Prepping for Holiday Gatherings

Clothing

The first place to start when choosing an outfit is knowing what the dress requirements are of the event you will be attending.  Is it a Saturday night dinner, Friday night movie, wedding or New Year's Eve party?  Each scenario is different and calls for appropriate attire.  If you don't know what the dress code is, find out.  Make a phone call to the hostess, or at the very least, ask someone whose opinion you trust.  Nothing is worse than showing up at a black tie affair in a casual outfit, or wearing jeans to a classy, upscale restaurant.  So, know your venue in advance and plan your outfit accordingly.  If there's ever a time you can't find out, err on the side of caution and always overdress.  It's much safer and smarter to show up looking great than to look like the guy who missed the memo.

Once you know how to dress for this event, take an honest look at your wardrobe and decide if your clothing is current or not.  If your suit has extra wide lapels, bell bottoms and is the color orange, you might want to purchase a new suit as quickly as possible.  I'm sure the suit was perfect back in the day, but the 70s are over, and so is fashion that causes people to time travel when they see it.  Wearing current styles makes an important statement about your sense of style and judgment.  It sends a strong message about your commitment to image and success.  Dressing as though you're part of the 21st century will command admiration and respect.

So, you've decided on the appropriate outfit to wear, and now it's time to make certain it's ready to go.  Start by inspecting each article of clothing for any stains, damage or missing buttons.  Address and correct any problems, or choose something different to wear.  Be sure all clothing properly fits your current weight and physique.  It's easy to convince ourselves the 34 inch waistband still fits the current 36 inch waist, or the sport jacket worn twenty pounds ago buttons without pulling.  Surprisingly, wearing clothes that are too small versus clothing that fits makes a guy look heavier.  Nothing sabotages an image quicker than clothing that's too tight.  The same is true for clothing that's too big and baggy, so be confident your clothes fit the way they should by using a full length mirror to assess your situation.  This includes wearing pants at the correct length.  Pant length varies depending on the shoes they're worn with, so wear the same shoes when measuring the length that you'll actually wear with the pants.  Gentlemen, before going out in any apparel that doesn't make you look as good as you feel, follow the guy with the orange suit to the closest men's store!

Shoes, belts and accessories require the same attention as clothing.  Shoes must match the style of your outfit: dress shoes with dress or formal wear, semi-dress shoes with semi-dress or business casual clothing, and casual shoes with casual garb.  Shoes can make or break an outfit, so don't commit a fashion faux pas by mixing styles.  Next, make sure they are a current style, are in good shape, and are clean and polished.  It doesn't matter how awesome shoes are if they're scuffed or dirty.

Shoes and belts should match in style, color and finish.  Keep this style rule in mind: dress shoes/dress belt, casual shoes/casual belt, etc.  Colors should match, which can be challenging with browns.  Black is black, but with so many shades of brown, it's smart to wear the shoes you're looking to match when belt shopping.  The leather's finish needs to match, as well.  If shoes have a shine, so should the belt and so on.

Jewelry says a lot about a man and pulls an outfit together, provided it's not mismatched or overdone.  Base your accessory choices on the clothing you're wearing and event you're attending.  Match all metals by color and style, including belt buckles.  Keep it simple and classy by not wearing too much jewelry, especially with dressy or formal attire.

Grooming 

Your outfit can look like it just came off the runways of Milan, but if you look like you haven't seen a razor or bottle of shampoo for a while, you may as well stay home.  As important as dressing well is, grooming is even more imperative.  Take an honest look at yourself in a mirror and ask if what you see looking back at you portrays the man you want others to see.  If what you see doesn't look inviting, take care of business.

Start at the top and work your way down.  Address all head, neck and facial hair.  If you haven't had a recent haircut – now's the time.  Shave, trim and style all facial hair, including nose and ear hair.  If you manscape, be prepared.  Clean and trim finger and toenails, and if athlete's foot or nail fungus is a problem, address it ASAP.

I'm sure I don't need to mention cleanliness, but I will.  Shower before dressing, so you look and smell fresh.  Wash your hair, including facial hair with shampoo.  Manly hair below the neck appreciates a good shampooing, too.  Apply skin lotion to any dry areas after toweling off, so skin will look and feel smooth.

Many men wear cologne, which is a great way to stimulate her senses; however, don't use too much, or use in place of a shower.  Trust me; foul body odor has a way of surpassing the scent of cologne.  There are countless brands of cologne on the market today, so if you're still sporting an older, outdated one, get yourself to a cologne counter and find a suitable, current brand to enhance your image.

Preparing for that holiday gathering adds to the excitement of it.  Following these very simple and basic guidelines will ensure you look incredible, which builds confidence from the outside in.  Confidence may be the #1 quality, so boost yours by being impeccably dressed and groomed for this event and all others.

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