Let’s talk about New Year’s Resolutions. No, I”m not going to feed you that dribble everyone’s been giving you the past three weeks: exercise, eat healthily, save money. You already know all that. Today, I’m talking about style resolutions. These are the steps I’m taking in 2025 to hone my personal style with little changes which will hopefully have a big impact.
1. Wear Jeans Less Often
I love jeans. I grew up in jeans. When I was a kid, jeans were athleisure and workwear all rolled into one. If I wasn’t in school, I was in jeans. That all being said, I’ve noticed lately, I’ve been relying on denim too much. When I don’t know what to wear, I’ll throw on a pair of jeans and pair them with whatever: a sweater, a sport coat, a military jacket, etc. And this is the beauty of denim, right? Its versatility. But that also makes it a simple safety net. Defaulting to my 501s (which I love!) doesn’t let me flex my rakish muscle.
So what’s the plan? Going forward (until I feel like I’ve kicked the habit) jeans will be for weekends and outdoor work only. In colder weather, I’ll stick with flannels, tweeds, cavalry twills, corduroys, and heavy chinos. In the warmer seasons, it will be a mix of lighter chinos, high-twist wools, cottons, and linens. There are so many options it shouldn’t be too difficult beyond the initial effort.
2. Better Maintenance
One of the important details that I forget sometimes with the ”buy less, buy better” mindset is taking care of the “better” so it lasts. Most quality possessions require some level of maintenance. You wouldn’t buy a BMW and not change the oil, would you? The same concept goes for clothing too.
This year I’m committing to shining my shoes on a regular basis. Using quality shoe creams and waxes actually nourishes the leather helping it age more beautifully and last longer. I am also holding myself to washing and ironing my shirts at home. Having your shirts professionally laundered can shorten their lifespan. Industrial dryers and presses can damage and weaken the fibers, break buttons, and cause shrinkage. I prefer to wash my shirts in a cold, delicate cycle with a gentle detergent, hang dry, and iron as needed. Finally, I will brush my wool tailoring and knitwear when I need to. Most of the time, these pieces don’t need a dry cleaning, just a good brushing with a quality garment brush and some spot cleaning with a damp cloth.
3. Mind the Accessories.
Did you ever walk out of the house thinking your outfit was good, but not great? Maybe you thought it was just missing…something. I know that feeling very well. Coco Chanel always said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” In my case, I think I should look in the mirror and add one more item. Perhaps a tie or a scarf. Maybe I need a watch and a hat. Whatever it is, I’m going to be more aware of my accessories this year.
We all want a lot of the same thing every new year. These are a few changes I’m making this year that will hopefully have some actual impact. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025!
