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Ask HN: Men's fashion/style/grooming advice for software engineers?

• narak 8y ago
  A great starting point for me was reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice (and the associated wiki) Some advice: focus, above all, on fit. Learn what each of the basic garments should fit like for your body type. Even the most basic budget wardrobe tailored to fit well will look great compared to expensive but unfitting clothes. Then focus on fabric quality, color combinations, and experimenting with your own styles (pinterest is great for exploring this). Good luck!
  • archagon 8y ago
    +1, mfa is a good reference. Also, be aware that this process will take a while. Try on lots of clothes. Eventually, you’ll find a perfect item of clothing that will make picking out others a lot easier. Take photos and videos of yourself, especially from the sides and back. Watch people around you and if you think they look good, write down what they’re wearing. And although I hate to say it: sometimes looking good means being a little less comfortable. For example, sneakers will always be more cozy and versatile than classic leather shoes. (I get around this by wearing Eccos, which come close enough.)
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• GW150914 8y ago
  This may sound daft because it’s overwhelmingly focused on women’s fashion, but the basics are universal; watch some episodes of the American version of What Not To Wear. Concepts such as quality, matching and “going together” and the role of color are all presented in a way that works for either sex. Plus it’s sort of entertaining which makes the learning process memorable and less painful. A couple of common pitfalls to avoid are wearing baggy clothing that doesn’t fit, going monochromatic because hey black and black match, right? I’d also recommend, basic as it may be, cleanliness and quality being paramount. Something a little boring or a bit outlandish is forgivable in most cases if it’s not cheap, dirty. To start off find some basic, well fitted clothes and don’t worry about lots of color and styles, but focus on one or two accent pieces to add a personal touch. Shave. If you have a beard or mustache, keep it well trimmed and be honest with yourself if it looks healthy or sort of weedy. If the latter, lose it. Keep your hair properly cut, stay clean, and try to find a fragrance that works with your body, and then use it sparingly! Wear comfortable shoes, but make sure they’re clean, and in good shape. Get some decent socks and make sure they match your shoes. Invest in a suit, preferably tailored, and a couple of nice silk ties, and learn how to tie them. Even if you don’t wear it often, it’s good to have in the bag. Have at least one truly nice pair of leather shoes, keep them in good shape. Above all, start looking at people and thinking about how what they’re wearing and how they’re presenting themselves makes you feel about them. I’m not talking about being judgmental, just aware.
• dylanhassinger 8y ago
  You might like this blog - https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/ https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/
  • sh87 8y ago
    Nope.
• deleted 8y ago
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• abledon 8y ago
  Never ever use axe body spray if pair programming in same room, or any heavy cologne for that matter
• darrelld 8y ago
  First off it will take you a while to change your wardrobe. Don't rush out to try and fix it by buying all new stuff in a weekend. This never ends well. Think of dressing well more as a journey rather than something you can just change immediately. First some links of places that helped me out: reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice https://www.youtube.com/user/RealMenRealStyle https://www.youtube.com/user/RealMenRealStyle https://www.youtube.com/user/AlphaMconsulting https://www.youtube.com/user/AlphaMconsulting https://www.youtube.com/user/Teachingmensfashion https://www.youtube.com/user/Teachingmensfashion (Note: The youtubers will keep trying to sell you stuff in their ads, some of it is good, some of it is trash. Probably best to just ignore the advertising while you're starting out.) The /r/malefashionadvice subreddit has a good wiki. Check out the links for beginners and people getting started. Also look through their WAYWT threads(What Are You Wearing Today) to get an idea of what looks good on others. It's easier to copy what others are getting right. For example see a guy that looks your age and size and you like what he's wearing? Copy it. The youtube channels have a lot of good information especially real men real style. Check out the videos that are relevant to you. Overall the biggest thing you can do to immediately dress better is to wear clothes that fit. So focus on understanding what a properly fitted pair of pants, t-shirt, polo, and dress shirt and suit should look like on you. Get your measurements so you know what your sizes are, and make friends with a good tailor. After you nail the fit, everything else is really extra credit IMO.
• sh87 8y ago
  Clean clothes that fit well. This is non-negotiable and surprisingly overlooked. Also, last year, I bought (discounted) brown/tan leather shoes that fit my feet perfectly. I feel that was a good move. Was my wife's idea to get it though :)
• DoreenMichele 8y ago
  You want a good haircut and good grooming. If you know a fashionable friend, ask if they would be willing to let you tag along when they shop or if they would be willing to go shopping with you. Fashionable people are often socially oriented. They may enjoy the company and you may learn a lot. Quality: Most high quality clothing is made of natural fibers, like cotton, silk, linen, wool or leather. Learn what those feel like and skip all the polyester crap. Cotton-poly blends are wrinkle resistant and hold color better than 100 percent cotton. So 80-20 blends can be practical and sometimes are decent quality. But 100 percent polyester is usually terrible stuff. Nylon is an exception to that general rule. Some, for example, nylon windbreakers are good. When I met my ex, he looked like something out of Revenge of the Nerds. I got him a decent haircut and took him clothes shopping because it bothered him and causer him social problems. I don't think he ever read fashion advice, but by the time we divorced, he had developed an eye for what worked for him. My eye was better than his, but he was no longer trapped in Revenge of the Nerds-land. My sons also have developed an eye for decent clothes, though either actually cares about fashion. They were just raised by me. Best.
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• Fr0styMatt88 8y ago
  Thanks everyone for the great advice, it's really helpful. I'll definitely be checking out these resources.
• tmaly 8y ago
  I think the book The Game by Neil Strauss actually hit the nail on the head in regards to this topic. He imparts how your external appearance is part of the whole process.
• awaywopassd 8y ago
  Also depends on look you are going for. And it is better to match your look with your personality. Personally, when first I started making real money, I bought a lot GQ style clothing. But my personality was not as smooth. Maybe other people noticed, maybe not but I felt conflicted internally. Perhaps if I wore GQ style clothing longer, I would have gotten used to it. The book that helped me most with my style/clothing was "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." The basic idea was to get rid of everything that doesn't make you feel great. This led me to try all my clothes and get rid of all my clothes that didn't make me feel great. Now I am not fashionable guy but feel I wear clothes that line up with my personality better. Mostly, outdoorsy/sporty style.
• Star86 8y ago
  I'm an Image Consultant/Fashion Stylist based out of San Francisco and a lot of my clients are Software Engineers. I realized a lot of my clients had the same questions, so I launched a site to give practical style advice to men. I hope it can help you! http://www.pocketstylist.io/ http://www.pocketstylist.io/ If you're still overwhelmed, consider hiring a stylist and we'll do the work for you :)