Style vs. Being Well-Dressed
In today’s world, discussions about stylish appearances can be found both offline and online in various interpretations. In this article, I aim to share insights I’ve gained from my years of experience as a wardrobe consultant, focusing on appearance, clothing, and personal style.
Is style something that can be taught? This is a question that often arises. However, I would like to suggest that many people confuse style with simply being well-dressed.
In my opinion, our style evolves continuously throughout our lives, shaped by our environment, experiences, and personal journeys. Whether we intend to or not, these factors influence our style. So, everyone has a style, whether good or bad. Evaluating this is up to each person’s individual judgment and aesthetic sense.
Although style often manifests externally through appearance and clothing, it would be superficial to think that personal style ends there.
Style is the sum of all our external expressions, including how we speak, move, look, think, behave, and live, as much as what we wear. There's no doubt that style and being well-dressed are closely intertwined. But we've all seen villains in immaculate suits and good-hearted individuals in sloppy clothing.
First impressions do matter, influencing how we and others perceive ourselves. If we care about how our environment perceives us, investing time and thought into our appearance and clothing can only positively impact our lives.
Different situations call for different attire. Just as it's inappropriate to wear jeans to the theater, it's also impractical to wear a white shirt while fishing. No one is expected to master every dress code instantly, but a thoughtfully curated wardrobe is an achievable goal for anyone. It doesn’t make us any less masculine—quite the opposite.
The first and most important task is finding a practical "uniform" for everyday life. Our profession, workplace responsibilities, lifestyle, and comfort are key influencing factors. Equally important is paying attention to special occasions in our lives, ensuring that when we look back, we can be proud of our appearance.
In my view, the continuous learning and self-improvement that shape our personalities beyond external impressions are what ultimately define our style with a capital "S." It’s never too late to start. In this regard, time is on our side.
This article was originally published on the Igényes Férfi online magazine platform. Our consulting services are based in Budapest, where we help men refine their style and appearance for various life events.
