*Republished with permission from Kipper Clothiers
Kipper Clothiers Believes 2014 is the Year of The Dandy
Here are 5 new years style resolutions to make 2014 your most dapper year yet:
1. Out With the Old, in With the New:
We all have clothes in our closet that we haven’t worn in years or simply just does not fit us. We know its painful to get rid of those older, nostalgic items, but stop holding onto them and make room for new additions to your wardrobe.
Some rules to make getting rid of things easier:
-You haven’t worn it in a year.
-You can’t zip it up anymore or you are swimming in it.
-It is no longer in style.
-It is no longer age-appropriate.
2. Build the Basics:
A good rule of thumb is to start with a few solid oxford cloth button downs, a couple pairs of nice trousers, and at least one blue or grey blazer. Be sure to color coordinate your new garments so that you can mix and match outfits. Keep leaning towards blues. Once you have the basics down, you can build from there.
3. Accessories Matter:
When picking out your accessories, think of your outfit as a whole. We can all throw on a random lapel pin or a pocket square, but accessories are meant to pull an outfit together. Start with solids until you get a sense of what works together and then you can build to louder patterns over time. Ties that are more than 2.5” inches wide are out. It’s not the 70’s anymore…. or the 80’s or the 90’s. Also, learn how to tie that bow-tie, clip-ons are a thing of the past. [Click here for dapperQ video on how to tie a bow-tie. Click here for dapperQ’s accessory guide.]
4. Invest in Shoes:
A good pair of shoes will last you a lifetime. Buy yourself that pair of shoes that you’ve always wanted, but thought was out of your price range. Over time and with good care, you will have that go-to pair of shoes for special occasions for years to come. We suggest purchasing a pair of brown oxfords as the cornerstone of your shoe selection. Pro-Tip: JUST SAY NO TO SQUARE-TOED SHOES. (Refer back to resolution 1 if you own square-toed shoes.)
5. Customize Your Wardrobe:
Let’s designate 2014 as the year of maturity. it’s time to dress like an adult. Make 2014 the year you take pride in your appearance. As young professionals, we all have responsibilities, so take responsibility for the way you dress. Custom clothing gives you the added advantage of style and quality with perfect fit every time.
About the authors: Kipper Clothiers is committed to on-time production of high-quality, well-fitting custom suits and shirts for the Bay Area LGBT community. It was founded by Kyle Moshrefi and Erin Berg, who met through a mutual passion for menswear for women and transgender individuals. They bonded over an inability to find ready-wear clothing at even the nicest of retail locations. They are making menswear accessible. 
Kyle and Erin have seen a growing need for custom suiting that are individually built for everyone’s unique body. They met while working together at a former custom clothing company and when that company started to fail due to poor management, they decided that they wanted to be the innovative leaders in this industry. They feel as though it is their responsibility to provide the community with what is so deserved and needed.
