You often hear about the importance of not just what you’re saying, but how you say it. Yes even a simple hello can take on a different meaning when factoring in surroundings and tone. But if body language constitutes the majority of what you’re communicating in your daily interactions, wouldn’t your wardrobe help you set the tone?

It’s no surprise on job interviews and first dates, you realize you already knew this. 1st impressions can give you the opportunity to demonstrate who you are and how you wish to be received. There is nothing more on display than your presentation giving your clothing immense power. Knowing how to dress for the right setting can mean all the difference in the world. But does that mean it doesn’t matter the other 364 days of the year?

Other than what you’re saying to others, the impact on how you see yourself will give you the greatest tool of all. Confidence. It’s no shock when we look our best, we tend to feel our best. And confidence and belief in yourself trickles down to every aspect in your life and will always help you set the right tone. Knowing you’re not just in the best fit for your body type, but have developed a style that matches your ability will give you more confidence. And there is nothing more complimentary to achieving your goals.

The gym’s favorite time of year! When their doors fill up with New Year’s resolutioning, dieting, New Year new me, ready to pay up members. New Year’s resolutions and goals often have to do with fitness, health and wealth which often causes reflection about our personal presentation. Now consistency is what’s going to put you in a different category, but if you’re not upgrading your wardrobe and understanding key factors regarding your style and fit as part of the puzzle, trust me, -you’re not doing yourself any favors.

Getting fit-

While health should be the key motivator, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to not just feel but also look better. Clothes don’t only look better when you’re fit, but generally than saves time, making it easier to find a better fit off the rack, spend less on alterations and buy better quality fabrics vs. relying on stretch or performance fabrics. Now we’re talking proportionately/relatively fit. All you gym buffs out there that are huge up top and don’t have the waist to match, you have your own set of costly and difficult to find fit needs. Especially when it comes to suiting, you may be able to get by with suit separates and some extra alterations but in some cases, custom clothing is the only option.

Lifestyle changes-

If your new year is all about professional growth, making a career change or getting noticed in your industry, there is no quicker and more effective way to make an impact than through your personal presentation. Watch the level of respect and how seriously you are being taken upgrade, as you do the same for your wardrobe and look. Understand what your look has been communicating and how that has been impacting your goals, and a clothing coach can guide you on how to make the most effective change to create immediate impact and routines that become a tool working with you, marching towards the finish line.

If 2018 really is going to be your year, you’re off to a good start, but why not show it? Invest in yourself. Learn how to understand your fit, and where to best find and maintain or develop your personal style.

In the spirit of the holidays, consider these proven tips as The Clothing Coach spreading some Holiday cheer. I know the events are lined up this time of year, and you might not be excited about all of them, but –you might as well look fly.

Accessories:

Pocket squares, lapel pins, cuff-links, hats etc. are all examples of great touches of detail that add volumes to your look, -when done right. Tie-pins are great as they can also serve as unique lapel pins. Try matching your pocket square to your shirt vs. your tie. A French-cuff shirt is great way to dress up in a subtle way. Add some holiday color in the details, and an everyday fit can be appropriate for holiday themed events, rather than buying entire event specific looks.

Fun socks:

The ultimate detail that says much about your personality and is noticed more than you know. A subtle hint of style as you walk or take a seat. Adding some fun colors and prints to your sock drawer not only adds style but shows that you’re more approachable than your well-tailored suit indicates.

Magnetic Collar stays:

Especially if you’re event is not requiring a tie, magnetic stays are a great way to stay sharp. Get the benefits of a button down collar, without compromising on style. Keeps your collar crisp and not all over the place regardless of movement and can even make almost any shirt look expensive.

Pocketing:

Men don’t carry purses, making pocketing in our coats and jackets essential. Don’t ruin the look of your fitted pants by sticking wallets and cell phones in the pockets. Learn the proper placement of things should go. On suits and sportcoats, the front pockets come sewn shut for a reason. Don’t unstitch those pockets for use unless truly necessary. Instead keep them closed to help maintain the shape and longevity of your garment. It’s best to get garments with multiple interior pockets.

Major Don’ts:

• No navy coats and black pants, no contrast and looks like a mis-matched suit.
• Ill-fitted clothing; this doesn’t mean they need to be tight, whether too big or small understand your true size because fit is the priority.
• Black belt and brown shoes, belt must always match shoes.
• Clip on suspenders, -braces that require buttons are much more tasteful.
• Pre-tied bow ties/clip on ties. This is like wearing fake jewelry. And bow-ties are no exception because their “harder to tie.” Heard of YouTube? No excuses, If you must wear one, learn how to tie it.

With the large selection of ties online and on store shelves, it can be challenging to settle on a tie. Aside from the different widths and endless colors and patterns, -prices can vary quite a bit as well. Especially when you don’t wear or buy ties often, you may feel indifferent towards the selection of your tie. But here’s a few things to consider instead of wandering aimlessly looking for one that “speaks to you”:

Build off your suit– while you can start with the tie to build an outfit, you’ll often have more success after you’ve decided on your suit and dress shirt. Especially when shopping for a specific event.

Contrast– the worst thing you can do is only look at all blue ties to go with your all blue shirt. It’s often matching the accents and details in the pattern with off-color backgrounds that will make your tie pop and match even better. Shirts are often cotton, and ties silk, so matching the same color is never identical anyhow, besides that choosing ties this way typically won’t produce the best results.

Match your lapel width– if you want that new slim look and opting for a skinny tie, just make sure it’s not going with your classic fit suit from a few seasons ago. Not that you need to be in the latest “fit” or look, but when getting a new tie, you must match the style of the suit or trouser you’ll be wearing. Just as you can’t where a classic wide tie on slim fit suit, slimmer ties don’t work with full cut traditional suits. Use the width of the lapel on your suit as a guide when in doubt.

Even if this isn’t your favorite time of year, it’s still most likely you’re most eventful. Whether it’s a holiday or New Year’s party, it can serve as a reminder that you do care what we look like. For men, it’s often hard to admit that they don’t want to attend an event because they don’t know what to wear. They may get a away with saying it’s uncomfortable or they just hate dressing up, but trust me, no one hates to look their best.

Guys often have no clue where to start, but when someone intervenes and helps them look their best, they all of a sudden don’t mind socializing. They get a compliment or two and watch out! They turn into Mr. Casanova Mac all of a sudden. Looking your best has always been associated with feeling your best, and it’s hard to argue you don’t. But a makeover can make you feel better. Let’s talk about something that’s not so temporary.
Forget playing dress up, I’m talking about a wardrobe upgrade. A real image enhancement, where stressing about getting dressed for any event -doesn’t exist. Without compromising on looks or quality. Nothing but go to, interchangeable combinations that fit well, look good and make sense not just to your budget, but to your personal and professional goals. I mean why the hell else are you worried about what you look like anyway?

You’re not doing this for other people, it should be about how you want to represent yourself. Even if it’s just for your significant other, there will be times where you represent more than yourself. Your wardrobe can say much on your behalf, and it’s simple to learn how to take charge of what you’re saying.

Good coaches develop strong systems based on their experience and goals. Great coaches tailor and tweak their system to fit the needs of their players, and environment. Understanding it’s never a one size fits all strategy is crucial, particularly when it comes to your personal style and wardrobe. Learn the essentials today, and stop relying on coupons and ads that are designed to fool you. Don’t sell yourself short and learn from a trained professional today.

GMO’s for your Clothes:

A lot of people have become aware of the genetic modifying and artificial ingredients in their food. Many are concerned with the consequences and choose to buy organic. But where is that awareness there when it come to your clothes. There are over 8,000 chemicals in use today in the manufacturing of clothing. Most cotton on the market is GMO while quality cotton like Egyptian have virtually disappeared from the market. When you wear a brand new shirt and as you work up a sweat throughout your day, your pores are opening up absorbing any of the dyes or chemicals touching your body. This type of exposure does not filter through your liver leaving your body to fully absorb whatever comes its way.

Pollution:

One of the largest contributors to landfills emitting greenhouse gases is clothing. Made of synthetic fabrics and chemicals that may take decades to breakdown and are too cheap to recycle/reuse. Fast fashion has been a main culprit, begging the question what are the real hidden costs to cheap clothing?

Some people like to follow current fashion trends very closely as part of their personal style. They follow the latest looks and emulate their media idols and fashion trendsetters. When it comes to their clothing needs, Quality, longevity, where or how it’s made, none of that matters. It’s about fit, brand, popularity and price. Now for everybody else, especially Mr. average Joe are asking, Who the hell cares?

This bring us to the opposite end of the spectrum, Mr. I don’t give a ____ about any of that is my style. Here, it’s all about comfort, basic needs and price. What do they have in common? Whether we are considered fashionable or not, we all have a personal style that is a form of communication speaking on our behalf. Our routine “look” is part of our personal brand, in the same way if you are known to always be at least 10 min. late, you brand yourself unreliable.

Job interviews, 1^st dates, events and 1^st impressions are all times where I’m sure you are much more mindful of this. But are these the only times it matters? View dressing all those other days of the year simply as brand consistency. And if you can’t view yourself as a brand, maybe it’s time to wonder why you should.

The key take-away is to understand the importance of developing a personal style; starting by realizing the impact of your personal presentation. This doesn’t mean you need to care about fashion. And if you’ve decided to upgrade, DO NOT tie this into a makeover based on emulating a “hot new trend”. Rather tie into the development of your personal and professional goals. Knowing who you are is the key to making this confidence booster work for you.

Life comes with its inevitable expenses. Clothing is not always a man’s favorite expenditure, but we accept it must be done from time to time. As much as we can try to limit those times, we find ourselves back at the store more often then we’d like. Either the need to cover our changing bodies or -our significant others keeps us going back. This despite that for most shopping for clothes can be a costly unpleasant experience.

The thing is most men couldn’t really tell you why they hate it so much. They’ll tell you half-truths like they can’t stand the lines, or hate trying stuff on. Or flat out excuses like not having time, “I don’t care” or “I’m colorblind”. What they do know is, they don’t like it and it ain’t cheap.

The truth is we all hate to tackle tasks we don’t fully understand. Especially when we’re not sure where to begin or how to find the answers. And men especially love asking for help, right?

I know you’re tired of wasting countless hours and dollars wandering and clicking around showrooms of clothing. Not really sure what’s best for you, or getting the help you need. This is the only true remedy: Learning how to shift this process from a cost into an investment. This is where some expert assistance will save you money in the long run.

It’s not only about getting measured, it’s understanding how that translates to understanding your fit. Knowing what to look for in how you where your clothing, –or where you should be. That’s besides understanding different makes/brands, fabrics and how that’s relative to care and performance; -relative to your needs. Another major point to understanding fabrics and make is assessing price and value. Or you can just continue to rely on coupons, commercials and other company marketing gimmicks.

This not only impacts your comfort and look, but often overall confidence. A major key to your overall success. And if your style is not tied into your personal or professional goals, you’re not maximizing your investment.

If this sounds like a lot, that’s because it can be. A personal shopper is a cost, but a clothing coach is a mentor and a sound investment. There is no wiser choice than gaining dividends from something you must spend on anyway. When you fully understand what you need and how to get it, you will change from spending on clothes into investing in yourself.

People often make snap judgments of others that may be unfair, or just plain wrong. Those quick opinions often don’t have much to go on besides what meets the eye. Now before we start a debate about our feelings on the validity of this shallow practice, let’s agree on this: The way you look is communicating something -and your clothing is a big part of this non-verbal language. So ask yourself, what message is your wardrobe fluent in?

When trying to learn a new language, you must start with the fundamentals. However the fundamentals of this non-verbal language must be tied into your personal and/or professional goals. Reflective of your personality and what you aim to accomplish. It must be backed by all the ability and knowledge you bring to the table. Substance is the key, but a polished presentation will lead to more doors. Radiating confidence speaks volumes in silence. This is where you can assess the value of a wardrobe upgrade, relative to your needs and goals.

Why else do celebs, politicians and even whole companies invest so much in image consultants and PR agencies? In marketing their image? You don’t often see politicians with jewelry, pocket squares or flashy accessories. What are they trying to communicate, or not? You’ve heard of power ties, or strong and soft colors. If it isn’t so important, why are millions of dollars being spent to control image and presentation?  Is clothing only an investment if you’re in the public eye?

While you may not need the same level of PR management, your look is affecting your personal brand amongst your daily interactions. We can’t all afford the luxuries of celebs and politicians, which is why investing in a clothing coach is the most practical solution. Learn how to develop your personal style, relative to your goals. Understand your fit and how to upgrade your wardrobe within budget. Learn the pros and cons of different makes and fabrics to better understand value. Become aware in understanding clothing as a language and learn how your wardrobe can better speak for you.

If you’re a parent, you want what’s best for your kids. As they blossom into adults, advising them of a career path may be one of your biggest concerns. Of course you want nothing more than their success, and with that in mind when was the last time you heard a parent say, “Son, (or daughter) I think it’s a great option for you to get into retail.”  Chances are, you haven’t. If you have, it may have sounded more like “Son, I think it’s time you learn some responsibility, find a retail job ‘til you get your degree.” (i.e. “something better”) All parenting situations differ, but what has happened to an entire industry, has not.

Department stores and other retail establishments used to provide quality jobs that demanded quality employees. In past decades, many homes were bought and entire families put through college from these employees. Companies rewarded expertise and gave real incentives and benefits, as they felt it was in their interest do so. Employees were also relied upon and expected to perform. Retail wasn’t just a job filler, or part time gig. But it’s clear in today’s economy, career professionals are disappearing from clothing stores.

Goods are cheaper than ever, but is there a hidden cost? As companies began to spend less on the production of products and more on marketing, they’ve also been spending less on workers, and more on automation. With the shift and growth of online sales, and the further shedding of overhead costs, this is only on the increase. But hey, industries and times change. The point isn’t to debate the reason on the plight of retail workers, or a company’s reasons to invest where they choose. The point is an undeniable fact. Service suffers, and expecting to deal with experienced and highly trained professionals when buying your clothes is unrealistic.

What this means for you is that you must seek guidance elsewhere. An expert guide to really understand your fit, value, what to look for, how to care of your clothing and non-verbal communication. Stop wasting your money.  Shopping on your own or online isn’t wrong, but it is when you don’t know how. The intention of a clothing coach is tying in those dollars spent on your wardrobe, to your personal and/or professional goals. When clothing is done right, it turns a necessary cost into an investment by realizing factors you may not have even taken into consideration.