Hello Sirrrr (and Madammm)

I dress intentionally because it creates interesting conversations.

This might hurt but someone needs to say this:

People are going to judge you based on the way you dress, the car you drive, and the way you carry yourself. I’m not here saying that’s ideal, but it is happening to you. Now it's time to leverage this fact in your favor.

Warning: You may look handsome if you apply the ideas in this newsletter (use with caution)

Remember when you put on that outfit, and it fit just right and hit just right?

If you can make dressing well almost effortless you've won.

by the end of this newsletter you'll you'll have the step-by-step framework to make dressing well feel effortless in the next 90-180 days. This won't happen by accident. Dressing well by default is a curation process (primarily) not a daily choice.

This is part one of a series on how to go from an outsider to an insider in 180 days or less. How you dress is the first step in this process. It isn't the most important, but it does effect a lot.

You said “Dang I look Good.” but only to yourself, because you can’t admit that to other people… (or can you?)

What if that type of feeling was duplicatable in your every day outfits? when you go to work, go to the gym, even going to the grocery store. What if you could default to feeling good based on the uniform you choose to wear everyday? How would feeling good in your everyday life effect how you show up in every area of your life? (and how valuable would that be to you in your relationships and in your work)

How to present yourself well:

1. Show Genuine interest in other people

2. Smile when you see people

3. Remember people’s names

Here are the foundational concepts that helped me when I had $700 and was building my first wardrobe. Here were my goals:

1. Create a system of clothing that made it effortless to look good. like I thought out my outfits (even if I didn't).

2. Invest as little money as possible

3. look good

The Big Problem:

Women care about that stuff, why should you?

Sometimes the fit isn’t right. (your outfit) You haven't considered the effect that the way you dress expresses who you are to others. Every person is subconsciously finding you attractive or not. Not Sexually or physically, but are you an attractive person to be around? (if you have the best outfits but forget a smile, you've ruined the outfit.) What if it didn’t require effort to have great style? what if it didn’t take a lot of money to have great style?

Here's the truth:

What it takes is thoughtfulness about who you are and what your needs are. What are the environments you are in every week, and the outfits you tend to wear currently?

• Going to work

• Going to school

• Running errands

• Being at home

• Going to social events (Church, Parties, Weddings, Graduations)

It’s important to know where you go, because the environment makes a difference. being overdressed can make it harder to connect with other people.

The solution:

Create a default uniform for each place you go.

Every place you go you develop a uniform. You already have one for work even if it’s unconscious, or it’s mandated by your employer. When you are at home, you dress in a certain way (usually comfort is the goal). When you go to the gym you need function and to look and feel good in the clothes you wear. This also eliminates a decision you have to make each day, because you already have a default. And because you thought about this ahead of time, you no longer need to think about it every day. Winning.

How to Apply this in your life:

Step 1: list out all the places you go routinely:

1. Work

2. Church

3. Networking events

4. School

5. Friends houses/social events

6. Dates

7. Gym

8. Home

   My (current) default uniforms:

   Gym: Yellow Vans, 5 Inch Shorts and a black shirt yellow gym bag. I have 3 different neutral colored shorts, and they all work with yellow.

   Work: Alpine all trail 7's, Track pants, Black long sleeve polo.

   Hangs with friends: all Black with white shoes, and then throw on a flannel, jean jacket, or sweater. Usually add a necklace and watch.

   BNI or other professional or networking environment: Dress shoes, boots, or White Vans. Navy or Black Jeans and a dress shirt or quarter zip or nice sweater.

   Home: shorts

Step 2 choose a color palette:

I'd recommend Black and white as the place to start. It's simple, and looks like you put thought into your outfit. And as you grow in your style and what you like, it allows you to incorporate color with your whole wardrobe later.

Step 3: Assess your current wardrobe:

What do you already have? what would be additions that would elevate your style? (or make your life easier)

For me this was adding 3 more pairs of shorts so I can go a week of workouts without needing to do laundry. (small functional additions free up your mind for more important thinking).

Step 4: Get rid of unused or unloved items.

If you haven't worn something in the last calendar year, it isn't worth keeping. If something doesn't fit right or doesn't look good to you anymore donate it.

Step 5: Identify Gaps:

If you chose black and white as your main colors: do you have black and white short and long sleeve shirts? Do you have one pair of black and white shoes?

For me the first step I took was to get white shoes. they don't even need to be brand new (Go to thrift stores)

Step 6: Buy clothing that fills gaps.

Not because it's cheap or on sale. By doing this right and using a neutral color palette you won't have to buy clothes all the time. It also means that you can buy stuff that's going out of season. Know you'll need a jacket for next winter? as the summer starts jackets go on sale and vice versa. If you know you have a gap in your winter wardrobe, you can buy now as it's "out of season" knowing that its going to fill a real need next winter.

What this mean is buying Black white and earth tones (browns/greens/tan/beige) and using a watch or a necklace as the the focus of an outift.

Favorite black t shirt: Here is what I'd recommend:

Black t-shirts (fitted) (https://www.esntls.co/shop/p/bamboo-tee)

Here are some mens fashion youtube channel I watched to develop a foundation:

https://www.youtube.com/user/RealMenRealStyle

https://www.youtube.com/user/AlphaMconsulting

https://www.youtube.com/@JosecZuniga

The #1 Key

The expression you show on your face. A smile says I like you. You can have the sickest outfit, but if you don't smile at people, it won't be inviting. So after having a system for your clothing there are some keys you need to apply.

Smile.

Be genuinely interested in what people have to say.

Remember people names.

If you have the best style but can't do these things above it won't matter. Smile and good style can create an introduction, who you are is what creates the rest of the relationship.