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 trend guidelines—it is about remodeling the way you strategy getting dressed.
The aim is to create a system that makes the act of dressing easy, fulfilling, and sustainable, even on the hardest days.
An excellent 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. Beneath are quite a few straightforward methods, instruments, and picks which have made my very own system infinitely simpler.
A Nice Option to Consumption and Manage 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 type is simply as a lot of a visible and creative endeavor as any of these artistic fields. In case you’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 approach 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 by means of 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 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 approach to do it, nevertheless it’s important to do one thing. You’ll be stunned how typically you overlook about an outfit thought. Months later, you’ll scroll by means of 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 gadgets subsequent to one another, and seeing how they align for the event and look on you.
An outfit is a cohesive look; having all gadgets seen helps create that cohesion, somewhat than simply seeing them as separate items. All of it works collectively to change into one thing extra. As an illustration, suede loafers change the texture of a shirt and denims in a different way than white sneakers do.
After I can see my footwear alongside my clothes, I typically choose footwear I would not have chosen if I had already selected the highest and bottoms first. With the ability to audition totally different pairs whereas placing collectively an outfit makes a giant distinction.
Slick Collar
Package with 3 collar sizes + shirt stays, $23 save additional 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 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 needs to be as refined as potential.
Enter the Slick Collar: a easy invention that instantly proves its price. Reasonably priced, efficient, and completely designed for its function, the Slick Collar is actually the collar+placket equal of collar stays. It gives 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 below the material’s weight.
This retains the collar upright, guaranteeing 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 part—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 your whole collared shirts. It’s a stable, dependable software, and upon 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 trend bubbles, there is a little bit of a pretentious, nearly Luddite view on smartwatches—that they will’t be fashionable. Positive, they lack the heritage of a dive watch or the class of a gold costume watch, however that mindset ignores the fact of dwelling in 2024.
For a lot of, smartwatches are important—whether or not for way of life, work, or tasks. 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 a must have for me.
I put on it typically at house with the default strap nevertheless it’s robust 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 metallic band, which yow will discover affordably in off manufacturers, and could be swapped in in the course of the instances the common strap does not work, makes all of the distinction.
Designate an Outfit Workstation
One of the crucial stress-reducing adjustments I’ve made is organising a devoted “workstation” close to the place I cling my outfits. Having all instruments in a single place makes it a lot simpler to get every part prepared effectively, particularly when operating late. It’s a small shelf the place I maintain my steamer (with plug entry), a clothes brush, and another instruments I would want.
It’s a form of “workbench” to your garments, the place you progress gadgets from closet storage into the staging space, and have all of the instruments you want to get them trying their finest.
A Place to Dangle Outfits
This may appear easy, however it is going to change the way you strategy your clothes and elegance.
Choosing 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 complete sport changer to simply get up and know precisely what you are sporting.
For me, I hung a hook in my closet to stage my outfit for the subsequent day. It retains every part neat and separate, performing as a staging space whereas assembling totally different combos. As a substitute of attempting to image a mixed look in my head, I pull out key items and cling them, attempting totally 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 aware of, 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 often. 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 because of the sheer quantity of peeling and rolling I might should do every time. Just lately, I lastly picked up some clothes brushes. They arrive in numerous 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 immediately.
Whereas they don’t seem to be excellent, and typically 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 commonly mentioned as a go-to attributable to versatility eeks handed the article price range and is round $60.
A Clothes Steamer
$15+
I do not understand how that is potential, however for me, ironing appears so as to add wrinkles somewhat than take away them. Plus, my typical schedule for preparing is all the time tighter than I’d like, so I’m typically 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 properly—simply run the steam over the material, and most wrinkles disappear simply.
Truthfully, I’d be in a troublesome spot with no clothes steamer. It’s a type of instruments that makes preparing a lot easier, and I am unable to advocate it sufficient.
The Plain Ball Cap
James Clear, the creator of Atomic Habits, has famously mentioned, “You don’t rise to the extent of your targets. You fail on the degree of your techniques.” In case you are an individual attempting to decorate deliberately in your life—particularly if it is a newer endeavor for you or doesn’t come naturally—you’ll be able to’t anticipate 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 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 sporting a cool hat with the precise sports activities crew emblem or some form of classic design. However it does require some visible balancing with the opposite gadgets. 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 will 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.
Nevertheless, 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 perform—having one thing that feels as snug as a hoodie however seems to be extra acceptable will make your life simpler.
There are lots of 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 wood hangers can present the wanted construction and group. Rainbow-hued plastic hangers add visible litter when your thoughts is attempting to determine what to put on, and so they 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.
Picket hangers remedy 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 should be costly, and also you don’t want to switch them . 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 change, you’re set for good.
Closet Area Savers like Tiered Hangers
$15+
Tiered hangers are nice for grouping related gadgets collectively, lowering visible litter. When you’ve got six equivalent white T-shirts, cling 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 area and minimizes visible litter, making it simpler to give attention to key gadgets when placing outfits collectively.
Levi’s 501
$35+
In case you’re a Primer common, you have heard me speak about 501s as kinds 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 method too large; 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 all places in between.
This is the factor about straight match denims: If you have not worn them because the ’90s, it is simple to evaluate them too shortly. Once 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 fully. Now, they observe my physique’s contours with out feeling too large, 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, mushy, have a little bit of stretch, and so they’re inexpensive. You possibly can snag a pair for below $50, particularly throughout upcoming gross sales.
A Nice Plain T-Shirt
Having a mushy, handsome t-shirt that you simply love the best way it suits—I can’t 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 properly with a mushy visible texture can exude sophistication simply in addition to a button-up shirt. Between a man sporting an inexpensive, unkempt button-up and a man sporting a very stable, mushy, 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 referred to as that as a result of they’re common and might look wonderful on anybody when the small print are dialed in. There’s a bent 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
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.”
Conserving these gadgets makes getting dressed tougher as a result of they create visible litter 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’d 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 correct model of the merchandise would have gotten worn on a regular basis.
Outdoors of maximum utilitarian instances—like a blazer or go well with you don’t get pleasure from sporting however often want—there’s no level in conserving gadgets you dislike. Use the trick the place you cling these gadgets 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 technique clears up area and helps you acknowledge what you really need.
Darkish Grey Denims
$25+
In order for you 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 be capable to costume them up, put on them tremendous casually, type them rugged, or pair them with preppy or streetwear seems to be. They’ll work with brown boots, black sneakers, and nearly anything. The flexibility is infinite.
If a good friend who was simply beginning out requested me for one advice, it might be this. You could find loads of choices below $50 from locations like Levi’s or Amazon Necessities, particularly throughout gross sales which are developing.
