The Effortless Guide to Graduating Your Style

THE EFFORTLESS GUIDE TO

GRADUATING YOUR STYLEE F F O R T L E S S G E N T . C O M

GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM II

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 INTRODUCTION

04 BEFOREWEBEGIN

09 ASSESSINGYOURCURRENTWARDROBE

16 BUYINGTHEBASICS

32 THELISTOFESSENTIALS

39 PUTTINGITALLTOGETHER

53 CELEBRATINGYOURVICTORY

56 CONCLUSION

GRADUATING YOUR STYLE | EFFORTLESS GENT | EFFORTLESSGENT.COM 1

AN INTRODUCTIONWHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO

MOST LIKELY YOURE A REGULAR READER

OF MY SITE, THE EFFORTLESS GENT, or per-

haps a friend told you about this, and, knowing

there was some room for improvement, you

put your faith in my advice and purchased this

guide. Regardless of how you found out about

this, Im glad youre here.

To me, true style was never about being up on

the latest trends, or knowing which article of

clothing to purchase for the sake of fashion.

Truestyle,inmyopinion,istimeless. Its about

understanding the basics of how to wear

clothes, and then discarding the rigidity of

those rules and bending them however you

please. Its about learning how to mix custom

made, high quality, tailored pieces with thrift

store finds. Its about combining a classic

look with a taste of current trends. Its about

understanding the basics, and building upon

them to make a look all your own.

Thepurposeofthisguideistohelpyoubuild

thatfoundation. You need a solid foundation

in order to make any progress in graduating

your style. How can you confidently pair com-

plex patterns and textures, for example, if you

still dont know how to pick a great fitting pair

of denim?

Most guys I talk to are looking for a place to

start. This guide is that place. Start here, fol-

low each suggestion, and by the end of this

guide, you will be confident in your decisions

and have a solid foundation from which to

build on.


AN INTRODUCTIONWHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO

A SMALL THANKSI APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF

YOU, MY READERS, and am extremely thank-

ful that you bring your excitement, insightful

questions, and never-ending optimism to the

table with each email, tweet, and comment on

effortlessgent.com.

When I first started EG, I never thought Id

catch the attention of such a great group of

readers and supporters, and the emails and

messages I receive telling me how much

youve learned through the site really makes

all this worthwhile.

HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT ANY POINT while

reading this guide, dont hesitate to contact me.

You can hit me up on Twitter (@effortlessgent)

or leave your question on EGs Facebook Page

(facebook.effortlessgent.com).

Theres a huge benefit to asking your ques-

tions on Facebook; its likely that someone

elsemaybewonderingthesamething, and

our mini Q+A on the wall would have helped

others.

And although I love answering your questions

through email, if I have several people ask-

ing me the same thing, my answers would be

much more helpful if posted in a place where

everyone can read it.

In any case, Im always available here, just

send me a note: [email protected].

LETS GET TO IT, THEN.


BEFORE WE BEGINSETTING THE STANDARD & FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINT

IF YOURE READING THIS, CLEARLY, YOURE

LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE. The rags you

cover your body with on a daily basis arent

cutting it anymore, for whatever reason. Con-

gratulations to you for recognizing the need

for an upgrade.

SETTING THE STANDARDHow can you improve if you dont know where

you currently stand?

Think about this: If you were on an epic quest

to lose 80 lbs, would you just hop on a tread-

mill and start running? Would you saunter over

to the weight rack and start flailing around the

room with heavy dumbbells?

I mean, you could just plop yourself on a

treadmill and crank away, but why would you?

Do you know how far you should be running?

At what speed? What intensity? If you were

planning on strength training, do you know

the proper movements? The correct weight

to lift? How many sets and repetitions to do?

If you successfully did these random exercises

and managed to not kill yourself, would you be

able to tell if you improved? Did your muscles

grow? Did you lose inches in your waist? Did

your body fat percentage drop? How about

the number on the scale?

You catch muh drift. Youneedastartingpoint

fromwhichtoimprove,andyouneedaplan

ofaction.

Heres how well arrive at your starting point in

your epic quest to Graduate Your Style


FORMULATING YOUR STARTING POINTTools: scale, tape measurer, patient wife/girl-

friend/friend/talented dog

1.)GETONTHESCALE

and weigh yourself! Seriously. Hopefully youre

satisfied with that number. Write it down.

Dont have a scale? Heres one I really like. Its

sleek, digital, and easy to read.

In case youre ashamed of that number (either

because its too high or too low), you know you

have some work to do.Maybe your motivation

to upgrade your style will extend into other

parts of your life as well. I know it did with me,

back in 2005 when I was 76 lbs heavier than

I am now. In fact, the motivation to improve

both happened in tandem.

Dont be surprised if you find yourself want-

ing to hit the gym to improve your health after

spending all this time improving your outward

appearance.

The point ofweighing yourself is two-fold.

One, you want a defined starting point, like I

mentioned earlier. Two, it keeps you honest.

If you weigh 50 lbs. more than you should

for a person your height, you wont sit there

trying to convince yourself you belong in a

Thom Browne skinny suit, or a pair of Levis

511 skinny jeans. Or maybe you will, but deep

down, youll know the truth.

And if youre 20 lbs underweight, you wont

be trying on loose fitting denim or full-cut

dress shirts (which you shouldnt really be do-

ing under any circumstances anyway).

So hop on the scale, and jot that number

down.

Next...



2.)TAKEYOURMEASUREMENTS

This is where youll need some as-

sistance from your wife/girlfriend/

friend/skilled pooch.

If you have a do-it-yourself tape

measurer, you can handle this part

on your own).

If using a

basic tape

measurer, you

may be able

to measure

some parts

yourself, but

most of the

time it will be easier with the help of

an assistant.

Youll need a few key measurements.

HOWTOTAKEYOURMEASUREMENTSPROPERLY:

1. Keep tape even and balanced as you wrap it

around your body part

2. When measuring, dont wrap it too tightly, other-

wise youll get a smaller-than-expected measure-

ment

3. If your tape is wrapped around too loosely, you

risk an uneven measurement as the tape is suscep-

tible to dropping down without you noticing

Dont overthink it, but at the same time, do this as care-

fully and accurately as you can. Take the measurement

twice, three times if you have to.

Youll be buying clothes based off these measurements,

so accuracy is key. Do thebestyoucan; I believe in

you!



YOUNEEDTOMEASURETHESEAREAS:

1. natural waist (standing straight with your

feet shoulder width apart, bend, and

where your torso bends is your natural

waist)

2. waist across belly button

3. hip (where your pants sit)

4. chest (across the nipple)

5. sleeve length (from center base of neck

across traps to shoulder, down to wrist)

6. inseam (from top of inner thigh to heel)

Recordthesemeasurementsandkeepthem

inyourwallet(orsomewhereyouwonteas-

ilyforget). You wont always need all of them,

but at some point in your ongoing quest to

graduate your style, youll find that having

such detailed measurements will come in

handy.


READY TO GET TO WORK?


Lets discuss the overarching guidelines to make this

process easier. Keep these in mind as you take a look at

the current state of your closet.

CLEANSE THE CLOSET LIBERALLYThis is about letting go of the old, the

unused, the overused, the inappropriate,

the pass.

T-shirts from high school you no longer

should be wearing, jeans that have the dad

wash (aka light or medium stonewash),

stained, oversized, holey hoodies. Let em

go.

(Feel bad about throwing them out? Well

discuss in a later chapter how to dispose of oldbut

still usablearticles of clothing.)

ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBE

Now that weve established a

starting point, lets examine where

weve been in our lives, stylewise.

Note: This may be painful. It will probably be challenging. It may take a bit of courage, strength, and a couple shots of whiskey, if youre that resistant to change.Most likely, itll just be confusing.

But hey, thats why youre using this

guide... to assist you during times of

confusion.

If youre a guy who at some point in

your adult life has taken an interest

in his appearance, theres a good

chance you will have some winning

items in your closet. Theres also

a good chance that most of it is

garbage and should be gotten rid of

(or at least not worn in public).

WHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS


HANG ONTO CLASSICS, STANDARDS, AND BASICSGot a good pair of denim you spent hours

shopping for? Have a couple hand-me-down

Brooks Brothers dress shirts your older

brother wore in the 80s? Your dad pass down

his extensive collection of tailored sport coats

to you, and you two wear the same size?

Hold on to these pieces.

They will go through further filtering later, but

they have more potential than your collection

of Hypercolor tees you bought at Daytona

Beach 15 years ago.

KEEP WHAT YOU LOVE, MAKE SURE ITS WORTH ITYour favorite sweat pants, a beloved button-up

shirt, your teams tee from college intramurals.

Theyre not exactly sartorially approved, but

you love them. So keep them! Be honest with

yourself during this process, and dont justify

keeping every single article of clothing. Save

itforthetrulymemorableandspecialthings

inyourcloset.

Ask yourself this, if you find yourself hanging

onto too many items: Will keeping that ratty

sweatshirt hold me back from wearing

appropriate, grown-up outerwear when I leave

the house? Will I continue to default to this

oversized jacket because its so comfortable

and so familiar and Ive been wearing it for

years?

Hanging onto the past is a slippery slope.

Youve made the commitment, so lets see

this through. If youre strong enough to only

wear the ratty hoodie when youre bumming

around the house, then so be it. But be honest

with yourself.

ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT WARDROBEWHERE THE REAL WORK BEGINS


WHAT TO KEEP, WHAT TO THROW AWAYIts time to get down and dirty.

Designate three zones on your bed in which

youll categorize your clothing. If you have a

ton of clothing, you may have to designate

three zones in your room instead.

These are the three zones:

GIVEAWAYS

OCCASIONALS

ESSENTIALS

GIVEAWAYS

Giveaways are considered any clothing with

rips, holes, tears, and stains, things that you

no longer wear, or things that no longer fit.

Some exceptions to this rule are items that

you wear daily and have the potential to be

repaired (leather shoes that need to be resoled,

a favorite pair of jeans that can be patched).

Be honest with yourself when evaluating

each item, and beliberalwhengettingridof

things. Dont think of this process as losing or

getting rid of things, think of it as lightening

your load and easing your burden, making

room for new things in your life. Better things.

A general rule to follow: Ifyouhaventtouched

itinoneyear (or you cant remember the last

time you wore it), getridofit. Youll never put

it on again anyway.

OCCASIONALS

Occasionals are items you wear once in a

while. Youll keep a majority of them, but

youll surely be getting rid of some. Seasonal

clothing can be in this category since youll

only be wearing them for part of the year, and

will have to cycle them out / store them away

once the seasons change.



You may also have those CRAZY pieces that

you like to wear once in a while, or for certain

occasions, but not all the time (my orange

Bonobos pants would be a good

example).

Further filtering:If two to three years have passed

and you havent worn it (or if you cant

remember the last time you did), getridofit.

You wont put it on again.

If its no longeryour style, or you cant see

yourself wearing it again, get rid of it.

If itsclearlydated,orill-fitting, get rid of it.

ESSENTIALS

Essentials are items you wear most often, or

basics that every closet must have. Things

like good denim and chinos, sweaters,

outerwear, solid-colored tees, underwear,

socks, accessories, suits, etc. Youll probably

be keeping most of the stuff in this pile.

Further filtering:If you have toomanyofacertainitem (either

through excessive unnecessary buying, or

neglecting to get rid of older items over the

years), get rid of it. For example, you only

really need three to five pairs of denim at the

most. Your secondary stash? Get rid of it.

If any of your essential items haveholes, get

ridofthemandreplacethem if necessary.

If you have ill-fitting essentials, get rid of

themandreplacethem if necessary.

AFTERYOUGROUPYOURCLOTHING

Once youve completed this exercise, you have

a better grasp on the StateOfTheCloset, aka

your Sartorial Situation. I totally just made

those two terms up right now.



Now that your closet and drawers are gutted,

its time to put things back, and also to get rid

of the things that no longer belong in there.

TEST WHAT YOURE UNSURE OFAre you feeling torn about some of your clothes

(usually the ones in your Occasionals pile)?

Feel like you probably should give a certain

piece away, but you can imagine a scenario

or two where you might put it to good use?

Wore it a few times and youre unsure if youll

wear it again, but you spent a good amount

on it and you feel bad getting rid of it?

Ive felt that way about plenty of things. Heres

how to test those items, to see if theyre worth

keeping.

1. Find a spare closet, bedroom, or empty

section of your current closet (if the

latter, this has to be clearly separated)

2. Hang all your questionable items in the

spare closet

3. When you get the urge to wear an item

from the spare closet, pull it, wear it, and

when youre done, hang it back in your

active closet (the one with the majority of

your clothing)

4. After six months, all the clothes in your

spare closet that you havent touched

can be gotten rid of because you clearly

wont use it. Feel free to extend to a

year if you need to go through all four

seasons.

This is a fool-proof way of seeing which

itemsyouwearmost frequentlyandwhich

youcangetridof.



A more extreme version of this method would

be to put every single Occasional and Essential

item in this spare closet, leaving your main

closet bare. Whenever you feel like wearing

something, pull it from the spare closet, wear

it, and when done, hang it up in your main

closet.

After six months (or a year) of doing so, youll

haveidentifiedyourmost-usedOccasionals

andEssentials. You can easily discard the rest.

HOW TO GET RID OF CLOTHESPurging that closet is a good idea, and is an

activity that needs to happen regularly (at

least once a year). Trust me, itll feel good

once youre done, and youll have more room.

Eventually, purging will happen less and less

frequently, because you will have trained

yourself to buy only whats necessary.

WHERETOGETRIDOFYOURGIVEAWAYS:

sell on eBay

sell to a thrift store (Crossroads, Buffalo

Exchange, Out of the Closet, or your local

boutique thrift stores)

donate to Salvation Army, Goodwill

give to homeless shelters, clothing drives

give to your younger siblings

Donteverjustthrowbagsofyourclothing

away. Even if theyre something you shouldnt

wear, there are many needy people out there

who would be thankful for ANY kind of cloth-

ing on their backs.

Make sure to do the right thing and donate

any clothing you dont sell.


WHAT TO BUY NEXT, AND WHY.

PLUS, THE LIST OF ESSENTIALS


BUYING THE BASICS

Alrighty, so if youve gotten this far, weve set the standard and determined a starting point with your body measurements. Weve also identified the essentials of any wardrobe, as well as the basics every closet should have. This section is about breaking

down exactly what youre buying

andwhy. Its also about finding items

that will stay relevant for years, and

identifying the situations where its

worth spending extra for superior

quality.

BASICSYOUR BASICS ARE THINGS THAT

YOU WEAR EVERY DAY. Things like

underwear, A-shirts (aka tanks or

wife beaters), T-shirts, V-necks,

socks (both athletic and dressy). Most likely, since these

items get a lot of wear, youll be replacing them regularly.

Because of this, I suggest spending an amount youre

comfortable with.

UNDERWEAR

The boxer brief is the kind of underwear I

suggest from here on out. No tighty-whiteys,

no loose cotton boxers, and definitely no man

thongs.

This is a great middle ground; grown men wear

it, and theres enough support for your most

prized possessions, if you know what I mean.

Buy a variety and stay stocked up. I go for the

grays and blacks.

Some people prefer buying designer underwear, but

sometimes they go for $25-$30 or more for ONE pair.

Personally,Id rather spend my money on other things,

so if youre like me, check out something like the Hanes

comfort fit. Minimal branding, solid colors, no frills, but

ITS TIME TO RESTOCK


they get the job done. Alternatively, you can

hit up bargain stores like Ross or Marshalls

and find the brand name stuff in three packs

for a deeply discounted price.

T-SHIRTS

Same goes for T-shirts and A-shirts. If youre

a no-nonsense man, pick up a 3- or 5-pack of

white Hanes tees (or whatever your preferred

brand) and be on your merry way. Id grab

several heather gray shirts as well, and maybe

a couple navy and black ones. This is all your

preference, of course, and it depends on what

youll use most.

I wear V-necks much more frequently. Hanes

and other similar brands have white V-necks

in most stores or online. I usually wear grey

V-necks or colors other than white.

I purchase mine from places like J.Crew, Gap,

and even Old Navy. Youd be surprised at how

soft the Gap and Old Navy tees are, and how

often they run specials like 2 for $15. When

they do go on promotion, pick some up if you

know your basics are due for a refresh.

SOCKS

Athletic socks: same story. I prefer no-show

ankle socks (ones that hit below the ankle

bone). I only wear these when Im working out,

and I do NOT wear them with leather dress

shoes. Thats what dress socks are for.

With dressy socks, you have a wider selection

of stores and price ranges to choose from.

Dress socks are typically made from cotton,

wool, cashmere, or a blend of these materials.

You can find a pair of socks on sale for $5, or

you could go to a high-end department store

and buy a pair for $50. Its up to you to decide

what youd like to spend.

BUYING THE BASICSITS TIME TO RESTOCK


I buy a lot of my socks from J.Crew, and a

brand called Happy Socks. Happy Socks has

every color and style imaginable, and is a

great place to start if youre unsure of

where to buy. You can find Happy Socks

at various stores, or online.

I encourage guys to be experimental

here. Its one of the few areas where we

dudes have the opportunity to express a

little uniqueness.

Even though Im classifying these as dress

socks, dont feel like you can only wear them

on dressy occasions. I wear these socks every

day, with all types of shoes, from brogues to

desert boots to my low-top Converse sneakers.

WHATWELEARNED

SHIRTS (A-SHIRTS, T-SHIRTS, V-NECKS)

buy several in white, heather gray, and any

other colors you like

heather gray V-necks are best for under-

neath dress shirts

Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, other brands

from Target are fine

Big box stores with basics are good for

color V-necks (Gap, J.Crew)

UNDERWEAR

boxer briefs

stick with darker colors

spend as little as $15 for a 5-pack, or $30+

for one pair at higher-end department

stores

SOCKS

athletic socks - no-show or ankle

dressy - practically anywhere, cotton or

cotton blend, wool for colder months



ESSENTIALSYOURE LUCKY. You went through the steps,

evaluated the State Of The Closet, cleared out

what no longer belongs, and sorted through

the items worth keeping. Youve also just

restocked the basics. Youre in a great spot!

Do a little happy dance. Dont worry, Ill be

right here waiting.

Okay great. Im excited for you too! In case

youre unsure why you should be so excited,

its because yourclosetisnowinbettershape

than95%oftheEarthsmalepopulation.

Lets get started replacing the items you got

rid of, and buying things you never knew you

needed in the first place.

Keep in mind, the shopping lists at the end of

each section are samples, or bare minimums of

what you may need. If you find yourself want-

ing to pick up more, go for it.

COVERINGYOURTORSO

There are four types of shirts that you should

have in your closet. This will cover you (pun

intended) in practically any situation:

T-SHIRTS

We covered this a bit in the Basics section.

There are a variety of styles, from crewneck to

deep v, to u-neck. I stick with basic crewnecks

and V-necks, and I suggest you do as well.

SHOPPING LIST:

one 5-pack white, gray, or black crewneck

or V-neck tees (whichever you think youll

wear most)

one 5-pack light gray V-neck tees (for

underneath your light colored dress shirts)



an aside: Remember in Part A (Before We Begin) in the section titled Formulating Your

Starting Point I had you write down your

measurements?

This is when you can whip out that piece of

paper. It will help you find the ideal fit for your

clothes, starting here with your T-shirts.

Youll often see a similar size chart on T-shirt

packaging; this one in particular is from Hanes.

So according to this chart, if your chest mea-

sures 38, then youll want to purchase a size M.

Simple, right? Arent you glad you took your

measurements beforehand?

POLOS

Polo shirts are an awesome, dressier al-

ternative to tees; in fact, I prefer them

over tees all the time. If youre leaving the

house, consider throwing on one of these

instead of your basic tee; youll look ten

times more put together.

My favorite is the Polo Ralph Lauren Custom

Fit polos, they seem to fit best and have a

modern cut that is more tailored to the body.

Practically every mens store carries its own

version of a polo shirt. Go to your favorite

store and try some on.

SOME NOTES ON FIT:

consider a piqu weave, which allows for

more breathability.

sleeves should stop at mid bicep and hug

your arm



the bottom of the polo should hit at your

hips, or 1-2 past your belt; make sure its

not too long

overall, the shirt should hug your torso,

but not suffocate you

SHOPPING LIST

one white or heather grey polo

one black or navy polo

one polo in your favorite color

Take a look at this Back to Basics article for

tips on choosing a good color.

DRESSSHIRT

Ah, the dress shirt something the modern

man must have a closetful of, right?

Well, kinda. You really only need a few to get

you through the week, though that may depend

on your profession or how you spend your days

(if youre a cubicle-dweller vs. a professional

mud-wrestler or snake charmer, for example).

I wear a button-down shirt almost every day,

so I have quite a few. At the very least, youll

need what Ive listed in the shopping list below.

SOME NOTES ON FIT:

You want your shirt to be fitted throughout

the body. Not tight or extra skinny, just

hugging the torso.

The image to the

right is an example

of Brooks Brothers

different shirt models.

Shirts labeled slim fit

are great, because

they trim the excess

material out of the

shirts midsection, so you dont have billowy

fabric when you tuck it in. They also trim the

extra fabric from the sleeves so it doesnt look

like you have giant, saggy arms.



Even if you think youre too meaty for shirts

that are considered slim fitting, you may be

surprised. Find one in your size, and you may

notice that they actually fit better than you

thought.

Choose a shirt with a basicspreadcollar. This

is by far the most flattering style no matter

the shape of your head and

face. When you button your

collar, there should be room

for one finger in between

yourneckandthecollar. If you have room for

two or more fingers when stacked on top of

(not next to) each other, you need to drop

down a size.

Feelthefabric. For a dress shirt, you want a

lustrous fabric soft to the touch, tightly woven

with a high thread count. You dont need to

remember all that, just know that a softer,

more luxurious fabric is considered a dressier

shirt (and it feels better when you wear it).

Contrast that with an oxford cloth button-

down shirt and youll feel the difference,

which is one of the reasons why oxford shirts

are considered more casual.

Your cuff should hit right at your wrist with

your arms at your side. You want a little length

in your sleeve to allow for movement, but not

so much that you have fabric bunching at your

wrist when your arms are to the side. Use your

best judgement.

Lastly, watch out for overly trendy dress

andsportshirts. Youll know what Im talking

about when you see them. You can find them

in clubs and bars across the country, worn by

douchey dudes who think they look hot.

Whats considered a trendy button-down?

Shirts with dragons or words screenprinted

on. Shirts with double or triple collars, crazy

obvious buttons in odd shapes, excess buttons

on the cuffs and collar, contrast stitching on



every button hole, unnecessary contrasting

on the inside of the cuffs, collar, plackets, etc.

If the shirt is screaming Look at me! Look at

me!, please, look away.

SHOPPING LIST

one white oxford cloth button down shirt

one white pinpoint or poplin dress shirt

(remember, it should feel soft to the

touch)

one light blue pinpoint or poplin dress shirt

In general, higher-end stores will have a more

quality selection. If you only own one white

dress shirt, make the purchase count, and get

something thats worth owning.

If youre purchasing patterns and colors to

experiment, check out places like Gap, J.Crew,

and Banana Republic for every type of color

and pattern imaginable.

Remember, this shopping list is the bare

minimum. The right amount and combination

of dress shirts that belong in your closet is

completely subjective, and depends a lot on

how you spend your days.

If you work in a corporate environment, your

need for dress shirts will probably be higher

than someone who works as a web developer,

or a wood chopper, or a line cook.

However, everyone could use, at the very

least, one well-fitting white oxford shirt, one

white dress shirt, as well as one light blue

dress shirt. From there, Ill leave it to you to

decide how to populate your closet.

No matter what, just make sure the shirts

you buy fit you perfectly. Also, buyslow. You

dont want to overpopulate the closet with

unwanted purchases you just worked so hard

to clean out.



SWEATERS

I have a bit of a sweater obsession. In San

Francisco, the weather is usually around 65

degrees year-round. Sometimes its hotter,

sometimes a bit chillier. When the fog rolls in,

you thank your lucky stars you bundled up.

At the same time, its usually too hot for huge

parkas or down jackets that are necessary to

survive those east coast and midwest winters.

Sweatersareaperfectlayeringpiece. Wear

them over a T-shirt or a dress shirt, and

underneath a coat. You can always take it off

if youre too hot.

COTTON? WOOL? CASHMERE? A BLEND? OR SOMETHING ELSE?

Cotton is easiest to take care of. You can throw

it in the washer, while wool sweaters typically

need to be dry cleaned.

Cashmere is also another nice choice. While

on the pricier side, its softness is unmatched

and the fabric itself is very breathable.

CREW NECK? V-NECK? SHAWL COLLAR?

Again, this is your decision. Try on several,

and see what you like. I have plenty of V-neck

sweaters because I wear them over dress

shirts, and that just seems to work better for

me.

SHOPPING LIST:

one navy cotton or wool crew neck

one cotton, wool, cotton/wool blend, or

cashmere V-neck, your choice of color



DENIMIVE COVERED THIS ON EFFORTLESS GENT,

and theres a wealth of information out there

about the different types of denim.

To keep it simple, you really only need one

pair of denim. Makesureitsdark,inkyblue

denim,unwashed,notwhiskered,notworn,

notartificiallyfaded. Thats all you need!

Lets talk about fit, and well use the Levis

brand to compare fits since its one of the

most widely-available brands.

If youre a slim dude with a thin frame, the 511

model may be perfect for you.

If you want a little more room in the leg (or

you happen to have a bit more meat on your

bones), try the 514 Slim Straight.

If youre a tall dude, or you do a lot of squats

and you have a rather large derriere and quads,

the 501 or 505 may be your cup of tea. This is

a straight leg with a normal rise, so it will sit

more comfortably right below your waist.

So, in case youre unsure of the type of fit

you want, try these three out at your local

department store, and afterwards, you will

have a better idea of the kind of denim that

fits you.

Bonus points for buying the pair that best fits,

then going home and measuring the inseam,

rise, thigh, and calf widths. That way, youll

be better prepared the next time you try to

order denim online and cant try it on. (See

The Essential Measurements at the end of this

manual for guided illustrations.)

WHYDARKDENIM?

A pair of dark blue unwashed denim is the

most versatile, and since were rebuilding a

closet with the basics, where practically every



piece can be worn with something else in the

closet, this style fits the bill perfectly.

THE PANTS PURCHASEIDEALLY, EVERY PAIR OF PANTS YOU OWN

WILL FIT LIKE YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF

DENIM. Since every make is different, youll

have to go through the same process you went

through finding jeans.

SHOPPING LIST

one pair of corduroy pants (medium / dark

khaki, slate gray)

one pair of chinos (medium khaki, slate

gray)

one pair of tailored trousers in wool or

flannel (charcoal gray, navy)

Anoteaboutthetrousers: You may find tai-

lored trousers with an unfinished hem. This is

obvious if the pants are super long when you

try them on, and they have no cuff or finished

edge.

This is good and bad.

Bad because you have to take them to a tailor,

and if youre like most guys, youre lazy.

Good because you can take them to a tailor

and get the perfect inseam length.

Muster up the strength and courage to take a

trip to your tailor. Its worth the extra effort and

in the end, youll have a fitted pair of tailored

trousers with the perfect inseam.



THE ONE SUIT YOU NEEDSINCE YOURE READING THIS MANUAL, YOU

MOST LIKELY DONT HAVE THE ONE SUIT

YOU NEED, or if you had some version of it,

its probably dated and / or ill-fitting.

In the off-chance youve worked ahead and

already purchased The One Suit You Need,

feel free to skip this section. If you havent yet

found The One Suit You Need, read on.

SHOPPING LIST: THE ONE SUIT YOU NEED

Single-breasted suit

100% medium weight wool

Navy color

single or double vent

Plain- or flat-front trousers

Modern cut and tailoring

Notch lapel

WHYNAVY?

Navy is a richer and more flattering color

than black. You can use this in practically any

situation youd need a suit, and youd never

stick out or look out of place in navy.

Save black for funeral-goers and ultra formal

attire (like tuxedos).

THE SECOND SUIT YOULL NEED

THE ONE SUIT YOU NEED, BUT IN CHARCOAL

GRAY INSTEAD.

PLACES TO BUY:

custom: Black Lapel, Indochino

pricier: Nordstrom / Boss Black

mid-range / store: Brooks Brothers

Fitzgerald 1818

mid-range / online: Lands End (jacket,

pants), (may be a more traditional cut)

more affordable / store: Macys



DONT IGNORE YOUR FEETA MAN CAN HAVE PLENTY OF SHOES FOR

ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF SITUATIONS, but

the smart man really only needs 3 pairs for

a majority of his outings. Here are the three

pairs to start with.

SHOPPING LIST:

BrownOxford: the perfect dress shoe, ap-

propriate for all dressy occasions

Desert/ChukkaBoot: a great shoe for

your off days, comfortable, good looking

Casualsneaker: the ultimate casual shoe,

unadorned, no screaming logos, goes

great with everything

WHYABROWNOXFORD?

Listen, blacks great and all... but lets be

honest here. You probably already own or have

owned a pair of black shoes. Black is probably

your default color for a dress shoe, at least

before you started reading this manual.

Nothings wrong with black. Its great, really.

But we men need to get away from black dress

shoes. Everyone does it! Its the easy way out.

Not to mention, theres only one shade of

black. There are multiple shades of brown

leather dress shoes (tan to cognac all the way

to a burgundy) meaning you have a wider

selection to choose from, and the ability to

add more visual interest to whatever youre

putting on.

SOMECHOICES:

BROWN CAP-TOE OXFORDS

Allen Edmonds Park Avenue in Walnut Grain

Calf $325

Johnston & Murphy Melton in Bordeaux

Brushed Veal (Burgundy, basically) $175

Bostonian Dennison in Brown $95



DESERT BOOT / CHUKKA BOOT

Clarks Desert Boot $110

Cole Haan Air Charles Chukka $198

Sperry Top-sider Boat Oxford Desert Boot

$100

CASUAL SNEAKER

Seavees Linen Plimsoll in Parchment Linen

$75.99 - $95

Converse Jack Purcell in White $56-$70

Converse Chuck Taylor in Charcoal or White

$40-$50

Those are the three types you NEED. You also

have a bunch of other choices (see this article,

and this one, both on effortlessgent.com.)

TREADLIGHTLYHERE(PUN INTENDED)

Wear with CAUTION, and only in the right

situations... if at all. If youre unsure, just stay

away.

clogs / crocs: youre a chef in a restaurant

flip-flops: youre on the beach

Vibram: youre a barefoot runner

Nike high tops: youre playing ball

Shell Toe Adidas: youre in a breakdance

battle

Birkenstocks: youre... never, actually

Sandals: youre a 89-year-old tourist

visiting a tropical climate; must pair with

stripe-top tube socks

For a basic guide to the Dos and Donts of

your more causal shoes, check out this Back

to Basics post on Effortless Gent.



MANCESSORIESTHIS IS THE THE STUFF THAT COMPLETES

THE LOOK, keeps things together, adds the

finishing touches... you get the idea.

WALLET

Keep yours slim, and only carry around what

you need. This should be super minimal,

preferably one that doesnt open up, like this

standard card holder by Corter. You

only need your license, your bank

and/oracreditcard,andsomething

toholdoneortwobills.

Receipts? Old Starbucks gift cards?

Membership card to the gym you never go to?

Throw em in that junk drawer in your kitchen

(you know, that one drawer that virtually every

kitchen has). Those useless things are taking

up space in your pocket, and that real estate

is limited as-is.

CUFFLINKS

If you wear french cuff shirts, you only need

one pair of cufflinks. Choose something simple

and elegant to go with all your shirts.

Or better yet, pick up a few pairs of silk knots.

These are my preferred choice when wearing

french cuff shirts. Theyre inexpensive and you

can get them in a wide array of colors.

COLLARSTAYS

Most shirting comes with a pair of collar stays,

so you may not need to purchase extras. But

in case you lost all of yours, you can easily find

some at your local store, or even on Amazon.

No matter what you do, make sure you use

them in your dress shirts. This prevents the

dreaded floppy, flattened collar and will keep

you looking crisp.



BAGS

The happy medium between your old Jansport

and a leather briefcase is the messengerbag.

Keep it slim, and make sure there are a few

pockets or sections on the inside so you have

an easy time organizing your stuff. Otherwise,

itll end up becoming a messy, bottomless

abyss, sorta like your girlfriends purse.

Youll be tempted to pack your whole life into

that bag whenever you leave the

house, but resist. Bring only what

you need and youll be a much

happier man.

A durable leather is your number

one choice, with a canvas style a

close second. My favorite canvas one is the

Filson model you see to the left. The leather

options can be pricey, but choose wisely and

youll have it until your 200th birthday.

HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS:

J.Crew Montague leather satchel $298

Saddleback leather company thin tobacco

briefcase $423

Property of Tommy Work Bag in Sand

$248

Filson orginal briefcase $216

Ben Sherman Hunt Messenger bag $89

Kenneth Cole Durango Messenger bag $195



THE LIST OF ESSENTIALSNOT SURE WHERE TO START? WORK ON THIS LIST

IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO

START OVER FROM SCRATCH with

an empty closet, and youre looking

to own only a handful of great-quality

pieces with a sufficient supply of stan-

dards and basics, what would you

stock up on? What should you skip?

Hereswhatyoushouldshootforin

yourcloset. If you have these items at

the bare minimum, you could be well-

dressed in practically any situation.

You dont need much, you just need

the right things to create a flex-

ible, interchangeable wardrobe with

items that all work with each other.

This is a good start.

ONEPAIRINKY,FITTED,DARKBLUEDENIM

ONEPAIRFITTEDCHINOS

OXFORDCLOTHBUTTONDOWNSHIRTS

FINECOTTONDRESSSHIRTS

POLOSHIRTSINBASICCOLORS&YOURFAVORITES

3-5MEDIUM-WEIGHTLAYERINGSWEATERS

KHAKISPORTCOAT

CASUALJACKET

CHARCOALGRAYSUIT

NAVYSUIT

NAVYDOUBLE-BREASTEDPEACOAT

BROWNLEATHERLACE-UPS

BLACKLEATHERLACE-UPS

DRESSSOCKS

NECKTIES

HEATHERGRAYV-NECKS

BOXERBRIEFS

NO-SHOWATHLETICSOCKS

BROWNANDBLACKLEATHERBELT


THESEAREMERELYEXAMPLES

The products I listed are just examples of

what currently exist right now. You dont

have to purchase these specific ones. In fact,

Im certain there are a multitude of brands

across many price points that make the items

I described.

The important thing is that you find these spe-

cific essentials (again, regardless of brand or

price point). Theactualitems,notthecostor

thebrandofsaiditems,arewhatsimportant.

STARTSMALL,ADDWHENNEEDED

You may need more than the quantity I specified,

but start with these and expand as you learn

your needs to avoid acquiring more than you

need. Thepointistohavejustenoughsoyou

dontoverspendandyoudontendupwithan

overstuffedclosetagain. You worked hard to

get rid of all that crap already, remember?

WHATYOUSEEISWHATYOU(CAN)BUY

The image you see next to each essential item

corresponds to the brand and the link I pro-

vided. These photos belong to these brands,

and I didnt photograph them.

ONLINEINVENTORYISFICKLE

Companies change their products all the time.

Inventory runs out. Brands decide to stop

manufacturing certain pieces. It goes without

saying these links may or may not work,

depending on when you read this manual.

Rest assured these examples arent the only

ones out there; youll find plenty of brands

making great oxford shirts or casual jackets,

for example.

Its up to you to get out there in the real

worldandstarttryingonclothes.

THE LIST OF ESSENTIALSSOME THINGS TO REMEMBER


ONEPAIROFDARKBLUEDENIM

Ive said it once, and Ill say it again (and again,

and again), all a man needs is a great pair of

well-fitting, inky, dark blue denim. Keep it free

of embroidery, embellishments, and decora-

tive anything. Buy a few pairs, just in case.

Gap 1969 Straight Fit Denim

ONEPAIROFFITTEDCHINOS

A man cant live on denim alone. Chinos

should fit as perfectly as your jeans do. When

you find that fit, buy several in different colors

(brown, slate gray, dark khaki, olive green).

Gap 1969 Denim-washed Khaki

THE LIST OF ESSENTIALSBREAKING IT DOWN, PIECE BY PIECE

OXFORDCLOTHBUTTONDOWNSHIRTS

Start with one white and one light blue. After

a while, youll realize you love these shirts and

want more. if the fit is perfect, stock up. Also,

dont be afraid to try other colors (lavender,

pale yellow, mint green, dove gray).

Brooks Brothers Extra Slim Fit Oxford Shirt

FINECOTTONDRESSSHIRTS

Oxford cloth shirts are great casual options,

but when you want to dress it up a notch, go

with a finer cotton shirt. As far as colors, same

advice as above.

Brooks Brothers Extra Slim Fit White Dress Shirt


POLOSHIRTS

If youre stepping out of the house and think-

ing about wearing a T-shirt again, put on one

of these instead. It will take your look up one

level without really trying.

Pick up a few fitted versions in basic colors

and the rest in your favorite shades. Dont be

afraid of vibrant hues.

Polo Ralph Lauren Custom Fit Polo Shirts

3-5LAYERINGSWEATERS

These sweaters should be of a medium weight,

in a merino wool, cashmere, or cotton (or

some blend of the three). Youll use these pri-

marily for layering (think underneath a jacket

or sportcoat) or as your uppermost layer on

warmer days where a jacket isnt needed.

Same advice on color as for polo shirts.

J.Crew Cashmere sweater

KHAKISPORTCOAT

The perfect alternative to a light jacket, make

sure this fits as perfectly as your suit jack-

ets do. Just because you wear this casually,

doesnt mean you should slack on tailoring.

For starters, wear these with gray flannel

trousers or dark denim. In the warmer months,

white denim looks great.

Orvis pure cotton twill sport coat

CASUALJACKET

A Harrington jacket, leather jacket, or military-

style waxed canvas jackets; these would all

work well here. This will be worn on your off

days, running errands, etc.

You may need more than one. Purchase wisely,

and buy quality. These should last you for

years (especially something in leather).

LEC Canvas field jacket



CHARCOALGRAYANDNAVYSUITS

If you only owned two suits, these should be it.

Make sure to choose an all-season wool, wear-

able no matter the time of year.

The most versatile will be a two-button, single

or double vented, trim fit model with flat-front

trousers.

J.Crew Ludlow two-button suiting

NAVYDOUBLE-BREASTEDPEACOAT

The best coat for keeping warm and looking

good. Easily dressed up or down, this coat is a

staple in every mans wardrobe.

This coat should be trim fitting, just like every-

thing else in your wardrobe.

J.Crew Bayswater Peacoat

BROWNANDBLACKLEATHERLACE-UPS

The one shoe I recommend for everyone is a

perfect pair of chestnut brown captoe oxfords.

They go with everything from your suits to

your dark denim.

Second would be a similar shoe in black leath-

er. That way, all your bases will be covered.

Florsheim Millport

NECKTIES

The sweet spot for necktie width is between

2 1/4 and 2 7/8. Try not to stray too far past that

range when shopping for ties.

Choose colors, patterns, and fabrics based on

what you like, though its always a good idea

to have a few basics in there.

J.Crew Neckties



SOCKS(DRESSANDATHLETIC)

Go a little crazy with dress socks and be lib-

eral with color. Fine gauge dress socks go with

dressier outfits and leather shoes. Thicker cot-

ton or wool socks can go with brogues, boots,

even casual sneakers.

The best athletic socks are white and no-show

(below the ankle bone). Only wear these with

athletic shoes and when youre being active.

Happy Socks, Hanes Low-Cut socks

HEATHERGRAYV-NECKS

If youre wearing a shirt underneath your

dress shirt, it should be a heather gray V-neck.

Heather gray blends better with your skin

than white, and the V-neck hides the fact that

youre even wearing anything at all.

Hanes ComfortSoft V-necks

BOXERBRIEFS

Basic cotton boxers are too baggy and bunch

underneath your perfectly fitted pants. Tighty

whiteys are supremely unattractive.

The wonderful invention of the boxer brief

marries the shape of the boxer with the com-

fort and support of a brief. Boom. Choose

black or charcoal. Much sleeker in case you

ever get caught with your pants down.

Hanes ComfortSoft boxer brief

LEATHERBELTINBROWNANDBLACK

Choose at least one brown and one black that

are closest to the shade of the leather dress

shoes you just purchased. Find something

that isnt too casual nor too dressy. Eventually,

youll have several, but for now, this is all you

need.

Dockers Feather Edge belt


PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER


What good is clearing your closet and filling it with great pieces if you dont know how to combine them all?

Thats exactly what this section will discuss.

To be clear, with the items you just picked up,

you have hundreds and hundreds of potential

combinations.

Theres no way we can list each and every pos-

sible combo, but what we can do is give you a

few common situations you may find yourself

in, and how you should dress for each.

EACH OUTFIT LISTED BELOW CAN BE PUT

TOGETHER FROM A COMBINATION OF

PIECES IN THE LIST OF ESSENTIALS.

Remember that these are suggestions, not

hard-and-fast rules. Experimentation is en-

dorsed and encouraged, and substitutions

are more than okay.

Go with your gut, but if you find yourself

wearing the same things over and over again,

force yourself to break out of your rut and try

something different!

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERYOU HAVE ALL THE GEAR, NOW LEARN HOW TO WEAR IT


THE DATEDate considerations:

Location: Where do you live? Whats the

climate like this time of year? Dress appropri-

ately for that.

Venue: Where will you be going? Is it a casual

first date? Formal? Somewhere in between?

Thedetails: What will you be doing before,

during, and after? Will you be subject to

changing temperatures? Lots of walking? Do

you get hot easily? How about cold?

THENO-FAILFIRSTDATEOUTFIT

This (or a variation of this) outfit will work in a

majority of common date situations

dark, inky blue denim

fitted sport shirt (subtle stripe, solid white

or light blue oxford, or a plaid)


navy or gray single-breasted sport coat

a great pair of cotton socks (go colorful)

a pair of brown lace ups


DINNERANDDRINKS

When youre going for dinner and drinks, usu-

ally its to more classy establishments. Make

sure you dress the part. Heres something you

can put on:

Navy trousers

lavender oxford cloth button-up

khaki sport coat

brown lace ups

brown belt



DINNERANDDRINKS,CONT.

ALTERNATIVE #1:

charcoal gray suit

light blue button-up dress shirt

muted solid or patterned wool tie

brown lace ups

brown belt

ALTERNATIVE #2:

dark denim

white button-up dress shirt

charcoal suit jacket (part of suit)

black lace ups

black belt



MOVIES,MUSEUMS,STROLLSINTHEPARK

(THECASUALDATE)

chinos

navy polo shirt (or white T-shirt)

burgundy or brown V-neck sweater

white canvas sneakers

brown belt

ALTERNATIVE:

dark denim

plaid sport shirt

grey sweater or cardigan

brown lace ups

brown belt

ADDITIONS:

brisk? navy blazer, harrington jacket

prettycold? peacoat



THE EVERYDAY OUTFIT

Wear something like this when youre

hanging out with friends, checking out a

book from the library, grabbing coffee with

your significant other, running errands

basically any time youre leaving the house

with nowhere special to go.

chinos

gray T-shirt

navy sweater

canvas sneakers

brown belt

jacket (if necessary)

ALTERNATIVES:

dark denim instead of chinos

polo shirt instead of T-shirt

oxford shirt instead of polo or T-shirt

no sweater



WELL-DRESSED (BUT NOT TOO DRESSY)

Sometimes you want to look polished (your typi-

cal casual outfit wont work) but not too polished.

Maybe youre going to happy hour at a swanky

bar or lounge, an opening at an art gallery,

church on Sunday morning, or having dinner

with your boss and his wife. Here are some

options:

charcoal gray trousers (part of suit)

light blue dress shirt

khaki blazer

brown lace ups

brown belt

ALTERNATIVE #2:

dark denim

white dress shirt

charcoal gray suit jacket

black lace ups

black belt



LOOKING YOUR BESTSometimes you have to look sharp. Really sharp.

Maybe youre attending a wedding, a fancy

dinner, a groundbreaking ceremony, or meet-

ing the President at the White House. Every

man attends similar events a couple times a

year (except for maybe that last one).

Lucky for you, you dont need a wardrobe

full of dress clothes to look your best. For

the majority of guys, one suit is all you

need. If you shopped the List of Essentials

from Part B, you should already have one.

HERESHOWTOPULLOFFTHAT

CHARCOALSUIT:

charcoal suit

white dress shirt

silk striped or micro patterned tie

black lace ups

black belt



ALTERNATIVE #1:

charcoal suit


solid or micro patterned wool tie

brown lace ups

brown belt

ALTERNATIVE #2:

charcoal suit

plaid dress shirt

solid or micro patterned wool tie

brown lace ups

brown belt

ADDITIONS:

if its cold, throw on a solid cashmere V-

neck sweater

you may also need a dressier overcoat,

trench coat, or peacoat, depending on

the weather. Just make sure the coat you

wear is slim fitting and longer than your

suit jacket.



THE JOB INTERVIEW

No matter how formal or informal the people

at your future office dress, its important you

make a good first impression, even if that

means overdressing at the interview.

charcoal gray suit

white poplin dress shirt

colorful striped, plaid, or patterned tie.

black lace ups

black belt

air of confidence



I worked at a tech company after college, and

the definition of formal meant putting on a

shirt with buttons on it.

If you know the industrys standard of

dress is super casual, its still important to

put your best foot forward during the in-

terview; your future boss will be impressed

you took the time to look your best, even if

he doesnt say so.

ALTERNATIVE:

dark denim


striped / micro patterned tie

navy blazer (or charcoal suit jacket)

brown lace ups

brown belt



HEADING TO CLASSIf youre in college, youre most likely surrounded

by a bunch of schlubs running to class in

sweatpants, or faded denim, graphic tees, and

flip flops.

Why be like them? You dont have to dress

with a lack of care just because everyone else

is. Here are some ideas to get you going.

Chinos

plaid sport shirt

cardigan

navy canvas sneakers

brown belt

ALTERNATIVE #1:

denim

red polo shirt

grey crew neck sweater

brown lace ups

brown belt



ALTERNATIVE #2:

charcoal grey trousers (part of suit)

white T-shirt

sweater (choose your favorite color)


harrington jacket or military-style jacket

ALTERNATIVE #3:

dark denim

grey V-neck T-shirt

khaki sport coat


brown belt


CELEBRATING YOUR VICTORY

CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER

CONCLUSION


WOW, YOUVE COME A LONG WAY.

When you first bought this manual, you were poorly-dressed, directionless, and lost underneath a pile of terrible ill-fitting and unnecessary clothing.Youtookastand and said Enoughs enough!,

taking your image and appearance and self-

worth into your own hands.

You assessed your current situation and

establishedastartingpoint, making note of

every measurement relating to your body, and

you armed yourself with this knowledge so

you could make educated choices once you

were ready to buy some good clothing.

YoustudiedtheListofEssentials, taking note

of whats most important for you to own now,

and what youll have to buy soon enough.

You took a look at your currentwardrobe,

decided what absolutely had to go, what was

necessary to keep, and what had potential but

needed further thought and examination.

You discarded all your holey, tattered garments,

pieces you no longer wore, things that no

longer fit. You debated the questionable items,

kept what you loved but got rid of things you

knew youd never touch again.

When you finished, you had an organized closet

and drawers, stocked with items you already

owned that you could continue wearing.

You also had a few garbage bags full of clothing

that needed to be discarded, donated, or

given away.

CELEBRATING YOUR VICTORYNOW, THAT WASNT SO HARD, WAS IT?


After completing the necessary cleanup, it

was timetorestockthecloset with essentials

and basics meant to last years.

Youlearnedtoshootforquality where it truly

mattered, and to focus on value when it was

okay to do so. Restocking the closet is an on-

going process, but youre now well underway.

Finally, you learned what to do with the clothes

in your newly-organized, freshly-stocked closet.

You learned how to put together outfits

dependingonthesituation you find yourself

in, based on the List of Essentials.

Now, youre a new man! Look how far youve

come. Your biggest challenge going forward

will be to keep that closet clean and free from

unnecessary pieces that arent easily inter-

changeable, or pieces youll only wear once

before deciding you can no longer wear them.

HERE ARE SOME CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER GOING FORWARD

ANALYZEBEFOREYOUBUY

Really think about something before you

buy it. How badly do you need this item?

Will it become one of those things you wear

once, and then relegate to the deep, dark

recesses of your closet, never to be seen

again? Is it a spontaneous purchase that

you may regret later?

Becertainofthepurchasesyoumake. If you

dont really need it, and youre unsure if it will

be something you can wear for a really long

time with many other items in your closet,

then just pass on it.



INTERCHANGEABILITYISKEY

Continue to curate a closet filled with

interchangeable pieces, items that go with

practically everything else in your closet. That

way, youll never run out of options nor will

you get tired of your selection.

SPENDMOREWHEREITCOUNTS

Found a topcoat or leather jacket you absolutely

love for $500? Could be worth it. A drawerful of

boxer briefs at $35 a pair? Not so much, unless

youre a professional underwear model.

Then again, what counts is subject to

personal preference. You may be the type to

treasure luxurious boxer briefs. Partofhaving

great personal style is knowing what you

careaboutmost. Maybe top-tier underwear

is a priority for you. If thats what counts, then

by all means, spend those dollars. Just make

sure what youre spending your hard-earned

cash on matters to you.

RESULTSDONTHAPPENOVERNIGHT

Sure, in a span of 24 hours, you can empty

your closet and refill it with the best wardrobe,

but true style doesnt equate to simply having

the right clothes in your closet.

It means knowing how to wear them, how to

pair them, why certain things go with others,

and most importantly, why these pieces are in

your closet in the first place.

This knowledge and understanding comes

with years of observation and practice.

Looking great doesnt come naturally to

everyone; sometimes you have to work at it.

Just like learning a new language or being a

great ball player, understanding and forming

your own personal style takes practice.



A CONCLUSIONTHE WORK DOESNT END HERE

CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATING YOUR STYLEYouvemadeit! Thats a pretty amazing feat,

dont you think?

If youve followed the steps in this guide,

youve accomplished much more than you

think you have, and youre well on your way to

being that stylish gent youve always aspired

to be.

Thanks for taking the time to read (and hope-

fully make use of) this guide. Iwouldloveto

hearwhatyouthoughtaboutit. Please shoot

me an email ([email protected]) with any

comments / suggestions; I make sure to read

each and every email I receive.

You can also reach me on Twitter or find EG

on Facebook.

KNOW SOMEONE WHO COULD USE THIS GUIDE?Over the last few months, I spent every spare

minute I had creating this guide. Id really

appreciate if you didnt share it freely. Of course,

Id never know, but I trust you :)

If you do know several friends or acquaintances

who could benefit from following this manual,

Id appreciate if you sent them this link:

http://effortlessgent.com/GYS

Let them know how much you loved it and

how helpful it was; that way, we can help the

world find their own sense of style, one gent

at a time.

Thanksagain,andIwishyouthebestofluck

onyourstylejourney.


THE LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO

This guide is not free, so please dont share it. Please? Thanks. You can send friends to: http://effortlessgent.com/gys for more info.

The information presented in this guide is for informational purposes only. Understand that there are some links in this guide that I

may benefit from financially. All product images not photographed by myself are owned by their respective companies and I claim no

ownership of these photographs; they are included for illustrative purposes and are linked to their respective products.

The material in this guide may include information, products, or services by third parties. Third Party Materials are comprised of the

products and opinions expressed / created by their owners. As such, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any Third Party

material or opinion.

The publication of such Third Party Materials do not constitute my guarantee of any information, instruction, opinion, products, or

services contained within the Third Party Material. The use of Third Party Material does not guarantee any success, earnings, or better

looks. Publication of Third Party Material is simply a recommendation and an expression of my own opinion of that material.

No part of this guide shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the

author. All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing in this guide are the property of their respective owners.

Users of this guide are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making decisions, and all information, products, and

services that have been provided should be independently verified. By reading this guide, you agree that myself and my company are

not responsible for the success or failure of your attempts at improving your style relating to any information presented in this guide.

Documents

The Effortless Guide to Graduating Your Style