If you want to elevate your men’s workwear style but keep getting stuck, you’re not alone. So many professionals struggle with presenting a polished and professional image at work. But why is that?
Because they make the same mistakes again and again.
As experienced personal stylists with decades of experience in menswear and dressing executives, we see it all the time. Guys struggle with creating a cohesive wardrobe and building outfits. Many men don’t even know what their style is or should be. (If that’s you, take our men’s style quiz to find your ideal look today!)
But all of that struggle comes from making a few key errors.
At Next Level Wardrobe, we understand how crucial it is to refine your workwear style for success. Ready to revamp your attire? You’ve come to the right place.
We’ve created a straightforward style system that addresses these common pitfalls and offers clear solutions. Read on to see your mistakes and how to fix them with our easy three-step process.
Table of Contents
3 Style Workwear Mistakes Executive Men Make
Whether you’re a style pro or a newbie, it’s easy to fall into these three common fashion traps:
- Not Knowing What You Need in Your Closet
“I have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear” syndrome is something we know all too well. Many executives have wardrobes brimming with different pieces, but no full outfits. - Mis-matching Colors and Prints
Loads of guys don’t know how to combine colors and prints. Some stay away from colors entirely and end up with boring, monotone wardrobes. Others go too far in the opposite direction and end up with “clownish” wardrobes. - Not Getting the Right Fit
The fastest way to look sloppy is with ill-fitting garments. They can ruin an otherwise well-chosen outfit. When your clothes are too tight or loose, it’s hard to feel or look confident.
Have you struggled with one (or all) of these issues? Don’t worry. We’re about to show you how to fix all that.
How to Fix Common Men’s Workwear Style Mistakes
Founder, Cassandra, and Styling Manager, Maggie.
At Next Level Wardrobe, many of our clients struggle with those same three issues. They have the wrong things in their closet, they don’t have a good color assortment, and nothing fits quite right.
Unless you have a wide-open schedule and years of style know-how, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to fix these issues.
Enter the NLW Style System.
Our proprietary style system ensures you:
- Buy the right items.
- Get the perfect fit.
- Have put-together outfits for every occasion.
We do this by:
- Focusing on core colors.
- Investing in quality, essential pieces.
- Prioritizing fit.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the men’s workwear style mistakes mentioned earlier, and explain how the NLW Style System can help you.
1. Build a Closet with the Right Foundation
NLW Client Chris hired us to update his style.
Keeping up with fashion trends and knowing what suits you can feel like a full-time job. That’s why a lot of people resort to buying the same brands and products year after year. They get stuck in a style rut out of convenience or lack of knowledge. This kind of fashion boredom can seem hard to fix.
But it doesn’t have to be. That’s why personal styling services like NLW exist! The benefit of having an image consultant is that they take all that work off your plate.
They keep up with new brands, products, and trends. Most importantly, if they’re like us, they know what trends to ignore and how to incorporate the right ones into your professional wear timelessly.
With the right stylist, you’ll never have to worry about what’s in your closet or how you look.
But if you’re not ready to hire a professional just yet, here are four simple steps for you to follow to start building your wardrobe.
- Prioritize essentials.
Choose one category of clothing that you need in your closet. For example, jeans are a must for you. - Go to a department store.
Why? Stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s have hundreds of different brands under one roof, making it easy to try on different products and styles. - Pick something new.
Choose five different brands you’ve never worn before and five different styles of jeans. - Take the time to try them on.
Seeing yourself in the clothes is the only way to find what works best for you.
Try this, and you’ll be taking your first step towards having a great workwear style. Men’s clothing doesn’t have to be intimidating, after all.
2. Focus on Core Colors
Our client Jordan wanted to experiment with color, and we guided him on how to do it right.
Core colors are exactly what they sound like. The primary colors of black, gray, navy, and white create a solid foundation for your professional wardrobe.
These colors are seasonless, look great on everyone, and create a cool, cohesive look.
We recommend that core colors make up at least 40% of your closet. Building your wardrobe this way ensures that getting dressed every morning is easy and that you always look put-together.
Focus on core colors first to eliminate any confusion when getting dressed every day. Then, you can start adding additional colors and patterns.
Pro Tip: Not sure what to wear with a pattern? Wear it with a core color! They go with everything.
Once you have the colors sorted and the right pieces in your wardrobe, you can start the simple process of building outfits. You should be able to pick just about any bottom, top, and shoes and turn them into a winning outfit.
But if you’re unsure where to start, we recommend trying a few simple outfit formulas.
These are easy, rinse-and-repeat systems you can repurpose again and again. One of our favorites is:
The one-and-done: Wear the same color from head to toe. You can wear a top and bottom in the same shade or try different hues or textures. For example, a navy cable knit sweater with sleek navy trousers or a corduroy beige jacket over a darker brown shirt partnered with chinos.
3. Invest in the Perfect Fit
With NLW’s guidance, Ramit always achieves the perfect fit.
For professionals and executives, the fit of your clothes can significantly impact your image. Well-fitted clothing conveys confidence and competence. Poorly fitting garments, on the other hand, can undermine you. You may even come off as careless, sloppy, or underprepared.
So how do you get the perfect fit? Men, workwear style becomes so much easier when you work with a tailor.
Tailoring transforms off-the-rack clothes into garments that complement your specific body and build.
Alterations may seem like an unnecessary expense, but they can change the game. The fact is, most people need alterations. Brands make clothes to fit one body type, so you’ll likely need to adjust your clothing if you don’t fit the model they used.
The three most common alterations that can make a huge difference are:
- Adjusting sleeve length.
- Tailoring trousers for the right break.
- Slimming down shirt and jacket waists.
These tweaks ensure your clothing fits, and you look sharp.
If hiring a tailor still seems overwhelming, working with a stylist can significantly simplify this process. At NLW, we have a roster of trusted, experienced stylists that we connect with our clients. We tell them exactly what to do to adjust your fit. All you have to do is model.
See the results for yourself:
5 NLW Client Transformations
- Chris S., Before and After
NYC, Accounting
Chris’s before and after photos.
Chris worked with NLW when he started his corporate career as an accountant in NYC. He wanted a more polished, put-together look for his business casual office. He was stuck buying only brands he wore in college, had a poor fit, and had a dated look.
We helped him upgrade the quality of the items he kept in his closet, fill gaps with items he needed, and taught him how to look more put-together from work to weekends.
Notice how the “after” image looks more current and modern compared to the left, which has more dated styles.
Here is what Chris had to say about his experience:
- Nate D.
Connecticut, CTO
Nate’s before and after photos.
A successful CTO, Nate transitioned to remote work after COVID and noticed his daily routine becoming too casual. Determined to elevate every aspect of his life, he decided to make a change.
Not only did he hire a personal trainer, but we helped him align his style with his success. He was on the cusp of launching his own business and realized the value of upgrading his style to align with his personal brand.
We helped Nate level up by changing from a typical work uniform to one with a point of view. We incorporated more modern, subtle styles, taught him how to put it all together, and got the perfect fit for his body.
Nate shared his experience working with us:
- Mike P.
Texas, Sales
Mike’s Before and After working with NLW.
Mike has been a long-time client of Next Level Wardrobe and has really developed his style over the years.
He started his journey with us looking for guidance on how to elevate his look, but since he lived in Austin, he wanted to do it in a subtle way. He wasn’t looking to be the center of attention or make a statement with his style—he wanted it to whisper, not scream.
He also had a very busy travel schedule. Being in corporate sales, he was always on the go, so he needed to be able to pack efficiently and still look good.
Mike leveled up, working with Team NLW in person and virtually. His wardrobe foundation is fantastic; everything fits and goes together. He’s also received a personalized style education along the way.
Mike shared about working with us:
- Matt H.
Los Angeles, Entrepreneur
Matt’s AFTER style post working with NLW.
Matthew Hussey is the relationship guru, from dating columns to TV shows to podcasts and YouTube. For 15 years, he’s helped people (especially women) get the love life they want and deserve.
To complement his new physique, he also needed a wardrobe transformation. As a busy CEO and brand face, it’s critical that his style matches his success.
He wanted clothes that matched his renewed confidence and current body. He wanted clothes that felt polished without trying too hard. As a brand face and a people person, he needed to look like an expert and approachable.
Matt worked with Team NLW in person and got a closet edit, shopping experience, and closet set up.
Here’s what Matt had to say about the experience:
“I’m so grateful to [Cassandra]. Until now, I had 20 of the same T-shirt and wore sweatpants everywhere…Thanks again, Next Level Wardrobe, for helping me retire my sweatpants outside the house and making me excited about my clothes again! I would encourage anyone who knows it’s time for a new style chapter in their life to go follow them (and maybe even try to get a style day with Cassandra for yourself!)”
- Ramit Sethi, Transformation After NLW Styling
NYC, Entrepreneur
Ramit’s AFTER style post working with NLW.
Ramit Sethi is a personal finance expert and author. His company, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, has been around for 20 years, so naturally, he needed to evolve his style.
He worked with Team NLW to implement the NLW Style System, which was used to style him for his book tour and his Netflix Show, “How to Get Rich.”
Ramit has had a huge style transformation, which shows his approachability, expertise, and point of view.
Ready to elevate your men’s workwear style?
Apply for Next Level Wardrobe’s men’s virtual executive image consulting services and get personalized guidance to refine your style. Transform your image with expert advice and tailored solutions today!
