Although great style definitely isn't effortless, you can have a comprehensive, put-together look with minimal work and time. If you're clinging to one of these five limiting style myths as a reason (or an excuse) to not look your best, it's time to break free and level up your game. Ditch these five style myths once and for all and confidently go into 2022 looking your freshest and finest ever.
1. You can only have style or comfort, not both.
It's high time to break out of the mindset that you can only have style or comfort. Both can, and often do, go hand in hand, especially when you have some well-made basics. So if you're serious about maximizing your style game, maybe it’s time to start purging your closet a bit. Toss or donate anything that's gone past its prime and stock up on the classics like white v-necks, dark jeans, and good shoes.
Fill your closet with things that help you to look and feel great, and you'll never have to choose between style and comfort again.
2. Good grooming takes forever.
Proper skincare and grooming can make or break your look, and you certainly don't need a finicky multi-step process to look polished. You need to clean, moisturize, and protect your skin from the sun every day, gently exfoliate a few times a week, and make sure that you're correctly trimming those errant nose hairs. Simple, right? If you stock up on products that do double duty, you can shave even more time off your routine.
Realistically, a great, comprehensive grooming routine should take ten minutes or less.
3. Nice clothes cost a fortune.
If there's anything customers of Fresh Clean Tees know, it's that you can have great, quality men’s clothes without busting your bank account. Still, it bears repeating because one of the most dangerous style myths out there is that nice clothes cost a fortune.
Although admittedly you will spend a little bit extra on basics like excellent footwear and accessories in the short term, these investments can last years if you care for them properly. Also, more costly items like solid dress shoes and a classic leather/pleather belt can amplify the timeless combination of dark jeans and a solid color shirt.
4. I can’t let go of my old tee for sentimental reasons.
It's totally understandable to have a less-than-logical attachment to your old fraternity or family reunion t-shirt or what have you, but it's also time to banish those types of pieces from your regular wardrobe rotation. Just like you don't need to choose between style and comfort, you don't have to toss out your most sentimental clothes. Just get them out of your closet.
Box up your nostalgic stuff and set it aside for safe-keeping. You can also have a memory quilt made even! There are plenty of options that let you have your nostalgic shirt and your new and improved wardrobe too. But shoot to dress in the present for the future, not the past.
5. Style and fashion are totally superficial.
You hear this myth a lot from people who want to write off style and fashion as wholly frivolous endeavors. While, of course, it’s what's on the inside that counts, what's on the outside is important too. How we present ourselves to the world says a lot about our values and our feelings about ourselves, and it can impact everything from our love life to our career advancement.
In fact, putting your best self out there is part of self-respect, a way to show creativity, and an excellent tool for proving that you're capable of handling daily challenges. If your wardrobe is organized and stocked with clothes that look and feel good, being put together is just as easy as putting on those old sweats. The only difference is you'll present a much better face to the world, which can do wonders for your self-esteem, whether it needs that boost or not.
So, hey, t's time to toss those old style myths in the trash and put your best foot forward, especially if you have stylish, comfy kicks.
— Elizabeth Lavis
