Regardless of what most men think, donning a tux every other month is not the apex of elegance. Quite the contrary, adopting a lifestyle of elegance entails trendy fashion choices on a daily basis. From matching the colours of the pants to the shade of the shoes to accessorising stylishly, the modern gentleman must know at least 9 basic rules to truly call himself elegant and attract the ladies' attention.

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Ever since it was first used in the 17th century, the tie became the most prominent accessory of men’s apparel, whether military or civilian. You shouldn’t experiment too much with the position of the ties, as it ought to fall to the waistband of the trousers.

Once you tie a tie (yes, it sounds funny), you shouldn’t let the tie knot slip. A sloppily worn tie is an insult to elegance! Furthermore, the tie should be paired up with the color of the vest and the tuxedo. Avoid wearing a shirt and a tie alone because there is no worse sight than a gentleman wearing a plaid short-sleeved shirt and a tie.

Having mentioned the vest, we must say that this piece of clothing is elegant in itself. However, you should take care of how you wear it, unbuttoning the bottom of the vest. The only exception to this fashion rule are double-breasted vests and evening waistcoats. Also, never wear a belt when you are wearing a belt.

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If you wish to conceal body hair and absorb body odors, then undershirts are highly desirable. Undershirts are out of vogue when worn alone but if you wear them under a shirt, then they are ideal undergarments, as useful as underwear.

When choosing the right undershirt for you, choose a model with a deep neck and one made of cotton. When it comes to the colour of the undershirt, white is suitable for sleeping but with elegant outfits, coloured shirts, such as black or navy blue make the best combo.

Cufflinks: The Most Important Pieces Of Men’s Jewellery

Generally, men wear less jewellery that women but an elegant gentleman cannot go without cufflinks. They have a practical function, as they are used to secure cuffs. At first, it might be tricky to put on cufflinks but they are an accessory you cannot wear a dress shirt without. Ideally, keep the visible cuff length matched with the amount of collar visible around the neck.

As far as the footwear is concerned, it should be paired up with the rest of the outfit in terms of colour and style. For instance, if you decide on a black bet, then the shoes should also be black. Brown is the universal colour of footwear that goes well with most outfits. The only time the footwear can be disproportionate from the rest of the look is summertime when you wear colourful clothes.

Apart from wearing the correct shade, you should look after your shoes well, especially if they’re made from leather. Polishing and regular visits to the cobbler should be part of a monthly or yearly routine. This way, you will spend less money on footwear in the long run.

 

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Apart from pairing up black and brown, one of the biggest fashion “no, nos” is wearing socks and sandals. This fashion choice has nothing to do with elegance but rather bad taste. Another useful tip is to wear over the calf socks without suspenders because they are redundant.

In terms of elegance, men’s shirts are the most basic of clothes. They can be worn at a beach, as well as in the office but there are certain rules pertaining to wearing shirts. The collar has a huge impact on your look, so if it has a tendency to curl, you ought to wear collar stays.

Finally, all the shirts you wear should be ironed and tucked in when worn on formal occasions. Informal events, like a friend’s beach party, means that you can let the shirt fall freely over pants and even shorts.

Speaking of pants, a huge number of men wear them too long. Full cut trousers should ideally reach the top of the shoe create a half break. Elegance in men’s clothing has to do with proportion, so pants worn too long or too short won’t match the rest of the well-balanced outfit.

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The biggest mistake men make when buying stock-made jackets and coats has to do with the sleeves. Namely, the width of the coat or jacket at the shoulders should exceed the width of your shoulders by an inch on both sides.

Otherwise, the coat will wear out sooner so you’ll be paying a tailor to mend it. Not only will this extra shoulder room leave you more space to move your arms but you will look more elegant. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as “slim fit” when it comes to buying coats and jackets for autumn.

Elegance is not something a man is born with but rather something we learn as we grow older and wiser. Therefore, the 9 fashion tips listed above are compulsory reading for every modern man aspiring to be a true gentleman!