Detail gents, detail!

Photo Credit: Ngugi Vere

I’M one of those people who pay close attention to detail. I’m meticulous, if I may say so myself. Those who know me well think my behaviour boarders around obsessive compulsiveness, but that’s okay. I just have a knack for detail, that’s all.

If I’m going to be doing something, it’s the best or nothing. I may as well not get out of bed if I’m going to leave the house looking like a heap of trash.

The reason why I believe in paying attention to detail is because sometimes, it’s the little things that make a difference. You may be in a simple looking outfit but there’ll be that one thing that will add a touch of class to the whole ensemble. Sometimes, all a woman needs to add a little vava voom to a laid back outfit is the right pair of high heels and some bright red lipstick.  But for men, I’ve noticed, there aren’t too many options when it comes to fashion.

I’m not sure whether it’s an issue of having few designers that concentrate on menswear, men’s uptake for fashion is low or if menswear is just finite. Whatever the reason may be, I know for a fact paying attention to detail is what will set you apart from every other Tom, Dick or Harry walking down the streets. You just need to know how to work with certain pieces to add a touch of class to what you already have in your wardrobe.

A useful piece that every man out there should have is a pocket square. I often hear lots of guys referring to this as a handkerchief but it’s really not. A pocket square is for show and belongs in your jacket breast pocket. This can be as elaborate as you’d like. It’ll draw attention to your jacket and be an indicator that you know what you’re doing. It will, of course, add some freshness to the look. People like me will look at you and think that’s a man on top of his game.

Photo Credit: House of Gentlemen

The pocket square doesn’t necessarily have to match anything else you’re wearing but there’re basic rules to follow, just so that you don’t get lost. If you’ve got balls of steel, you can have your pocket square in multiple colours or fancy patterns but you need to make sure you’re wearing either a white or black shirt. White and black are classic colours which are very easy to dress; you can never go wrong with these. Your pocket square could be the colour of your tie or bowtie, just to be on the safe side. If you’re adventurous and are for example in a white shirt and beige blazer, you could have your pocket square in plain blue, a totally different colour from everything else.

This will, like I said earlier, add some pizazz to the shirt and blazer combo.

Another piece that could spur you to the next level is a buttonhole. Worn on the left hand side, a man’s buttonhole should be worn on the outside of the buttonhole, on the left lapel, not in the button hole – where it never sits quite right. They’ve become really fancy these days. They come in different colours and designs, as little flowers or in other motifs. This is another handy, little accessory which will set you apart. You can wear it with your pocket square or by itself.

The two don’t necessarily have to be a perfect match but the colour palette need not clash. Once you have your pocket square and buttonhole figured out, think about your time piece. It may not be practical to have a collection of time pieces but have at least one good one. There’s just something about a man with a classic time piece. He’s middle name should be class already! Most men get it wrong with the belt and the shoes. One simple rule gentlemen, your shoes need to match your belt, always. Women notice these things. Black shoes, black belt, brown shoes, brown belt – pretty simple.

If you’re a lover of swag, throw in a pair of happy socks. Any woman who’s fashion conscious will notice them when you take a seat and your trousers leave your socks and shoes slightly exposed. Pay attention to detail gents, it’s not okay to wear ankle socks written “sport” with your formal trousers and shoes.

Get your game straight!

ON a flight home from South Africa the other day, the guy who was sitting next to me said something so profound I’ve been thinking about it all week.

He said for most men, an interest in fashion and being stylish in general develops as a way of impressing women.

That very few men are genuinely into fashion, for themselves.

Only later, he said, does being stylish become a lifestyle for most men such that it’s really not for anyone else except for themselves.

This, he said, is because men are constantly trying to match their woman’s game or that of the woman they intend to chat up.

You look at your woman and she’s on top of the situation, you just have to make sure your game is straight, he said.

Too many men want to blame the next guy for things a little more swag would solve.

If the woman you want has standards, you have to get to getting and make sure your wardrobe speaks volumes for you, on the positive of course.

Sometimes a pair of jeans and a T-shirt won’t cut it. There’ll come a time when you’ll have to wear a blazer, a good pair of pants and a classic shoe.

Women often find themselves feeling over-dressed because of a guy who just didn’t turn up.

If I’m going to be in a hot pair of heels, man, you’ve got to step up.

I can’t sacrifice my feet only for you to show up in a pair of jeans, sneakers and a graffiti T-shirt with “Ndebele maker” inscribed on it.

Of course there’ll come a time when a rendezvous is unplanned and you may not be appropriately dressed, at least be slaying in whatever you’re wearing.

Whether you’ve been at work or had a chilled day with your friends, something about you has to say you’re fashion conscious.

Your game always has to be on point, whatever the occasion.

Most people are actually surprised when you’re all dressed up they’ll even ask, “What’s the occasion?”

It shouldn’t be about there being an occasion for you to rock those threads right.

If anything, people should get tired of complementing you because looking good is your lifestyle.

They should know that you always turn up, whatever the occasion.

Don’t be the girl who has a date cancelled on her and says, “Why did I bother bathing”, like she was never going to take a bath anyway.

Ladies, be the woman a man will need some composure for.

He must think twice before talking to you.

He should check himself first before he has the guts to walk up to you.

You can’t be having any riff ruff viewing you as an easy target because you’re shabbily dressed.

This is not only synonymous with male, female relationships. In the corporate world too – you have to dress as you would like to be addressed.

You can’t show up to work or a business meeting in a pair of shorts and flip flops.

No one will take you seriously. They certainly wouldn’t trust you with their money!

You can’t go for dinner at an elite restaurant in pumps and a pair of jeans – are you part of a Ndombolo dance group performing afterwards?

There has to be some effort from your end.

Remember, clothes communicate a whole lot about you. Are your clothes sending the right messages?

If not, you need to get your game straight!

You know what they say about first impressions? They last long! And once you mess up a first impression for someone, it might take you years to get it right.

But this wouldn’t be a problem to begin with if you had your game straight from the onset.

A multi-coloured blazer to save the day...

JUST the other week, I was beyond excited to be attending a wedding.

I’d taken my own advice – to prepare for the event in advance.

Because I wanted to look fresh and of course, slay my way through the day, I’d something extra special planned.

I wanted a dress made for the occasion – something eye-catching and would say, “Hello, I’m here!”

It was going to be epic, well, I thought.

Unfortunately, my vision didn’t come to life. The dress came but it wasn’t what I ordered!

For starters, it couldn’t fit; the shoulder line was too small. The hem was lopsided and the armhole was way too tight. And it only came the day before the wedding so there was no time for alterations.

I was gutted and I think I was mildly depressed because I’d looked forward to the wedding for quite a long time.

I wasn’t sure I’d still go to the wedding because what I wanted to wear had flopped. It took a lot of convincing for me to get out of bed and find something equally flattering to wear.

I eventually settled for a multi-coloured blazer over a black jumpsuit with nude heels and a matching clutch bag. The blazer has all colours on the rainbow – it’s vibrant, it’s hot and it’s trending right now.

It’s easy putting the outfit together because all you need to do is find a good pair of shoes and something in a more neutral colour to go with it.

The nudes, black, white and cream would be an excellent base for the outfit. The blazer becomes the star and focal point of the outfit.

Without the blazer, you’re, well, just plain Jane. It can be in whichever colours or patterns you like. You could have it with a belt, in a peplum shape or in just a simple design that will go with just about anything.

The great bit about a multi-coloured blazer is it can go virtually anywhere; to a wedding, out to the club, at work or on a Sunday to church, all depending on how you dress it.

You can wear it with a pencil skirt, a sexy pair of skinny jeans, a pair of shorts and over a dress or a jumpsuit. 

This type of jacket makes it easier to pick a pair of shoes to go with it. If you look at the colours on the jacket closely, you’ll find that there’ll be a few dominant colours on it.

All you need to do is pick one and make it your accent colour. It will blend in just fine and complement the vibrancy of the jacket.

Because the blazer is so bright, a lot of attention will come your way. Make sure you make it worth your while by having your hair and make-up on fleek.

Nothing is as unflattering as a good outfit poorly accessorised. If you’re not sure whether to have elaborate or natural looking make-up, I’d say go for a well defined brow and red lipstick. Red lipstick can make pretty much anybody look hot; it’s the safest lip colour anybody can try.

Depending on the blazer’s neckline, a simple necklace and earrings will do on a low neckline. If there’s no room for a neck piece, forfeit it altogether. Go instead for a pair of earrings and you’ll be just fine.

You’re never fully dressed until you’ve worn your signature fragrance – don’t leave the house without wearing some.

So, I got myself out of bed and got into a black and multi-coloured blazer combo. I looked smashing hot, if I may say so myself!

Comfort is not always everything…

OFTEN we have to decide between looking pretty and feeling comfortable. For some, it takes quite a lot to swap their high heels for a pair of flats.

It’s in the aesthetics of it all. High heels have a way of dressing up a lot of plain looking outfits, something most flat shoes struggle to do.

Sometimes, it’s in the posture and silhouette the heels will create over just plain old pumps.

For some, it’s picking sweat pants over a sexy but life sapping, tight pair of skinny jeans.

You’ll choose the unflattering sweat pants over the sexy denims in a heartbeat simply because they’re more comfortable and you can breathe in them.

Comfort is key when it comes to putting an outfit together but sometimes, you need to take one for the team! You need to look pretty more than you feel comfortable, especially for special occasions.

That wedding will only happen once; you don’t want to be the girl in sneakers and ripped jeans when you could’ve worn a pretty dress and heels.

You will loath the pictures all because you didn’t want to sacrifice your comfort just for a day.

There comes a time when “laid back” just doesn’t cut it. When you need to do a little extra and show off the fashionista in you.

Remember this style secret – the way you dress carries certain messages to those who meet you and equally important is being appropriate for a particular space and age group.

I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing one of those tops written “DOPE” in bold gold, let’s leave those for the girls in high school shall we.

Appropriate dress along with basic etiquette is one of the most important aspects to being stylish. It’s important to wear appropriate clothing to certain places or for particular occasions, even when you sometimes feel the clothes are not roomy enough.

There is usually an acceptable normal for most occasions, and that’s what people go by.

One wouldn’t wear pyjamas out to a five-star restaurant any more than one would wear a ball gown to a pyjama party.

Everything is acceptable within certain parameters. If you’re going to a fancy party, for example, it could be anything from nice dress pants and a fancy top to a full length ball gown – dresses, skirts, pants and shirts.

There is nothing more uncomfortable than showing up in blue jeans and a t-shirt when everyone else is wearing dress clothes.

Similarly, there is nothing worse than showing up in very dressy clothes when everyone else is wearing sneakers and jeans.

If you’ve been invited somewhere, always check with your host if you’re in doubt of the dress code.

I’ve said this before, we form first impressions and overall judgments about people by the way they dress.

You’ll be more comfortable, less conscious of your looks and definitely enjoy the event more when you’re dressed appropriately.

Nothing is worse than being dressed inappropriately for an important event – you’ll be remembered for the wrong reasons.