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Pearls Of Wisdom
Each new year brings with it promises of change and a list of resolutions. However, in order to stand any chance of hitting your personal goals – whether style-oriented or otherwise – keeping your mind focused and motivated is essential.
When it comes to men’s fashion and style, there are many different methods and avenues you can go down to find the inspiration and motivation you need. It can be anything from picking up this month’s issue of GQ, Esquire or Details, to scrolling through your favourite online publications and tumblrs, to walking the streets of your home town and taking inspiration from others.
But what I find works best for me is listening to sage words of advice from people in the style community that I admire and respect. Even the shortest of utterances from someone such as Tom Ford or Nick Sullivan can help me instantly refocus on the goals that I set myself, regardless of how far I’ve strayed from them.
With this in mind, I’m going to share some of my favourite fashion and style quotes of all time, in the hope that they might just do the same for you. I like to keep these quotes in my head (read: iPhone Notes) and often refer to them whenever I’m out shopping or searching for outfit ideas, in order to remind myself of the key principles of successfully dressing as a modern day gentleman…
1. Michael Bastian
“Always have a pink Oxford shirt ready for days when you’re feeling run down.”
This one was a game changer for me. Not only does pink go with every neutral you already have in your wardrobe (grey, navy, white, black), but it flatters nearly every skin tone as well.
Even if you’re feeling rough from the night before, pull a pink Oxford shirt on with a pair of slim-fit selvedge jeans, brogue boots and a navy pea coat for the perfect hungover Sunday look that will help hide your fatigue.
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2. Sid Mashburn
“Guys don’t need a lot of choices, they need the right choice.” Leaving aside the fact that Mr. Mashburn is the king of thoughtful, selective prep style, this is great advice for both beginners and seasoned pros in the menswear game.
Often it’s easy to get caught up in the whole idea of ‘fashion’ ? which by its very nature is obsolete after one season – and feel like you have to constantly buy new pieces to stay ahead. In truth, most guys could easily survive on a streamlined, thirty-piece wardrobe, because some items will just never go out of style.
I’m talking white dress shirts, black Oxford dress shoes, indigo denim jeans, beige chinos, grey crew neck t-shirts, solid neck ties, neutral v-neck jumpers, navy pea coats… the list goes on.
If it’s classic, simple and versatile, the chances are it will be in your wardrobe for years to come. And, therefore, well worth investing in quality when purchasing it.
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3. Nick Wooster
“If you’re going to play with colour, start with one. If you’re wearing yellow, everything else should be navy and grey.
Yes, I’ve been known to wear bright green and pink at the same time but I don’t do that often – the bulk of my closet is grey, navy, white, khaki, olive and a little black.”
I shouldn’t have to do any explaining here as ‘The Woost’ has done all the work for me.
Neutral hues, especially monochromatic ones, offer the perfect way to anchor any other colour you want to introduce into your look while allowing it to stand out and without clashing.
Whether it’s a pair of pink chinos with a navy polo or a mint green Oxford cloth with a pair of grey flannel trousers, this advice will never fail you.
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4. Leonardo da Vinci & Pierre Cardin
Da Vinci once said that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” while Pierre Cardin stated that he could “go all over the world with just three outfits: a blue blazer and grey flannel pants, a grey flannel suit, and black tie.”
Yeah, I know, that’s two quotes but it’s my article and I’ll do what I want, damn it!
Again, this goes back to the idea of not overcomplicating your wardrobe and the amount of clothing that you buy. I feel very strongly about this as it really helped me not only progress my personal style but also reduce the amount of clutter I used to collect when first starting out.
By keeping your outfits simple, or at least grounded in simplicity, you get the added bonus of allowing your personality and confidence to shine through. The man should wear the clothes, not the other way around, remember.
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Key Pieces
5. William Battie
“Style is when they’re running you out of town and you make it look like you’re leading the parade”
I personally think this is the greatest style quote ever, and something we could all learn from. Strive to develop a personal style that represents your personality fully, not a copy of somebody else. Be a leader and not a follower.
Awesome guy, awesome quote – what more could you want?
Final Word
So there you have it, five of my favourite style quotes and how you can apply them to your own wardrobe and personal style.
Honourable mentions should also go to:
Yves Saint Laurent: “Isn’t elegance forgetting what one is wearing?”
Oscar Wilde: “Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not.”
Orson Welles: “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”
But as always, I want to hear what you guys think. What do you think of these pearls of wisdom – sage or stupid? What are your favourite fashion quotes? What other places do you derive style inspiration from?
Let me know in the comments section…
Matt Allinson