How you accessorise yourself will say a lot about you. Accessories accent your look and finish the making of an outfit. Men who appreciate style and choose bold colors and textures are people who take risks with confidence. The accessories you choose should reflect your personality and lifestyle. Being well styled will give you an edge. There are all too many people walking around dressed in what is practically an urban uniform.

There are very few guys who actually stand out and dress in a way that outwardly displays their sexuality. If you blend in with the crowd, you will get lost in the crowd and will be overlooked by many women who otherwise would have wanted to meet you.

Piercings, fun accessories and quirky hairstyles might be a catchy look for the early 20’s man, however for most men, styling involves being consistent and true to yourself and your lifestyle. Although you shouldn’t stick to guidelines too rigidly, you could look in shop windows or in catalogs for menswear tips. It is very important that you dress to your age accordingly. You should research menswear brands suitable for your age group or lifestyle. Not doing so will have you looking goofy and out of place among the people you may be trying to impress.

For the late teens and early twenties River Island, Topman, and Pull and Bear have affordable fast fashion styles whereas brands such as Ted Baker, Massimo Dutti, Zara, French Connection and Reiss cater for the mid twenty to forties age group. For Urban styles look at brands such as All Saints, Firetrap, Urban Outfitters and Cult. For active wear Quicksilver, Superdry and Breed have trendy and innovative designs. It’s hard not to take notice of men who carefully style and accessorize their look.

Firstly you should invest in quality everyday accessories more so than splashing out on expensive once off pieces. Co-ordinating the colour and material of your wallet, belt and watch will give you instant sophistication and style. Department stores will have a wide selection of essential menswear accessories to choose from and brands such as Massimo Dutti and Ted Baker have innovative and timeless designs, which guarantee high quality. Avoid high street trends, which are usually made with poor quality materials.

Ted Baker has a wide selection of belts in their men’s accessory department. Smart suit trousers require wearing a thin black or brown leather belt with a neat metal buckle. Ted Baker has a clever reversible smart leather belt giving you the option of wearing it in brown or black. They also usually have a box set, which features a changeable cover buckle. Jeans and casual trousers have wider belt loops and therefore require a wider belt. Simple and classic style belts made from natural materials like cotton or leather give a rustic and masculine look. Tacky, labelled, cheap looking belts with tasteless belt buckles should always be avoided.

Wallets should always be thin, simple and made of good quality leather. Avoid carrying them in your trouser pockets. A bulky wallet stuffed into your pockets will disrupt the shape of your trousers and will create a distraction to a potential admirer. Whether its odd socks peeping out of your trousers, ill fitting clothes or an array of accessories, don’t let a fashion faux pas take the focus away from your approach. Your stylist will give you all the menswear tips you need to ensure you always look sharp and at your best.

Scarves create a layered look and you can really experiment with colour and texture. They are great way to inject colour and character into an outfit. Be sure to have a winter and a summer collection. Oversized and chunky knits are great for winter but with summer approaching look for light and natural materials such a silk, cotton or jersey. Your stylist will help you pick out the correct proportion for your outfit and teach you how to wrap it into place to create an effortless look.

Hats can be hit and miss, unless you’re wearing it for practical purposes in the depths of winter. It’s not advisable to suddenly introduce a trilbies hat into your wardrobe if you’re not much of a Pete Doherty to begin with. However a trilby style straw hat with a coloured grosgrain band can look cool and quirky but should only be brought out during the day in the summer months. Urban outfitters, River Island and Zara have a selection of these hats in their Spring/Summer range. If your style is sporty and you’re going to wear a base ball cap or lid make sure it’s clean, in good shape and be careful to avoid team or brand logos which you don’t actually support. Just to emphasise, don’t wear a hat on a night out. They are becoming overused and tacky. So many people have been wearing them in night clubs recently in the hopes of getting attention, that there are now a lot of negative connotations beginning to surround their wearers.

Recently I’ve spotted the tie tack being featured in retro street styles. Harlequin and Wildchild are just two of the many vintage shops in Dublin where you might find a quirky retro piece. Vintage style is a somewhat of a phenomenon more so than a fashion trend. By introducing some vintage pieces into your wardrobe you’re instantly creating a look that’s individual to you, and making you look more interesting to the opposite sex. The trick here though is to not go overboard. If you’re going for an all vintage look be selective about what era you’re going for, style it a contemporary way and only purchase items if they are in ‘good nik’. In other words, try not to look like you are from another decade. Rhinestones jewelery shop also has a wide selection of antique and vintage accessories and watches.

Your stylist will give you tips on how to accessorize and balance your outfit. Balancing an outfit is a crucial skill for any fashion conscious man. The over accessorizing of an outfit can break the length of the silhouette of the body creating a confusing look. Every piece you add or team with a garment must be carefully considered. Accessories should complement the architecture and texture of an outfit rather than conceal it. Following this advice will give a sharpness/sheen to your look. Over accessorizing is one of the most crucial mistakes you can make. If you end up hanging and wrapping too many trims around yourself you’ll end up looking like a Christmas tree. It will get you noticed, but for all of the wrong reasons.

It’s noticing the unexpected detailing in a garment and the creative combination of materials that you will challenge the boundaries of traditional menswear dressing.

Rebecca Flanagan – Fashion Consultant (Kama Lifestyles)

As always, comments are welcome and encouraged. Thanks!

You’ve decided you want to realize your full potential in attracting women. You are going to be taught the necessary dating skills and techniques of attraction that you will then practice during your in-field training.

First impressions begin with your appearance. Fashion should always be comfortable and enjoyable. When you have the right mindset and you are confident with your image, you will relax and enjoy how much fun approaching women is!

Over accessorising, mis-matching and ill-fitting garments will get you noticed, but for all the wrong reasons. Approaching women can be difficult enough in the beginning, so don’t let your image inabilitate you in any way. In social circumstances your image and appearance is the first thing people will notice about you. Image has a powerful effect in how people perceive you.

You are more likely to strike conversation and be appealing to the opposite sex if you look interesting, stylish and quirky.

Image is key when it comes to attraction. Shopping and building a new wardrobe can be a daunting challenge. For those who feel they know little about men’s fashion, a personal stylist will create a look that best suits your physical appearance, lifestyle and your new confident mindset!

When you have an understanding of styling and dressing you will make fewer fashion mistakes, which will help you build a stylish wardrobe whilst saving you money.

If you are recreating your image, it is essential in the beginning to invest in two to three fully styled outfits. You will only waste money if you start purchasing single garments that you can’t co-ordinate into an outfit.

Once you have a few signature pieces you can start building more looks around those garments. This way you are creating a variety of looks that will take you from day to night. A good pair of quality shoes, well fitting jeans and a classic style coat are essential to have in your wardrobe. Over time you will combine these quality items with layers and accessories, which may change with seasons and fashion trends.

There are some basic rules to learn about style. You need to consider many factors. Which tie goes with which shirt? What size or cut fits and looks best on you? How do I create a layered look and experiment with colour, patterns and textures?  A session with a stylist will teach you what to look for when choosing a garment and how to make it work with your body.

For example, a long coat with straight fitting trousers or jeans can accentuate a taller man’s height and frame. An outfit like this combined with a fine scarf and the right shoes or boots embodies class, sophistication and empowers its wearer with confidence. You will learn how to create a variety of looks with your outfits.

Boots are really popular this season and if you’re pairing boots with a pair of trousers your stylist will advise you on how to wear them correctly. For an edgy look you could tuck the legs into loosely laced up boots or if you want to wear your trousers over your boots, your stylist will be able to advise a wider cut to slim and lengthen the legs.

If your frame or height restricts buying certain styles or brands you should consider having a garment altered or taken up to fit you perfectly. Many high street shops are now offering alteration services at reasonable rates. Tailoring clothes to fit your height and shape will restore the shape of the garment to the designed fit.

Many women experiment with styles and dress in daring colours, textures and silhouettes. We do this to accentuate our personalities and when it comes down to it, for attention, be it with our friends, at work or very often to attract the opposite sex.

Every step you take to enhance your image and improve your self socially will benefit every area of your life. Namely- your career, friends and especially dating. By making an effort to create an individual look you will stand out from the competition, create attraction and more importantly you will be memorable.

Rebecca Flanagan – Fashion Consultant (Kama Lifestyles)