Style resolutions 2008
The Breeze’s style guru gives tips on how to stay true to yourself while looking toward the future
Posted on January 10, 2008
Every new year we’re expected to change some aspect of ourselves for the better. Many people say they’ll lose weight or hit the gym more often, or give up smoking. This year, however, it’s time to focus on something a little different. It’s a new year and it’s time to start dressing like it. A few simple resolutions is all it takes to make you look fabulous in 2008.
1) Turn something old into something new.
Tailoring is an inexpensive and efficient method of recycling any wardrobe. People often settle for less than the best fit when they’re young, but it’s simple enough to fix that mistake when one gets older. Men especially seem to feel emasculated when they’re not size XXL, but they don’t realize that oversized clothes make the wearer look childish. A tailor can tweak dress clothes as well as jeans and even polo shirts. Inseams can be shortened and waists taken in – you can even have the “bootcut” removed from your pants if you’ve grown tired of the style. All of these alterations are usually between $10 - $20. People should also keep tailoring in mind when shopping for new pieces that could be taken in or shortened in a few places but are otherwise perfect.
2) Be your own trendsetter.
If any trends work against your body type or flat-out repulse you, ignore them. Apple Bottom jeans and boots with fur aren’t for everyone. Developing a personal sense of style and avoiding an “attack of the clones” mentality will help you stand out in a crowd and make shopping less confusing.
3) Invest in tomorrow, today.
Save up and buy a suit now before you are thrust into the real world as a penniless college graduate. Most interviews and jobs require more formal attire and it’s actually more cost-conscious to buy a well-made suit or two (for variety) and then forget about it for a few years. Guys can check out GQ or Details, both of which regularly feature comparisons of the best suits out there, at all different price points, or peruse men.style.com before making a final decision. InStyle often has suiting ideas for women and books such as “What Not to Wear” hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly’s “Dress Your Best” feature basic advice on finding the right fit.
4) Shop with a conscience.
It’s finally getting easier to buy eco-friendly clothing and accessories without entirely going the hippie route. Barney’s holiday theme was “Give Good Green” so you know its at least getting chicer if not cheaper to walk a mile in Al Gore’s shoes. Speaking of shoes, TOMS are a unique shoe that’s already popular on the JMU campus. As distinctly styled as a Toyota Prius, TOMS combine a low environmental impact with a great cause: for every pair bought, another is donated to an impoverished child. If shoes aren’t your thing, seek out an H&M that carries the store’s organic cotton line, or visit American Apparel for organic cotton tees. You can easily Google stores and Web sites offering clothing made out of organic cotton, hemp and even bamboo. If all of that still seems like too much effort, donate unwanted wears to the Goodwill.
5) Dress who you are, not who you think you want to be.
Instead of resolving to go to the gym obsessively to improve your image, try upgrading your style and seeing how quickly your self-confidence rises. This applies to guys as well, although in a slightly different context. There seems to be a stigma against smallness when in reality not every guy is built to be buff. Acceptance is the first step to style and once you realize your body type you’ll stop looking like a dwarf with a Paul Bunyan complex and start looking like a man.
