Do you dress like a bum? Most people do. So, let’s be honest, unless you care about your presentation to people all the time, now and then, you dress like a bum.  No worries, you are not alone. However, your bum attire time should become less frequent the older you get. So, gentlemen of all ages, here is a plan to grow your style.  Thanks to the internet, you can use many stores to put together classy, trendy, and quality outfits. But you need to find your unique style, enter Legacy Gentlemen. Style is knowing what fits you and carrying it well. Here is how to grow style.

Collect Legendary Style Inspiration

The primary challenge of growing your style is not having enough clothes to wear. Most men have things in their closets and dressers that they need to get rid of immediately.  Also, if you use thrift stores and online stores, it will be easy to build up your new stylish closet. But the thing that might make getting dressed hard is that you might not have a theme or message in mind every day you dress.

That’s why your style process should start with gathering sources of inspiration. This can come from anywhere you like: Legacy Gentlemen, celebrities, brands, and historical public figures. Find people and styles that resonate with you.

You’ll probably start to notice some repeating themes. Don’t overthink it but pay attention to patterns in your choices. Maybe you gravitate toward specific colors, items, or designers. Use that as your guide. Does your guide remind you of someone?

Style Icon

This might be the time for you to pick a style icon.  Style is basically knowing what fits you and carrying it well. A style icon inspires fashion; this person is always well attired, wearing what is good and what suits him and not necessarily what is in vogue. He sets the standard for his age, station in life, and station in society.

We at Legacy Gentlemen came up with three Style Icons; oddly, two are British: James Bond, the fictional character, and Tyson Beckford, a male supermodel, and Idris Elba, a British actor.

Copy Everything Good

Pick a few classic items to wear with your new inspiration in mind. Did you know you were awesome before you bought the clothing? Your new clothing indeed makes you a bit more awesome. Suppose you do not feel confident enough to own your new unique look just yet. No worries, this is why we have the style icons.  They look good, so looking like you look good.

Go through magazines, videos, and social media accounts, and find a specific outfit you like. Now, recreate it using things you already have. Pay attention to color combinations, fabric texture, different layers of clothing, accessories, and most importantly, the shoes.  You do not have to match precisely for the same feel, attitude, and swagger.  These are your clothing and someone else configuration of them. This is now part of your style, which you can rearrange anytime.  

You can quickly put together great-looking outfits when you build from existing looks. This will also help you see what message you want to send to people. You have a message to send. What does your icon say, suave ladies’ man, the sexiest person in the room, distinguished hot, and getting better looking with age?  Are you feeling your style icon?

As you develop your style, you will no longer need to follow other people’s outfits. But keep this idea in your back pocket for days when you’ve got that “nothing to wear” feeling—it’s great for breaking out of a rut.

Keep Old Clothes

The old “If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it” rule, No if you have not worn it in seven to ten years maybe. If it no longer fits, yes, get rid of it now. Look, it does not hurt to save a few old things that you do not wear often. Your style will evolve with time, and that seersucker suite you have not worn for years might have the occasion arise in the upcoming spring or fall.  But it must fit, get it tailored or get rid of it.

Ignore Trends

Forget about being “fashionable.” Create your style, do not become a slave to pop culture trends. Fashion is not style; they are two completely different things. You are not aiming to be trendy. You are becoming legendary. Your style is about creating an everyday look and identity curated to your taste and lifestyle. Each item you incorporate into your wardrobe should represent who you aim to become.

Trust the Process

Hey, gentlemen, your style is a journey, not a destination. Your look should evolve with time, reflecting your growth and experiences along the way. Act and dress your age. Don’t strive to land on a final, finished version of your style. The process is the point, and every iteration of your style at a given moment is an authentic reflection of who you are. You’ll change and learn throughout your life, so relax, embrace the changes, and let your fashion choices reflect your growth.

Kill the bum

This was a short primer about how to build your style.  Never forget people judge you within the first 8 seconds of seeing you. In this short time, your look, including your body language and personal style, is the only thing people judge at that time. So, raise your level one. Replace your tee shirts with henleys or polos. Upgrade your jeans to chinos, ditch your current sneakers to minimalist sneakers, or better yet, have seen what causal dress shoes have to offer. At some point, in your 20’s, 30’s, but hopefully by your 40’s, you must dress differently from the other age groups.  With your increased age, you have gained experience, wisdom, and class.  You should dress like it. That was the old you who ran to Walmart or the grocery store in tee-shirt, jogging pants, and tennis shoes.  Kill that bum.  We are the Legendary ones. Live it.