Style Through Intelligence.com

It's that easy!

What if I told you that you could that you could improve your overall style several-fold with:

No cost
No Change in the way you currently dress
By implementing one change

Would you be interested?

Well the truth is that through one simple mind-set shift this is entirely possible. In fact I believe it is the necessary first step in order to undergo your transformation into style. It is probably one of the easiest ways to start and creates for a great mindset shift for the future.

Step It Up A Notch

Although. Not everyone will be aware of it we all have “Notches” on our own “Internal Dress Code”. These notches are just different levels of casual or formal wear WHENEVER we have to get dressed for something.

Everyone of has their own “dress code” for different events and activities in which they participate. Not just parties and special events, but I am referring to the broad sense of EVERYTHING we do. In other words, when were not nude.

All the style books, websites and blogs out there talk about dress codes and keep regurgitating things such as black tie, smart casual etc. but let’s be honest the percentage of times where these dress codes are relevant to us are a very small percentage of the total times in which we actually wear clothes J.

If we can realize our own style dress codes, it makes it easier for us to step them up a notch and instantly become more stylish.

Our own codes

As I said each of us have our own (probably mostly subconscious) dress code for every single thing we do. Typically starts at very casual and hopefully moves up to quite formal (for some people it doesn’t and that is the whole reason we are here trying to work on it, so don’t worry about that).

I have come up with generally 4 core codes for each of us, which should encompass everything.  Everyone will categorize their own differently, which is good and all part of the process. There are also two extra codes which are Formal and Work.

For the purpose of this post work stands by itself because a lot of people will have a standard work uniform or dress code for each individual work place, for example a tradeperson is not going to be able to apply this for work. But personal life is a different story, because this is where we have complete and free choice. NB: Feel free to add work dress into a category if and where you see fit.

As a general rule the higher the code the less number of times in a given month or year you will dress this way, i.e. you will wear code 1 and 2 a lot more than code 4 or the formal code – hence the reason for the triangle:

Our current internal dress code

To put it in perspective below are some events or everyday activities that may coincide with each code:

Code 1

• Staying at home
• Gym, run down the street or working out
• Going for a drive
• Visiting a close friend

Code 2

• Going to the supermarket
• Going for a walk down the street
• Visit a friend
• Going to the shops
• Flying on a plane

Code 3

• Casual Dinner
• Having a day out
• Traveling
• An event or show

Code 4

• Having a night out
• Attending an important function
• Going on a Hot Date

These are just examples and you will probably have different things that fit into each code. The examples above are pretty much what it used to look like for myself.

Money for Nothing

So how does knowing this help us? Well we can use this information now to increase our own internal dress code and step our style up that extra and well deserved notch.

We simply wear what we currently wear in code 2 during our code 1 activities, code 3 for our code 2 activities and code 4 for our code 3 activities and then introducing parts of our formal wear (not all, but mix and match) in what was previously code 4 activities.

The change needed in our internal dress code

Our new internal dress code

By doing this one thing we will increase our style and sophistication and be one step above all our friends and colleagues attending the same places, events or situations. This will cause us to stand out and be noticed which is really the whole aim of the game.

Ultra Casual Should No Longer Exist

Enough said. We should not being wearing super casual clothes out in public or in any one’s eye. We always want to be known as the man who goes that extra effort and looks good, because that’s what women notice and want. If you have women following you, then other men are soon going to follow suit (In a respectful way J).

Take Action

1. Assess your current internal dress codes and what you would likely wear in each code above.
2. Go about making an effort to step it up that extra notch (to the next code) every time you go out and do something in the public eye (which is if ANY one else will be seeing you)

What do you think? What are your typical internal dress codes and how do you determine what you will wear to the next outing, date, event or anything else you need to get dressed for?