It’s fair to say that men’s fashion can often lag behind women’s fashion. Women have so many options for dressing up, with a variety of pants, dresses, blouses, and skirts constituting their daily outfits, while only a subsection of that wardrobe is expected for men. It’s hard to get creative when pants and a top are the general go-to combos.
Luckily, despite the limitations, there’s actually a lot one can do to spice up their outfits. If you’re not really feeling like subverting expectations and just want to add an extra oomph to your outfits, then accessories are a great way to do that. They don’t seem obvious at first, but when you look at women’s outfits, they’re a great way to easily add dimension to an outfit if you’re not feeling too daring with the clothes themselves.
If you’re wondering what accessories can help quickly level up your outfits, these six items will surely help you on your journey to becoming a bit more fashionable.
1. Hat
It’s time to stop underestimating the power of a good hat in tying your outfit together. While a hat has its clear functional uses, you can also use it to connect with the other pieces you already have.
Color-match with the rest of your outfit for a fully monochromatic look. Opt for a slightly more eccentric style than a baseball cap. And if you have no time to fix your hair, it’s a great way to quickly cover up that mess. A hat can come in many styles and complement your outfit in various ways.
2. Watch
If you’re looking for a more understated way to expand your outfits, you can’t go wrong with adding a watch. Though its practical use may be less valuable with the advent of smartphones, a watch can add dimension and a touch of gold or silver, like a piece of jewelry, to enhance your outfit.
It’s why you see bracelets or rings worn—they make your hands and wrists a little less barren and more interesting. Great to consider when you’re trying to subtly elevate your outfits.
3. Necktie
A necktie isn’t limited to an office or formal setting; in fact, it can be used in many outfits to increase interest. You have your plain-colored ones that aren’t too intimidating to wear, as well as unique and interesting patterns that become the focal point when worn. Neckties aren’t restricted to formal settings; they can even be the most casual part of your outfit.
4. Funky Socks
If you’re looking for more covert ways to express your eccentricity, a pair of funky socks might be just what you need. They go great with neutral-toned outfits because they provide a splash of color that adds intrigue. So if you’re ever feeling a bit too shy to stand out, here’s a subtle hint of your interesting personality beneath the surface.
5. Suspenders
This is definitely the most “out-there” item on the list, toeing the line between trendy and neutral, but it can seriously change how a regular pant-shirt combo feels. There’s a sort of boyish charm that appears when one wears suspenders, which is why you often see them in some K-pop boy groups. Beyond the trendy aspect, they add a distinctive feature to your outfit and give it a more interesting shape.
6. Necklace Or Chain
Finally, it’s likely a piece you’ve already seen other guys wear, and for good reason. Like the watch, it’s a simple way to add metal textures to your outfit and make certain parts of it shine. Especially for more casual outfits, it helps make them less boring and adds a subtle touch of flair that will make you stand out from others with similar outfits.
Fashion and experimenting with it should be fun, but if you’re not yet ready to make bolder choices, you can always experiment with accessories. They are very underrated in making an outfit shine and can dramatically change how an outfit looks, even if it’s not obvious at first.
