Alright gents, I'm not sure if there's a post on this, but I can't find it easily. Consider this my way of "paying it forward" for the advice I'll take from here. Most of the style advice I've read has been "Find an actor you like and dress like him, such as George Clooney." Good advice, but still lacking in the details. I've spent a good amount of money making mistakes in this area, so I figured I'd share a bit for you guys out there who need a few quick tips, step by step, to make your own style.

Find Your Style

Rather than try to emulate celebrities (who all dress like, well, celebrities) or other PUAs (who tend towards a "Jersey Shore" uniform), find your style based on, first, roles you find desirable and, second, what women you're attracted to would like. The order is important, but they will likely overlap. I'll give you an example from myself, and then generalize.

When I first started upgrading my style, I had no direction, I just wanted "better." This is a bad idea, and you'll end up spending lots of money on clothes you don't want. You need a game plan. The way I did this was to examine what kind of image I wanted to portray (for myself, not others). I'm a creative person, so I decided to go for an "urban hip" look.

So, when I shop for clothes, I ask myself "would a New York graphic designer wear something like this?" Now, I don't do this to try and hide behind a persona. I believe that this style represents my own personality. You should do the same with whatever role you choose. Now, you'll find this probably (but not in all cases) lines up with what you want in a woman. I want a woman who is intelligent and artistic, so this style is a way of pre-screening for those characteristics. Do you see what I mean here? You want to communicate the best version of yourself through your clothing. People use your clothing as a shortcut to fit you into certain roles, and adjust their expectations accordingly. Realize this is a fact of life, and use it to your advantage.

My specifics: I wear blue/black Levi's most of the time (514's), with a pair of black leather boots or canvas sneakers. For shirts, I go with plaid long sleeved button-downs (rolled up) or polo shirts. In the winter, I go with oxfords with a v-neck sweater over top. Shirt untucked underneath, so it doesn't look like I tried too hard.

So, for you, find your role, and find clothes to suit. Your occupation does not matter; what you want to communicate does. You want to communicate power/authority? Dress like a Fortune 500 CEO. You want to communicate celebrity? Dress like an actor. You want to communicate athleticism? Dress like an athlete. You want to communicate geek cred? Dress like a gamer (or equivalent).

An important caveat about the second to last one: gym rat is not a style. If you're above the age of 16 and are wearing gym clothes outside the gym, you need to be punched in the face. You can communicate athleticism without the gym shorts. How? Find a Nike factory store, and go to their golf clothes section. Doesn't matter if you like golf or not, no one can deny Tiger Woods looks like an athlete. A Nike dri-fit polo and some khaki pants/shorts (not cargo, for the love of God) communicates the same thing, only classier.

Once you know what you want to communicate and (secondarily) what kinds of women you will attract with that communication, the hard part is over. You have to make a mental shift into that role, and choose clothing based on it. You'll probably already have a general idea from movies/television (doesn't matter if it's entirely accurate; people base their expectations on movies/television) what kinds of clothes to try out. Modify it to your individual tastes, too. Remember, uniqueness is just as important to communicate. You don't want to be forgettable.

Another helpful exercise is to go to where you want to meet women (i.e.: where do women who are "your type" like to hang out? Coffee shops? Night clubs? Yoga class?) and look for clues as to how the high status men there dress. You should notice that they share similar characteristics, but have a unique twist. Find the basics, and work from there.

Figure out what you have to work with

  • Who do you know that can help you. Siblings/cousins about your age can really be beneficial, especially female ones. They can give you honest opinions. Female friends that are fashion savvy can also be of great help. For God's sake, do not ask your mom. She will always see you as she raised you, so asking her advice about change will not go over well. Trust me on this.
  • Find your limitations and own them. For example, I have to wear glasses. My immune system attacks contacts like a virus and I'm not a good candidate for Lasik for a few years. I've spent most of my life trying to downplay the fact I wear glasses, but this year I decided to own it, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I got on Warby Parker and got a pair of fashionable frames, even though they were more "obvious" than I am used to. People love them, and they've become a crucial part of my style.
  • Get your measurements. Either get a measuring tape and do it yourself (not recommended) or go to a tailor/chain department store and get your chest, neck, arms, waist, and inseam measured.

Some immutable rules

  • Get clothes that fit. Pants shouldn't drag the ground, nor should the crotch drop too far below the balls. The legs of your pants should at least conform to the shape and general size of your legs, but not hug them tightly unless that's your thing. With shirts, fit in the shoulders is crucial, and the rest will tell you the quality of the shirt. To tell if a shirt fits in the waist, it should brush your sides as you walk. If you plan on tucking it in, it shouldn't blouse out when you do. If it does, size down or try to find a "slim fit" or "tailored fit."
  • You don't have to spend much money, but you may be happier if you do. Remember, you're doing this for yourself. You're more likely to wear the clothes if you invest (key word) in clothing that you really like, rather than trying to get the best deal on good enough clothing.
  • Invest in shoes. Seriously, comfort and style here. Get multiple opinions. I cannot stress how important it is to get a good pair of shoes or two. Leather boots (city boots, not cowboy boots) go with pretty much any kind of pants, and canvas sneakers go well with shorts.
  • Find uniqueness. If you like polo shirts, for example as I do, don't just get Polo brand unless you really like them. I suggest something more unique, like Original Penguin. Girls comment all the time "I love your penguin shirt!," and even some guys notice. Do you think it would stand out, and give me a conversation starter, if I was wearing a regular polo? It could be a blazer, a hat, a pair of plaid pants, or a piece of jewelry. Something subtle to stand out can be gold! If people notice your clothing, it can be a great conversation starter, with zero extra effort on your part. Don't go overboard, and certainly don't do anything that is incongruent with your personality, but "different in a good way" is what you're going for.

The most important thing is to do this for yourself first, and women second. If you dress simply to impress others, you will come off as incongruent and uncomfortable. This will scream "try-hard" to others if you are not within your own personal style. You'll know when you own it, and you'll know when you're trying too hard, believe me. Listen to your intuition; you know what you like better than anyone else. You're doing this to communicate the best version of yourself to others; not to change your inner self.

If you have any questions, or have anything to add, contribute below or send me a message.

EDIT: Formatting and junk. EDIT 2: Rearranged the sections.