If you’re a man, standing in front of your closet, not sure where to begin when it comes to dressing well and no idea who to ask, you’re in the right place. Canberran personal stylist for women and men, Debby Harrington, shares her top tips for starting at square one in your sartorial journey.

“So much of what we wear is not just about how we look, it’s about how we feel. There’s power in what we wear. If you love the way you look in the morning, you feel like you can take on almost anything.”

With the number of styles, fashion eras, and ‘cores’ that come to mind when describing women’s clothing, men’s clothing tend to be pushed to the back of the closet – figuratively and literally.

“A lot of wives and girlfriends who purchase a style session for their partners say to me, ‘They’ve been dressing the same way for ten years’.”

An easy mistake to make when dressing is thinking ‘fits’ equals ‘fine’.

“Yes, it all still fits, but it doesn’t necessarily make them feel good about themselves,” says Debby.

It’s time to take a good long look at your wardrobe. Shopping may be way down the list on how you want to spend an afternoon, but really, could your style use an update?

Does what you’re wearing reflect who you are at this stage in your life? Or are there still t-shirts hanging around from when you were 18?

Are those shorts still fine or are they hanging on by a thread?

If you had a recent job change, does your wardrobe still reflect your lifestyle?

It may be time for a closet clear-out.

Debby’s style tips for starting at square one

1. Clear out your wardrobe. “Get rid of anything that looks old or tired, or you haven’t worn in a long time. There is a reason you’re not wearing it, so it has no place in your new wardrobe.”

You may be worried about starting from scratch, but you shouldn’t be. You can build a timeless wardrobe of menswear by investing in a few foundational pieces, which brings us to number two.

2. Go shopping – and bring this list for a solid capsule wardrobe:

• Jeans. A simple pair in back, navy, or mid blue that will never go out of style.
• Chinos. Particularly if you’re stepping into business-casual after the pandemic.
• A suit. You’ll always need one in your closet.
• T-shirts. One in black, and one in white, minimum.
• Collared shirts. Whether you prefer button-ups or polos, a ‘nice shirt’ option is essential.
• Sports coat or a casual jacket.
• Lifestyle sneakers, which are NOT runners.
• A smarter pair of shoes.

“If you have those basics, you’ll find it’s easier to get dressed in the morning, you can mix and match everything, and you can build your wardrobe up along the way,” says Debby.

“Maybe you have that wardrobe for six months and later realise you wouldn’t mind a few extra bits and pieces – a couple more t-shirts, another pair of shoes – now you’re building up a really good quality wardrobe.”

3. Try everything on. It’s time consuming, but if you’re going to be wearing something all the time, it needs to fit.

Pay attention to the styles that work for you. Are you a V-neck or a crew neck guy? T-shirts or polos?

“If you find a style that you like, buy it in multiple colours,” advises Debby. “That way, the cut’s right, the style’s right, you know you feel good in it, and you’ve got a couple of different options straight away.”

4. “Pay attention to the stores you like, so that after you go shopping, you’ll know where to go back to.”

Investing in quality pieces doesn’t have to mean splashing out on designer brands either.

“Stores you might not necessarily think of, like Zara, M.J. Bale, Connor, and David Jones, have come a long way in improving the quality of their clothes,” says Debby.

5. “Get some style inspiration. Whether it’s social media, celebrities, or sports people – have a look around. This will give you an idea of the things that you like and from that, you can write a list of next additions to your wardrobe.”

Canberra Daily would love to hear from you about a story idea in the Canberra and surrounding region. Click here to submit a news tip.