From free to inexpensive finds, these methods, instruments, and picks will make higher type extra easy.
Particular due to Slick Collar for supporting Primer’s mission and sponsoring this text.
Dressing higher is not nearly shopping for totally different garments or studying esoteric style guidelines—it is about remodeling the way you method getting dressed.
The purpose is to create a system that makes the act of dressing clean, gratifying, and sustainable, even on the hardest days.
A great type 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 various straightforward methods, instruments, and picks which have made my very own system infinitely simpler.
A Nice Approach 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 venture.
Placing outfits collectively and honing your type is simply as a lot of a visible and creative endeavor as any of these artistic fields. For those who’re nonetheless determining your private type, why pressure your self to face in entrance of a closet, staring blankly and attempting to resolve what to put on?
You want a solution to save clothes, type, and outfit concepts as you come throughout them. Whether or not it’s on Primer, whereas searching a retailer’s web site, strolling via 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 non-public choice:
- 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 solution to do it, but it surely’s important to do one thing. You’ll be stunned how usually you overlook about an outfit concept. Months later, you’ll scroll via 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 every day life considerably simpler. I can’t emphasize it sufficient.
A Movable Shoe Rack to Be Close to Your Clothes
$25+
Having my sneakers clearly seen whereas I select my garments is extremely necessary. 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, quite than simply seeing them as separate items. All of it works collectively to turn out to be 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 sneakers alongside my clothes, I usually choose sneakers I would not have chosen if I had already selected the highest and bottoms first. Having the ability to audition totally different pairs whereas placing collectively an outfit makes an enormous distinction.
Slick Collar
Equipment 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 searching sloppy. That is true whether or not you are shopping for shirts on the inexpensive finish of the spectrum or investing in dearer items.
With button-up shirts that lack construction, the collar usually flops over, making your look really feel unkempt. That is particularly a problem for good informal appears to be like the place even informal items needs 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 function, the Slick Collar is basically the collar+placket equal of collar stays. It offers construction not solely to the collar ideas but additionally 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, making certain it does not slide open because of the 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 gown shirts.
Better of all, you’ll be able to simply transfer them between shirts, that 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 practically your whole collared shirts. It’s a stable, dependable instrument, and after getting it, you are set. Straightforward purchase.
Primer readers can save 15% with code SLICKPRIMER.
An Apple Watch Strap That Helps Steadiness the Tech-y and Athletic Nature
$10+
In social media style bubbles, there is a little bit of a pretentious, virtually Luddite view on smartwatches—that they will’t be fashionable. Certain, they lack the heritage of a dive watch or the class of a gold gown watch, however that mindset ignores the fact of residing in 2024.
For a lot of, smartwatches are important—whether or not for life-style, work, or obligations. 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 vital for me.
I put on it usually at residence with the default strap but it surely’s robust to put on in a extra good informal, night look. Fortunately, Apple Watch bands are straightforward to swap due to their sliding mechanism. A leather-based or metallic band, which yow will discover affordably in off manufacturers, and may be swapped in throughout the instances 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 establishing a devoted “workstation” close to the place I dangle my outfits. Having all instruments in a single place makes it a lot simpler to get every thing prepared effectively, particularly when working late. It’s a small shelf the place I maintain my steamer (with plug entry), a clothes brush, and every other instruments I would want.
It’s a form of “workbench” in your garments, the place you progress objects from closet storage into the staging space, and have all of the instruments it is advisable get them trying their finest.
A Place to Dangle Outfits
This might sound easy, however it’s going to change the way you method your clothes and elegance.
Selecting out your outfit the night time earlier than drastically reduces morning stress—particularly if you happen to’re not a morning particular person and really feel half asleep or foggy. It is a whole recreation changer to only get up and know precisely what you are sporting.
For me, I hung a hook in my closet to stage my outfit for the following day. It retains every thing neat and separate, appearing as a staging space whereas assembling totally different combos. As an alternative of attempting to image a mixed look in my head, I pull out key items and dangle them, attempting totally different combos till I discover the proper match.
A Clothes Brush As an alternative of a Lint Curler
$15+
Earlier than the sticky paper-based lint rollers you are accustomed to, individuals 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 necessary 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 because of the sheer quantity of peeling and rolling I would need to do every time. Lately, I lastly picked up some clothes brushes. They arrive in several coarseness and stiffness ranges, with softer brushes designed for extra delicate clothes made 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 may be discovered beginning round $15 and you may improve to the gentleman normal, English-made model Kent which begin round $40. The double-sided Kent CC20 which is commonly mentioned as a go-to attributable to versatility eeks handed the article finances and is round $60.
A Clothes Steamer
$15+
I do not know the way that is attainable, however for me, ironing appears so as to add wrinkles quite than take away them. Plus, my standard schedule for preparing is all the time tighter than I’d like, so I’m usually dashing when it’s time to dress. The very last thing I would like is to plan on sporting one thing, solely to seek 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.
Truthfully, 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 am unable to advocate it sufficient.
The Plain Ball Cap
James Clear, the writer of Atomic Habits, has famously mentioned, “You don’t rise to the extent of your objectives. You fail on the stage of your programs.” In case you are 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 type 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 something on and nonetheless need to look good however don’t have time to do the entire thing.
For these days, a plain black baseball cap has been superb. There’s nothing mistaken with sporting a cool hat with the fitting sports activities staff brand or some form of classic design. However it does require some visible balancing with the opposite objects. The plain black cap takes it from being a totally 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 Wish to Put on
$20+
Hoodies are well-liked for 2 causes: they’re snug and simple to put on. There’s nothing mistaken with hoodies; I like them too.
Nonetheless, there is a distinction between sporting hoodies as a part of your type, 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 snug as a hoodie however appears to be like extra applicable will make your life simpler.
There are various choices:
These are straightforward swaps on days the place you do not have the brainpower to suppose past a hoodie that elevate your type whereas sustaining consolation.
Picket Hangers
$4.99+
In case your closet feels chaotic, switching to picket 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 help they want. In a packed closet, shirts and pants get compressed, inflicting wrinkles, creased shoulders, and crushed collars.
Picket hangers clear up these issues. They supply construction to maintain your garments able to put on and provides your closet a cleaner, extra organized look.
The most effective half? Picket hangers don’t need to be costly, and also you don’t want to switch them unexpectedly. I transitioned my closet over a few years, and the distinction is night time and day. IKEA and Amazon have inexpensive choices, and when you make the swap, you’re set for good.
Closet House Savers like Tiered Hangers
$15+
Tiered hangers are nice for grouping related objects collectively, lowering visible muddle. In case you have six an identical white T-shirts, dangle one visibly and maintain the remaining 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+
For those who’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 traditional straight match, had been the primary place I turned. Initially I believed, “These are means too broad; I will by no means put on them.” However they shortly turned my go-to, no-thought-required pair. I put on them dressed up, dressed down, and in every single place in between.
This is the factor about straight match denims: If you have not worn them for the reason that ’90s, it is easy to guage them too shortly. After they’re new, they give the impression of being crisp, pressed flat, cuasing the facet seams to flare out awkwardly. However after washing, drying, and breaking them in, the drape adjustments fully. Now, they observe my physique’s contours with out feeling too broad, 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 snug, gentle, have a little bit of stretch, they usually’re inexpensive. You possibly can snag a pair for beneath $50, particularly throughout upcoming gross sales.
A Nice Plain T-Shirt
Having a gentle, handsome t-shirt that you just love the way in which it suits—I can’t overemphasize how useful 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 gentle visible texture can exude sophistication simply in addition to a button-up shirt. Between a man sporting an affordable, unkempt button-up and a man sporting a very stable, gentle, 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 might look superb on anybody when the main points are dialed in. There’s an inclination to dismiss them as much less necessary or boring, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Cease Carrying (and Get Rid of) Issues You Hate Carrying
It is a huge one for me. I mislead myself about issues which are 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 tougher as a result of they create visible muddle in your closet. It’s additionally wasted time if you happen to strive them on solely to reject them once more.
One other stunning facet impact that I found is, I might by no means take into account shopping for issues “I already had” however by no means wore just because they did not match proper or weren’t snug, even when the right model of the merchandise would have gotten worn on a regular basis.
Exterior of maximum utilitarian instances—like a blazer or swimsuit you don’t take pleasure in sporting however sometimes want—there’s no level in conserving objects you dislike. Use the trick the place you dangle these objects with the hook dealing with outward and after six or so months, if the hanger hasn’t been circled (indicating you’ve worn the merchandise), donate or promote it. This methodology 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 purchase to make outfit-building simpler, it’s a pair of darkish grey slim or straight denims with 1 / 4 or half break.
You’ll have the ability to gown them up, put on them tremendous casually, type them rugged, or pair them with preppy or streetwear appears to be like. They’ll work with brown boots, black sneakers, and virtually anything. The flexibility is countless.
If a good friend 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 are developing.