say, 100 things (or tasks to achieve it), by doing the most
important 20 things from those 100, you will already achieve 80% of the
benefits of that result. Obviously, by spending the other 80% of your
efforts, you will get the remaining 20% of the benefits.
There are some situations where this rule may not apply. For instance, if
you want to compete for the Olympic Games, where you need to be very
strict if you want to be sure to win, this rule will not work. But it DOES
apply in style.
When it comes to style, you don’t have to wash all your shoes every night,
fold every sock after some complicated method or to measure your tie’s
length to reach exactly at the middle of your belt while you’re standing
up.
It WOULD be nice to do all those things but… who has time to do all of
them?
So then I started searching for the one thing that, if done well, would
make a difference in anyone’s style.
I made it a goal of mine to extract from the gentleman’s outfits the ONE
THING that separates them from the rest. I particularly looked at those
who had a habit of being the center of attention, those who got respect
and admiration wherever they went.
I’ve looked at hundreds of different pictures of men in various outfits
from different periods of time then I looked at today’s celebrities to see
the similarities.
Then I thought of the outfits that I myself had worn lately and I
correlated them with good or bad reactions from those around me.
4. You know the sayings: It’s in the details or Small details make all the
difference? They apply very well in style. But if you don’t take care of the
big things, especially the one I’m about to reveal to you, small details
won’t make any difference at all.
It’s so simple even I couldn’t believe it that I didn’t figure it out earlier. I
pondered about my most recent outfits and, sure enough, I was making
use of this secret WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.
Regardless of whether you want respect, admiration or just to feel good in
your own skin, the thing that makes all the difference is this:
COLOR
Color is the key element to any outfit. It’s the ingredient of which, if you
consider it and make use of it, you can get instant results even after your
first session of shopping for your new stylish wardrobe.
If you were to go shopping right now and combine colors in such a way
that they match each-other and contrast with your skin complexity, you
will attract more eyes than someone who is wearing expensive black
clothes.
That’s right. There are many important things in style but this is the
secret ingredient.
It’s true that fit is king. A piece of clothing should be neither too small,
nor too large. But I’m sure you already knew that.
5. You obviously try all your clothes before making a purchase so, someone
telling you that fit is king isn’t going to help you that much, is it?
If your outfits are boring, so are you. You can shine your black shoes all
you want, wear the same jeans with simple black t-shirts. A guy who
knows how to match colors is like a speaker: he knows how to make
himself heard and express his personality.
Color is personality.
I’m sure that you are now thinking: ok but if I wear my blue jeans with a
white sweater with red stripes, doesn’t THAT mean that I have color in
my outfit?
My answer is: you need to change the way you look at colors in your
outfits. Most clothes are made so that you don’t have to worry about
matching color. They already have built-in patterns and colors that look
decent if you look at that piece of clothing alone.
But if you don’t’ put some effort into choosing the right colors you will
still look generic, sometimes even RIDICULOUS.
You need to start viewing yourself as a canvas and clothes like colors that
you need to put on yourself such that the final result meets two
conditions:
to be harmonious,
to stand out in a positive manner.
6. The mental effort you put into choosing the right color combinations is
directly proportional with how good you’ll look. PERIOD.
In other words, if you take a pair of jeans and throw over a sweater,
unless the designers did an AWESOME job with that sweater, you will
STILL look generic.
Let’s compare two outfits so you can see the difference. In the pictures
below we have two guys, one dressed in a pair of ordinary jeans and a
dark colored blouse, the other wearing a black blazer BUT with a green
blouse that contrasts in an excellent manner with his skin tone.
My gut feeling (and I’m sure that yours as well) tells me that the second
guy stands out more. Even though the first guy has a nice shade of blue
on his jeans, a great belt and a nice slim fit blouse that matches his hair,
he doesn’t stand out more than the second guy.
The second guy chose a different approach: he found a less common color
that works for him then cool it down with the black of his blazer.
This is the power of color.
Not that you don’t have to wear outrageous clothes in order to stand out
from the crowd (unless you have the right personality). Choosing the
7. right colors can make an ENORMOUS difference in the way you look
overall.
Let’s face it: men are afraid to wear color. And, for good reason: fashion
and style is considered to be mostly for women.
But the most successful men (professionally, personally or both) KNOW
how to make people like them by standing out. And one of the methods
these gentlemen use is color.
Regardless of whether you like to dress formal or casual, for a business
meeting or for a night out, you can always add a little color to your outfit.
How much, when and how not to fall into the trap of making it look like
you’re trying too hard… that’s up to you. Maybe you want to wear a pair
of black pants, black shirt and a casual red tie for a night at the clubs.
Maybe you want to wear beige pants and shirt with brown shows and
brown belt…
No matter how much you want to use this secret in your favor you should
be warned that you CAN go too far with it. Study style to see what’s
working and what’s not but, more importantly, MAKE THE FIRST STEP.
Get something colored that goes with the jeans or pants you usually wear.
To help you make that first step, I’m going to give you some sample
colors that work with your skin complexion. Most colors go well with
jeans; this is one of the reasons denim is still so popular.
Want a great combination of clothes?
Let’s get back to the previous two images. To fix the first guy up, all we
would have to do is borrow the green blouse and the blazer from the
second guy. They would go very well with his blue jeans; the only thing
we would need to change is the brown belt.
8. At the end of this report, let me give you the colors that you should try
right away, like I promised.
There are three types of skin complexions: dark, normal and light. For
each of them there are certain colors that go well and others that do not.
Dark skin complexion
Men with darker skin tend to have black hair and dark brown eyes. Good
colors: pink, yellow, baby blue, white.
Colors they should avoid: dark brown, light green.
Normal skin
The advantage of those with normal complexion is that they can contrast
well with most colors. Good colors: beige, blue, black, pale colors.
9. Bad colors: dark brown, red
Light skin complexion
Good colors: brown, blue, beige
Bad colors: pink, red, orange
These colors have proven themselves to contrast well with the associated
skin types. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try something else. An outfit
has both predominant colors as well as discreet colors – a color that is
considered “bad” for you could contrast well with a predominant color
and create an outstanding outfit. Try it!
In the end, all I can do is to wish you good luck making the secret work
for you. To get inspired, look at stylish guys in the street, analyze them
and get educated on this topic.
10. Look first and foremost at the outfits that stand out right from the start.
Ask yourself: What is it that makes that outfit work so well? Then put
yourself in that guy’s clothes and decide if it’s something that you would
like to wear.
And if you want to find out ALL the secrets to men’s clothing, I invite you
to access the Be Stylish Manual at
http://www.BeStylish.org/Ebook
You will find out all you need to know to solve the clothing issue for good.
Your expert in style,
Ovidiu