WHY YOUR OUTFITS LOOK OFF (AND HOW TO FIX IT)

Most men think they have a fit problem when they actually have a proportion problem.

All your items might technically fit, but it can still look off if the proportions are off.

Proportion is the relationship in size and shape between the different parts of your outfit.

When the proportions are right, everything looks balanced. When they're wrong, something feels off even if you can’t immediately explain it.

The goal is to create harmony between the different elements of your outfit so everything looks balanced.

Take this picture of a room as an example. Notice anything that sticks out?

If you said the lamp looks too large for the space, you'd be correct. Notice that your eye jumps right to it, and it overwhelms the space and the items that surround it.

The goal should be to have all of the elements in balance, whether that's a room or an outfit, without one visually overwhelming the other.

Let's use an example with clothing.

The pants on the left look much too large; that's easy to see. But think about what this is doing visually. It exacerbates both areas - his top half looks much too small, and his bottom half looks much too big.

On the left, we can see that everything is equally balanced and proportionate, making his silhouette look much more balanced and attractive.

Let's take another example...

You can see that with a narrow and tapered pant, a wide and chunky shoe looks unbalanced, leading the leg to look even narrower and the foot to look even larger.

On the right, you can see harmony between the pants and the shoes, leading to a much better-looking outfit. The proportions aren't fighting each other, and no one piece is overwhelming the other.

The pieces you put together in an outfit should feel like they belong together and always pair like with like. If you're pairing an item with a slimmer fit, pair it with other slimmer items, and vice versa.

Below, you can see an example of how, regardless of whether you're wearing a relaxed fit or a slimmer fit, the outfit looks good when the items are kept in proportion to each other.

The key takeaway: A good outfit is not just about whether each piece looks good on its own. It’s about whether everything makes sense together proportionally.

This is why most men struggle to dress themselves by guessing what to buy and what to wear. They buy individual pieces instead of understanding the full picture

Getting style right is usually less about buying tons more and more about learning what is works for your build, shape, and overall look.

So as you put together outfits this coming week, think about how each item relates to the others and make sure everything stays proportionate. You'll create a lot better outfits just by using this one trick.

Hope that helps.

x Patrick


P.S. Here are three ways I can help you:

1. You can work with us online with our personal styling transformation package, where my team and I will show you what looks best on you, from hairstyle to colors to brands, and then build you a full shopping list and lookbook of new items specifically tailored to you, with 1-on-1 support as you're getting your items and putting it all together. 2K minimum budget required.

2. You can work with me 1-on-1 in-person to completely transform your wardrobe in one day. We'll go through and edit your existing wardrobe first. Then, you'll go on a personal shopping trip where we've got all your clothing preselected for you, waiting in private dressing rooms for you to try on. By the end of it, you'll have a completely revamped look with a wardrobe of items you love that fit perfectly. 4K minimum budget required.

3. Apply for a 20-Minute Style Strategy Call with me here, and we can chat about what would work best for you. If you're unclear on the options and you want feedback on your unique situation, this is the best place to start. The call is complimentary with ten open slots per week.