Just pick up GQ, Esquire or any other famous international men’s
magazine and you will see a smartly dressed man on the cover. Men’s
fashions, jewellery and perfumes are big business especially in the
West. But in Sri Lanka, most men are not that fashion conscious. They
are not keen shoppers either.
They have little or no idea about matching clothes, the right shoes
etc – dress sense is not their strong point.But this is changing, as
evidenced by exclusive one-stop fashion stores for men and bigger men’s
sections at other garment retailers. These have a growing clientele.
They have ‘fashion consultants’ who can advise clueless men about what
‘suits’ them best. Many men are now keen to experiment with ‘new’ attire
apart from the traditional suit. Ethnic and South Asian attire is back
in vogue.
 Earlier, men just wanted to ‘look good’ on their wedding day or at a
special function. Now the trend is to look smart always – in the office,
on the road and even at home. Casual wear is also very important as
these clothes are easy on the purse and on the body in our humid
climate. Nothing can beat a denim and a t-shirt on most sunny days.
Men still trail women in shopping habits. Most men will buy the very
first items, instead of going to dozens of shops over several hours.
This is why it is even more important to know beforehand what you are
going to buy and what the latest style or trend is.
Perusing through foreign men’s magazines gives a good idea of the
latest trends in clothes, shoes, watches, innerwear, wallets, bags,
sunglasses, belts, ties, accessories, jewellery and perfumes. The same
brands/goods may not be available locally or they may
be exorbitantly priced. But one can always find equally good looking
and good quality things for much less.
This is where tailoring comes in. It is not always possible to buy
readymade clothes that fit you snugly. Find a good tailor, hunt around
for good material, go through the tailor’s catalogues or give him your
own design. Some will even stitch your initials (monogramming) on shirts
for a small additional fee.
There’s nothing like personalizing one’s wardrobe. Do not forget
skin/hair care items such as soap, cream, lotion, shampoo etc. They are
just as important. There are dedicated skin care products for men.
It is debatable whether they are any different from the ones usually
targeted at women (and which are commonly used by men as well). But do
experiment with a few items to see whether they make any difference.
Looking good is an art form. Some guys do have so-called ‘good looks’
that they will turn heads regardless of their attire. But even for them
and all others, good clothes can make a difference. Everyone wants to
look at a smartly dressed person. Remember, as the saying goes, you do
not get a second chance to make a first impression. And first
impressions do count. |
