Classic Men's Style Guide Essentials of Dressing Well

Maybe you already have a sartorial sixth sense, where you can tell what is classic style and what isn't, but you're not sure how to display it, even if you recognize it when you see it. Whatever the situation may be, knowing what classic style is is essential if you want to mimic and nurture it.

Classic style is rooted in the golden age of menswear.

Classic style draws inspiration from clothes and stylistic trends from the early 1920s to mid-1960s. Those in the know typically refer to this era as the "Golden Age of Menswear".

From this, we can create the following simple definition: Classic style is a way of dressing in which the core concepts, styles, and clothing are based on those from the Golden Age of Menswear. And when we say "based on," we don't just mean that they are entire cloth copies, but that they have been altered for modern wear. Golden Age of Menswear

But what does this term really mean? First, let's define the term "classic" in and of itself. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "classic" as "a standard of excellence or recognized value."

So, why is the style of the Golden Age of Menswear considered a benchmark of quality with acknowledged value? That is the question we will be addressing today, but before we go any further, we need state one caveat.

Classic Style is Not Inherently Bound to the Values of the Golden Age of Menswear?

Classic style relates to how you dress rather than how you think. Wool Silk Scarf in Dark Blue, Green, Burgundy, Yellow, Brown, Large Paisley, and Round Micropattern

While some men nowadays consider classic style to be a lifestyle, it is really only a method of wearing rather than a way of thinking. At most, it's only one aspect of a bigger lifestyle.

Our perspective on the world revolves on what it means to be a modern gentleman. This approach is best summed up by our buddy Dandy Wellington and his credo, "Vintage style, not vintage values." What It Means to Be A Gentleman Today. Fundamentally, the style of the Golden Age of Menswear remained eternal.

Is classic style timeless?

The traditional design has weathered the test of time, making it relatively simple to wear today.

Classic style has endured the test of time. That is, it is still as wearable now as it was when it first became fashionable. Classic style emphasizes simple, subtle, and beautiful clothing that highlight the masculine form in an aesthetically pleasant fashion, rather than gimmicky trends and fads that provide rapid satisfaction.

Classic clothing from the 1930s are still wearable today, whereas fashionable designs from the 1970s and 1990s seem outdated and distracting to the contemporary eye. This is because classic style is based on time-tested aesthetic principles, while trendier styles were just that: fleeting fashions.

Classic Style Isn't a Costume?

Burgundy Red Handcrafted Linen Pocket Square with White Handrolled X-Stitch.

The second key idea for today is that classic style is not a costume. While based on former clothing, garments and accessories in the classic style should not be considered historical objects. In fact, if you purposely dress in a manner that emphasizes the more antique characteristics of certain classic style apparel and accessories, you will end up with a costume-like appearance.

Consider this maximalist ensemble with several antique items. Even while each individual component is from the Golden Age of Menswear, they've been arranged in such a manner that the vintage nature is accentuated, and the overall design isn't really traditional. Maybe quintessentially Edwardian. Classic style is a method of clothing that integrates historical elements into a contemporary context.