Own your style

There are some guys who seem to come by it naturally. They’ve got a certain look, a recognizable style, whether it derives from a physical attribute (curly hair, bushy eyebrows, an interesting tattoo), a specific category of clothing (shawl-collar cardigans, faded five-pocket jeans, red sneakers) or a unique way of wearing it (pants rolled up at the bottom). Whatever it is, it’s this signature style that somehow sets a guy apart and sends out clues about who he is as a person.

And while it’s not an essential component of dressing well, having a signature style does make one seem a bit more interesting. What’s more, figuring it out can be fun! So here are a few ideas that might help you create your “own” look heading into 2020:

Experiment with eyewear. Forget about the glasses you’ve worn since high school—even if they’re still flattering, it might be time for something more distinctive. Try eyewear in non-neutral bold colors (red, blue, purple) or try heavy black oversized frames. Then check out different styles and bring along a friend who you trust to give honest feedback. Of all the accessories you can invest in, eyewear is the most likely to change your look.

Try a hat. Headgear isn’t for everyone, but the right style on the right guy can be a real game-changer. We love fedoras year-round (there are many great summer versions in linen, straw or lightweight wool), but the more casual bucket styles are a cool these days. Our one cap caveat: Save the backward baseball hat for the stadium.

Collect wrist jewelry. There’s some really fabulous stuff out there: beautiful stones on wire findings or leather straps. The intrigue is in not just the beauty/spirituality of the stones but also in the way you combine the different bracelets. Pile on three, four or more at a time and get ready for some interesting conversations.

Consider unmatched socks. This idea might sound crazy, but one of the smartest, hippest guys we know shows up for work every day in unmatched socks. Usually they relate in some way—color, fabric, pattern—so it took us a while to even notice, but when we did we changed our whole impression of this guy from introverted nerd to very cool dude.

Wear a sportcoat—all the time. Now that you don’t have to dress up as often, it’s awesome to wear great-looking sportcoats only because you want to. For spring/summer, find a few styles that are lightweight and less constructed—in linen, cotton, linen/silk/cotton blends. Not only will you win the best-dressed award, but you’ll have plenty of pockets to store all your stuff.