On our men's fashion blog, the subject of colors is one of the most frequent. It is also one of the most loaded with preconceived ideas! So let’s put everything back together: it’s not that complicated!
Assert your tastes little by little
Let's start again: a beginner who wants to take charge of his style will go through several phases.
1 - He discovers that men's fashion can be a source of pleasure , and that there are resources to better understand and make it your own. What previously seemed incomprehensible to him now becomes clearer.
And it's encouraging for the beginner to see that dressing better is ultimately something simpler than it seems.
The look of someone who has learned the basics (Gantt Rugger).
2 - He will learn how to choose his pieces from a list of objective criteria (shoulder seam, slightly tight jeans, bending, etc.). This famous list is very reassuring, because it eliminates (or at least considerably reduces) the question that kills during the fitting: “ am I making the right choice? ”
3 - This question can really become distressing and beginners will sometimes implement a whole bunch of more or less effective strategies to ensure that they make the right choice, techniques of which overthink is unfortunately one (article to read and to reread).
4 - Then finally, through fittings, questions, comments, a real serenity and a real pleasure will settle in when finding, trying, buying, and wearing clothes.
5 - A very personal style begins to appear , often encouraged by spontaneous compliments from those around him, or questions about where he bought this or that piece.
6 - Men's fashion then becomes the first step in a much more global improvement of oneself. This is an observation that may sound like counter personal development, but I am always surprised (and touched) to hear feedback from readers or customers who explain to me that dressing better was the first step towards a long and rewarding journey in self-improvement. Some have started eating better, exercising, losing weight, following their passions, reorganizing their lives, or a whole bunch of other positive things that I can only encourage.
7 - They lived happily and had many children...
Except that sometimes the transition from step 3 to step 4 is a little more complicated ... This is what I call "rationalization of tastes".
The parrot said: you will not rationalize your tastes.
Rationalizing your tastes (in men's fashion and elsewhere)
Because rationalizing one's tastes literally means formatting (even deciding) what one likes according to completely objective and logical criteria (a bit of a shame when it comes to pure and simple tastes). It's relegating your tastes to the background . It's making something emotional and intuitive disappear behind counterproductive logic.
However - and therein lies the paradox - it is a necessary step when you are a beginner. We may have liked the baggy look in the past, we may have appreciated t-shirts that were too big. But we agree that at the beginning, it is necessary to objectively recognize that jeans that are too big are still jeans that are too big and that a shirt with buttons of all colors, double collars, or interiors of flashy collars, it's not very beautiful.
Objectively, it's not pretty.
To convince yourself, ask yourself what it means to you...
The most Cartesian, most mechanical minds will therefore ask themselves another question, as justified as it is vain: "but then, what makes a garment beautiful? Why do we consider that square plastic buttons and huge collars Isn’t it beautiful? Why is one item of clothing beautiful and not another?”
And presto, the headache begins... By asking this question, the beginner will try to construct his taste in a rational way, to rationally say to himself "this shirt is beautiful for such and such a reason".
It's a real shame, because it's the best way to put your tastes AFTER criteria that are totally objective and disconnected from your personality. A shame when it comes to choosing clothes that are supposed to define us and project the best image of ourselves!
When I speak here of "beautiful", I am of course talking about aesthetics and design, and not the quality of finishes or materials. Objective criteria are obviously necessary to judge the quality of a material, manufacturing or finishes.
But your clothes are still supposed to reflect who YOU are and speak for you!
Do you think that Inspector Harry is rationalizing his tastes
between two fights and a misanthropic joke? NO !
Hiding behind the taste of others
A very common case of rationalization of tastes is blindly trusting others. With the following logic: " if X people around me think it's good, then it's good, so if I follow this pattern they will think I dress well ."
Except it's never going to be YOUR tastes, so it's kind of like disguising yourself as someone else.
Take inspiration from others and identify the tools they use to achieve a cool style. But don't try to copy. You will have understood: this is not at all the vision that we are defending.
Stop the hipster looks if “that’s not really you.”
At the risk of surprising you, it's hard to do anything more impersonal...
Likewise, when you see photos of our outfits, take them as an illustration of our advice. But by no means as a monolithic vision of style. Style has many facets: it's up to you to find yours with the tools we give you. Because that's what it is: a tool (to match colors, to evaluate quality, to know if it's your size, etc...). Tools that will prevent you from building something that doesn't stand up, but in no case will they define the final result (the architect is you).
As an example, our friend Vianney is someone who really has his own style. This style continues to evolve over time with a few purchases of strong pieces, but it maintains a real coherence and truly reflects his personality:
No, I will not post the evening photos!
So let's relax!
The first thing is to absolutely stop thinking in a binary way “beautiful/not beautiful” (at the beginning anyway). I have often repeated it.
The second is to bring together two opinions, two opinions. We'll take an example that I like:
CCP sneakers, which are not cheap, and which divide.
So, what do you think ? Do you find it beautiful?
Ugly ?
Do you like design?
Having trouble answering?
...
Well done, you have just realized that sometimes you have to go further and abandon this beautiful/not beautiful judgment because certain pieces are not intended to garner unanimity of opinion in terms of design.
But yet, there are people who love these sneakers, who love the approach and the use of unusual materials and others who hate this dripping design. And you know what ? They have every right to have two different opinions! Just being aware of it makes you worry less!
And between these two extremes, there is you and your opinion on these sneakers. It's called asserting your taste and assuming it, quite simply.
So play down the drama! Your tastes will evolve , accept not to have an opinion on certain pieces, and accept that your opinions will be formed gradually.
Because after a while, what matters is to develop your taste and trust it , and not to systematically doubt it!
And finally, don't forget, I keep repeating that your sensitivity to design, and more generally to shapes and colors, is something that needs to be worked on , by feeding your eye with objects that you find beautiful.
So next time, when you ask yourself “is it beautiful?” , instead ask yourself “do I like this?”
Yoann Serfaty shirt . You realize that the question “is it beautiful?” is far too limited in the face of this type of piece!
(Credit for cover photo and article: Etudes N°2 )
