From free to reasonably priced finds, these strategies, instruments, and picks will make higher model extra easy.
Particular due to Slick Collar for supporting Primer’s mission and sponsoring this text.
Dressing higher is not nearly shopping for completely different garments or studying esoteric style guidelines—it is about reworking the way you strategy getting dressed.
The objective is to create a system that makes the act of dressing clean, pleasing, and sustainable, even on the hardest days.
A superb model system reduces friction in your day-to-day routine, creating a greater relationship with what you already personal and making it straightforward to place collectively outfits that work. Under are a variety of straightforward strategies, instruments, and picks which have made my very own system infinitely simpler.
A Nice Strategy to Consumption and Arrange Inspiration
Free – $10
Any good designer, filmmaker, photographer, architect, or inside designer is aware of the significance of cataloging inspiration. No nice artist works from reminiscence or begins from scratch with each undertaking.
Placing outfits collectively and honing your model is simply as a lot of a visible and inventive endeavor as any of these inventive fields. When you’re nonetheless determining your private model, why pressure your self to face in entrance of a closet, staring blankly and attempting to resolve what to put on?
You want a strategy to save clothes, model, and outfit concepts as you come throughout them. Whether or not it’s on Primer, whereas shopping a retailer’s web site, strolling by the mall, or scrolling on social media, having a system to seize and arrange inspiration is invaluable.
The way you do that comes down to private desire:
- Create a Pinterest board.
- Take screenshots in your telephone and save them into an album.
- Use instruments like Notion or Evernote for a extra elaborate system.
There’s no mistaken strategy to do it, but it surely’s important to do one thing. You’ll be shocked how typically you overlook about an outfit concept. Months later, you’ll scroll by your saved inspiration and rediscover a glance you’ll be able to recreate.
It saves time, reduces stress, and makes getting dressed for occasions or day by day life considerably simpler. I can’t emphasize it sufficient.
A Movable Shoe Rack to Be Close to Your Clothes
$25+
Having my footwear clearly seen whereas I select my garments is extremely essential. Constructing an outfit is not a linear course of; it is about experimenting, holding objects subsequent to one another, and seeing how they align for the event and look on you.
An outfit is a cohesive look; having all objects seen helps create that cohesion, somewhat than simply seeing them as separate items. All of it works collectively to develop into one thing extra. As an illustration, suede loafers change the texture of a shirt and denims in another way than white sneakers do.
Once I can see my footwear alongside my clothes, I typically decide footwear I would not have chosen if I had already selected the highest and bottoms first. With the ability to audition completely different pairs whereas placing collectively an outfit makes a giant distinction.
Slick Collar
Package with 3 collar sizes + shirt stays, $23 save further 15% with SLICKPRIMER
A structured collar could make all of the distinction between trying sharp and looking out sloppy. That is true whether or not you are shopping for shirts on the reasonably priced finish of the spectrum or investing in costlier items.
With button-up shirts that lack construction, the collar typically flops over, making your look really feel unkempt. That is particularly a problem for sensible informal seems to be the place even informal items ought to be as refined as attainable.
Enter the Slick Collar: a easy invention that instantly proves its value. Reasonably priced, efficient, and completely designed for its goal, the Slick Collar is basically the collar+placket equal of collar stays. It gives construction not solely to the collar ideas but in addition to the entrance button placket, holding them in place and stopping them from collapsing or folding beneath the material’s weight.
This retains the collar upright, guaranteeing it does not slide open as a result of material’s weight. Created by a small enterprise out of Canada, the Slick Collar is adjustable for various neck and shirt sizes, with every order together with three collar lengths. This versatility means it really works for every thing—from knit polos and golf shirts to extra formal costume shirts.
Better of all, you’ll be able to simply transfer them between shirts, which means no alterations are wanted.
At round $20 for 3 with the code, the Slick Collar is a small funding that delivers huge returns throughout almost all your collared shirts. It’s a stable, dependable device, and after getting it, you are set. Straightforward purchase.
Primer readers can save 15% with code SLICKPRIMER.
An Apple Watch Strap That Helps Stability the Tech-y and Athletic Nature
$10+
In social media style bubbles, there is a little bit of a pretentious, nearly Luddite view on smartwatches—that they will’t be trendy. Certain, they lack the heritage of a dive watch or the class of a gold costume watch, however that mindset ignores the truth of dwelling in 2024.
For a lot of, smartwatches are important—whether or not for way of life, work, or duties. Personally, my Apple Watch helps me keep targeted with out the distraction of my telephone. I nonetheless get texts and calls however keep away from time-killer apps, which makes it essential for me.
I put on it typically at residence with the default strap but it surely’s powerful to put on in a extra sensible informal, night look. Fortunately, Apple Watch bands are straightforward to swap due to their sliding mechanism. A leather-based or steel band, which you will discover affordably in off manufacturers, and could be swapped in throughout the occasions the common strap does not work, makes all of the distinction.
Designate an Outfit Workstation
One of the vital stress-reducing adjustments I’ve made is organising a devoted “workstation” close to the place I hold my outfits. Having all instruments in a single place makes it a lot simpler to get every thing prepared effectively, particularly when operating late. It’s a small shelf the place I maintain my steamer (with plug entry), a clothes brush, and some other instruments I’d want.
It’s a type of “workbench” in your garments, the place you progress objects from closet storage into the staging space, and have all of the instruments it’s essential to get them trying their greatest.
A Place to Hold Outfits
This may appear easy, however it should change the way you strategy your clothes and magnificence.
Choosing out your outfit the evening earlier than drastically reduces morning stress—particularly should you’re not a morning individual and really feel half asleep or foggy. It is a complete recreation changer to simply get up and know precisely what you are carrying.
For me, I hung a hook in my closet to stage my outfit for the subsequent day. It retains every thing neat and separate, performing as a staging space whereas assembling completely different mixtures. As a substitute of attempting to image a mixed look in my head, I pull out key items and hold them, attempting completely different combos till I discover the right match.
A Clothes Brush As a substitute of a Lint Curler
$15+
Earlier than the sticky paper-based lint rollers you are conversant in, folks used particular clothes brushes to wipe away mud and hair. Originating within the nineteenth century, clothes brushes had been important clothes care instruments for males who wore fits recurrently. Since fits cannot be washed simply, it was essential to have a brushing routine.
I’ve lived with canines that shed for 15 years and the sticky lint curler has all the time felt annoying and wasteful to make use of simply as a result of sheer quantity of peeling and rolling I would need to do every time. Just lately, I lastly picked up some clothes brushes. They arrive in several coarseness and stiffness ranges, with softer brushes designed for extra delicate clothes fabricated from cashmere, for instance, and stiffer ones to deal with denim extra instantly.
Whereas they don’t seem to be excellent, and generally require a number of passes to lastly get that one piece of hair, it’s much less annoying to make use of. Clothes brushes could be discovered beginning round $15 and you’ll improve to the gentleman commonplace, English-made model Kent which begin round $40. The double-sided Kent CC20 which is usually mentioned as a go-to resulting from versatility eeks handed the article funds and is round $60.
A Clothes Steamer
$15+
I do not understand how that is attainable, however for me, ironing appears so as to add wrinkles somewhat than take away them. Plus, my standard schedule for preparing is all the time tighter than I’d like, so I’m typically speeding when it’s time to dress. The very last thing I need is to plan on carrying one thing, solely to search out it is too wrinkled and really feel like I don’t have the time to cope with it.
That is the place a steamer saves the day.
I have two steamers: a budget-friendly mannequin round $20 I’ve had for years and a bigger Conair mannequin. Each work nicely—simply run the steam over the material, and most wrinkles disappear simply.
Actually, I’d be in a troublesome spot with out a clothes steamer. It’s a kind of instruments that makes preparing a lot less complicated, and I can not suggest it sufficient.
The Plain Ball Cap
James Clear, the creator of Atomic Habits, has famously stated, “You don’t rise to the extent of your objectives. You fail on the degree of your programs.” If you’re an individual attempting to decorate deliberately in your life—particularly if this can be a newer endeavor for you or doesn’t come naturally—you’ll be able to’t count on your pure habits and routines to brute pressure extra conscientious model 100% of the time.
It’s simply not going to occur. There are going to be days the place you don’t wash your hair. There are going to be days the place you’ve acquired to toss stuff on and nonetheless wish to look good however don’t have time to do the entire thing.
For these days, a plain black baseball cap has been wonderful. There’s nothing mistaken with carrying a cool hat with the correct sports activities crew emblem or some type of classic design. But it surely does require some visible balancing with the opposite objects. The plain black cap takes it from being a very utilitarian factor (like a free hat from a company giveaway) to an intentional a part of your outfit.
A Hoodie or Quarter-zip Different That You may Need to Put on
$20+
Hoodies are fashionable for 2 causes: they’re comfy and straightforward to put on. There’s nothing mistaken with hoodies; I like them too.
Nevertheless, there is a distinction between carrying hoodies as a part of your model, and counting on them since you panic about what else to put on. For these barely much less informal settings—like a date, household occasion, or after-hours work operate—having one thing that feels as comfy as a hoodie however seems to be extra applicable will make your life simpler.
There are numerous choices:
These are straightforward swaps on days the place you do not have the brainpower to assume past a hoodie that elevate your model whereas sustaining consolation.
Wood Hangers
$4.99+
In case your closet feels chaotic, switching to wood hangers can present the wanted construction and group. Rainbow-hued plastic hangers add visible muddle when your thoughts is attempting to determine what to put on, they usually don’t give your garments the assist they want. In a packed closet, shirts and pants get compressed, inflicting wrinkles, creased shoulders, and crushed collars.
Wood hangers resolve these issues. They supply construction to maintain your garments able to put on and provides your closet a cleaner, extra organized look.
The perfect half? Wood hangers don’t need to be costly, and also you don’t want to switch them suddenly. I transitioned my closet over a few years, and the distinction is evening and day. IKEA and Amazon have reasonably priced choices, and when you make the change, you’re set for good.
Closet Area Savers like Tiered Hangers
$15+
Tiered hangers are nice for grouping comparable objects collectively, decreasing visible muddle. If in case you have six an identical white T-shirts, hold one visibly and maintain the remainder on a tiered hanger. The identical goes for exercise garments you put on in no explicit order. This setup saves house and minimizes visible muddle, making it simpler to give attention to key objects when placing outfits collectively.
Levi’s 501
$35+
When you’re a Primer common, you’ve got heard me discuss 501s as types have shifted towards straighter/looser suits over the previous few years. The 501s, with their basic straight match, had been the primary place I turned. Initially I believed, “These are method too extensive; I will by no means put on them.” However they shortly grew to become my go-to, no-thought-required pair. I put on them dressed up, dressed down, and in all places in between.
This is the factor about straight match denims: If you have not worn them for the reason that ’90s, it is simple to evaluate them too shortly. After they’re new, they appear crisp, pressed flat, cuasing the facet seams to flare out awkwardly. However after washing, drying, and breaking them in, the drape adjustments utterly. Now, they comply with my physique’s contours with out feeling too extensive, free, or blocky.
They’re straightforward to put on with chunky boots or suede loafers for that light preppy look you see at locations like J.Crew, Buck Mason, and Taylor Sew. They’re comfy, tender, have a little bit of stretch, they usually’re reasonably priced. You’ll be able to snag a pair for beneath $50, particularly throughout upcoming gross sales.
A Nice Plain T-Shirt
Having a tender, handsome t-shirt that you just love the way in which it suits—I can not overemphasize how priceless that’s. You’ll put on it on a regular basis. You’ll layer it beneath leather-based jackets, sweaters, and button-ups. You’ll put on it by itself with denims. You’ll put on it tucked into chinos for a contemporary look.
A t-shirt that drapes nicely with a tender visible texture can exude sophistication simply in addition to a button-up shirt. Between a man carrying an affordable, unkempt button-up and a man carrying a very stable, tender, well-fitting t-shirt with some particulars within the collar, hem, texture, or wash—I select the t-shirt each time.
Staples and fundamentals are known as that as a result of they’re common and may look wonderful on anybody when the small print are dialed in. There’s an inclination to dismiss them as much less essential or boring, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Cease Carrying (and Get Rid of) Issues You Hate Carrying
This can be a huge one for me. I mislead myself about issues which can be a smidge too small or don’t match fairly proper. I’ll strive them on, then find yourself selecting one thing else, however I don’t say to myself, “I ought to simply eliminate this.”
Holding these objects makes getting dressed more durable as a result of they create visible muddle in your closet. It’s additionally wasted time should you strive them on solely to reject them once more.
One other shocking facet impact that I found is, I might by no means contemplate shopping for issues “I already had” however by no means wore just because they did not match proper or weren’t comfy, even when the right model of the merchandise would have gotten worn on a regular basis.
Outdoors of utmost utilitarian instances—like a blazer or swimsuit you don’t take pleasure in carrying however sometimes want—there’s no level in holding objects you dislike. Use the trick the place you hold these objects with the hook dealing with outward and after six or so months, if the hanger hasn’t been rotated (indicating you’ve worn the merchandise), donate or promote it. This technique clears up house and helps you acknowledge what you really need.
Darkish Grey Denims
$25+
If you need a single reply to what’s one factor you should buy to make outfit-building simpler, it’s a pair of darkish grey slim or straight denims with 1 / 4 or half break.
You’ll be capable to costume them up, put on them tremendous casually, model them rugged, or pair them with preppy or streetwear seems to be. They’ll work with brown boots, black sneakers, and nearly the rest. The flexibility is countless.
If a pal who was simply beginning out requested me for one suggestion, it might be this. Yow will discover loads of choices beneath $50 from locations like Levi’s or Amazon Necessities, particularly throughout gross sales which can be developing.
