(This man was recently cured of the Bad Fit Disease)
One of the most effective ways to improve your image is by taking a long and hard look at the way all of your clothing fit you, and never wearing anything that doesn’t fit correctly.
Most guys are walking around in ill-fitting clothing, and I’m writing this article to start an awareness campaign.
Awareness of what?
The “Bad Fit Disease,” or “BFD” for short.
This is a disease that we need to fight before it turns into a full-fledged epidemic.
I’m ruthless about fit when it comes to my clients, because I know how much a difference it makes in a man’s image. A great fit that molds to your body can make inexpensive pieces look like designer pieces, and take you from looking like a slob to the well-groomed man.
Here is a quick look at some bad fit victims followed by pictures of the cured…
Bad fit
Baggy arms, sagging sides, ballooning back - just too much excess fabric.
Most guys wear their shirts like this and think it’s a pretty good fit. Just because a shirt may fit your neck doesn’t mean it fits the rest of your body.
Good Fit
This shirt fits his torso—not just his neck. The shirt should be neither too loose nor too tight. It should be just skimming your body. Less excess fabric means that it stays tucked in better and there isn’t any bunching around your midsection.
Bad Fit
Always make sure you get your REAL size when it comes to your pants. Most guys wear their pants way too big.
Make sure the rise is as close to your crotch without cutting off circulation to you family jewels.
The key is to make sure it almost hugs your ass. For those of you who don’t have much of a butt, having a baggier fit just makes it look even more like you don’t have anything there.
Unless you choose to wear baggier jeans in order to create a deliberate style effect, it’s time to lose them.
Good Fit
Your jeans don’t have to be skin tight, but there shouldn’t be too much extra fabric around your thighs or at your feet. Stick two fingers in between the pants waistline and your hip (perpendicularly) to check if you’re wearing the right size. You shouldn’t be able to fit in more fingers than that.
Bad Fit
A bad blazer or any jacket for that matter is going to feel like it’s a hand me down from your bigger cousin.
Good Fit
A great jacket fit should slightly hug you in the arms, and shoulders without cutting off circulation.
Do Your Part
Help Kinowear eradicate BFD (Bad Fit Disease) throughout the world.
Start with your own wardrobe, and discard or donate any clothes that do not fit you correctly. You MUST clear your closet of anything that doesn’t fit right.
Here are some specific tips on determining a good fit, posted on our community forums: Click here
If you need some help deciding whether or not something is a bad fit or good fit, take a quick photo of yourself wearing the item and get tons of feedback from coaches and hundreds of stylish guys in our community here.
Kinowear gets loads of questions about how to shop for clothes without breaking the bank.
With a little smart shopping and a change of approach, there are some practical tips that you can use to save money when shopping. Here they are:
1. Go For The Classics
Fortunately, men can wear something that’s several years old and not look dated, because
most of what’s out there for men is classically styled. Fill most of your wardrobe with timeless staples instead of trendy ones, and you’ll get the most out of your clothing.
Here are some staples that have been adopted into the eternal wardrobe of men:
White button down shirts
The trench coat
Black suit
Sports Jacket/Blazer
Overcoat
Zip-up hoodie (great for layering and lounging)
Oxfords (classic dress shoes)
Polo
Ties
White T-shirt
Sunglasses
Jeans (a lighter casual pair and a darker dressier pair)
Watch
Black belt
You can create so many combinations of outfits by stocking up on these staples and mixing and matching them together. For example you can wear a colorful polo underneath your blazer, with dark jeans and your oxfords. You can also wear a white dress shirt underneath a zip-up hoodie with light casual jeans and some stylish sneakers. Learn to mix and match and create multiple looks.
2. Only Buy What You Need
Sounds like common sense, but when you start shopping for less and learning how to get bargains, you can easily get sucked into wanting to buy more things. You’re under the illusion that you’re saving money, but in reality you’re not.
Whether you’re spending a hundred dollars on one shirt, or buying twenty items for five dollars, you’re still spending a hundred dollars.
Ask yourself if you REALLY need what you are buying. Would you but it even if it wasn’t on sale? Favor quality over quantity.
When you absolutely need something, find the most flattering thing that’s on sale. If nothing is marked down from full price, make do with what you have until it does.
3. Buy Socks and Underwear For Less
Unless you’re ridiculously rich, and love to remind yourself of this fact every time you take of your shoes or go to the bathroom, save money on socks and underwear.
Save money for the pieces where the premium in price will really communicate or show in the quality. Capitalize on the fact that when it comes to underwear, socks, solid colored tees, or even belts, you can find them really cheap and get away with nobody noticing the difference. You’d be amazed at what you can find at places like American Apparel, H&M, Old Navy, Target, TJ Maxx, etc.
4. Wait For The Discounts
Figure out the clearance sale schedule of your favorite designer’s store, or the high-end boutiques and specialty stores in your area. Many stick to January for spring/summer items and July for fall/winter items, while others may have an annual clearance weekend where surplus goods are priced to sell.
Make sales associates your ally - they know what’s available, when it will be marked down, and how to keep reduced items from landing in someone else’s closet. All you have to do is ask and you can find out when a certain item is going to go on sale soon.
Are there any sales going on today? Do you have any coupons available?
There were several instances when sales clerks would pull out a package of coupons and give me one, saving me 20% - 50% on my purchases.
Get on the mailing list of your favorite stores to receive postcards and announcements for sales and clearance days.
Department store clearance racks are a great source for cheap, high-quality clothes. Always check the clearance/sale racks - if you can’t find them, ask. They are always somewhere. So many guys skip the department stores and stick to retail chain stores like Banana Republic or Express that many of these department stores have amazing pieces on ridiculous discounts.
5. Shop Out Of Season
Make a habit to shop out of season. You may not want to think about cashmere sweaters or riding boots in the middle of July, but that’s when you’re likely to realize the greatest savings.
Retail stores discount clothing long before the season ends. They begin stocking for the upcoming season more than a month ahead of time. This gives you the chance to cash in on some great cheap clothes for the remainder of the current season or for next season.
6. Make A Trip To Your Nearest Outlet Store
Find your nearest outlet store and go shopping with friends or family. Make sure you get there early preferably on a weekday because all the good items will be taken.
or… Visit A Consignment Shop In An Affluent Area
Many customers wear items once or twice before sending them to consignment in favor of the latest fashions. These stores carry designer fashions that the owner no longer wants to wear but would like to get a little bit of money for. The owner of the store takes some of the sales price and the seller gets the rest. You, the buyer, often get a real bargain. Many times the clothing in these stores has been barely worn. Be prepared for last season’s fashion sometimes but if the clothing is designer, it should withstand radical fashion changes and will be well tailored, well fitting and of good quality fabric.
7. Shop Online
Shopping online can be a great quick and easy way to find clothing for less. The only downside is that you don’t get to try the material on, but it can be great if you know your exact size and there is a return policy.
A good way to shop online is to first try things on at a retail store, getting a feel for which of their sizes fit you best, and then jotting down the exact model number of the item you want. Now when you search for it online for less, you can be guaranteed that it fits.
Peruse the eBay auctions / stores. A lot of them have almost exact replicas of the high-end designer clothing selling for 1/10th of the price.
Always check for promo / coupon codes before checking out your shopping cart.I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by simply do a little search for “name of online store” + coupon code. A great promo / coupon code site is: www.retailmenot.com
8. Trade Clothing
Get together with family or close friends and trade clothing or accessories they never wore, or got bored of after a few light uses. If your friends have great taste in clothing and you don’t care about it being worn, this can be a great way to save and get some great items. If you wash the clothes, it’s the same as picking it up at a store (where dozens of people try on the item anyway).
9. Use Accessories To Create Different Looks
Once you have the classics in your wardrobe, you can create dozens of looks just by getting some new accessories. Instead of getting new dress shirts, get some stand-out new ties and you now have dozens of new combinations you can create with your blazer/colored shirts. Just by getting a new hat, scarf, or by changing the shoes you wear, you can create a new look with the same shirt and pants. You can find accessories for a lot less than other pieces so utilize this to get the most out of your outfits.
10. Sample Sales
Sample sales are used by retailers to get rid of excess merchandise. Traditionally, sample sales featured items that were created by a designer to put on models for the runway or send to retailers. Now, designers have broadened the definition to include excess inventory, clothing from past seasons, etc.
In New York City, they have these sample sales at random locations in the city, offering high-end designer wear for up to 50 - 75% reductions.
You can also find invite-only websites that offer the sample sale items online. Some examples are Regents Secret or Gilt Group (you can request an invitation on our forums)
There are countless other websites like this, along with websites that actually list the time & place of live sample sales going on in cities like NYC. This is a great way to enjoy high-end designer wear at a fraction of the price.
Caveat: Before You Shop…
One of the biggest mistake people make is to go shopping for something without first thinking about what they already have in their closet. Sometimes, you’ll get a new item and have NOTHING in your closet to go with it, so you have to go out and buy more items to go with your new item. This is not smart shopping. Make sure you always know what you have at home before you go shopping, so that you can match accordingly.
Sometimes you’ll be surprised at what you dig up. You may even rediscover some awesome clothes you never wear. Now you have more clothes to wear without even going shopping!
Conclusion
There are lots of ways to build your style and avoid the temptation of spiraling yourself into debt with shopping. A little smart shopping will go along away, but remember that a few quality pieces are better than a wardrobe full of of low quality ones. Start with the classics and make them the foundation of your wardrobe, then slowly add in new accessories or special items.
There is no need to have each item of an outfit be expensive or outstanding. All you need is one classy piece and have everything else compliment it. For example you may have a REALLY nice pair of shoes that you like and you can wear just a t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of shades with it. The shoes will be the main show and show women you have style. It’s all about keeping the balance between trying too hard and not trying at all.
Now you have more reasons to go out there and start building your wardrobe.
P.S. - Did you notice our Kinowear makeover? I love it. We’re creating some great new products and services and the new website will make room for all the exciting developments to come. Stay tuned!
Megan Fox doesn’t get why the supposedlySUPER robot turns “into a piece of crap Camaro.”
Is your car a mess? If you’re such a GREATguy, would you keep your car looking like a piece of crap?
After all, it represents you.
And if a girl sees the way you take care of yourself and your possessions, what do you think she would assume about the way you might treat her?Whether as a friend or a lover?
After recently riding in my friend’s garbage dump - which he calls his “car” - I was compelled to write an article on something that most people fail to take care of.We all know that a car can bring with it a symbol of status, and a display of personality. Some people even treat them like they have a life of their own.
But I’m not going to talk about how to display status or personality through your car. Unlike clothing, men don’t really need or want help in that area. Deciding that is part of the joy in owning a car.
What I DO want to address is simply something that EVERY guy can benefit from doing with their car.
The Most Crucial Aspect Of Your Car
What matters more than the type of car you drive is how clean the interior and exterior is.
A “nice” car that is completely covered in dirt or full of junk is not so nice anymore.
Compare that to an old model car that looks brand new, and even though it’s not so “up -to-date” it looks like it is.
When you’re picking up that date, you want your car to be sparkling clean and smelling nice.
Women notice these things.
I’m not making it up when I say that either. I assure you that this article is built from pure experience and feedback.
How clean the interior of your car is can often reflect how many women you have entering your car on any given month.
I’ll admit that I used to transform my car into SHOWROOM status whenever I had a date to pick up. Not a particle of dust in sight. I even had a citrus car freshener that the girl’s loved, and would prepare a whole collection of mood setting CDs for our time together. It was all meticulously planned.
Did it pay off? YES.
The funny thing was that when I didn’t have a date for awhile my car would start to get dirty again because I didn’t care as much. I saw the same attitude with my other guy friends. This was in highschool, mind you, and looking back it was mostly because I didn’t own the car - it was my parent’s. So I really didn’t care much about taking care of it, just making it presentable when I used it for my own purposes.
But everything changes when you actually own your own car.
For me it’s no longer about impressing women, but all about honoring what I believe I’m worth as well as respecting my possessions. At the end of the day I really don’t care what other people think of me, but at the same time I take a lot of pride in the way I express myself.
I also believe that image is a TOOL that we can use to our advantage - getting more of what we want in our life. We live in a society where we’re constantly being judged by our appearance and possessions, so why not play the game to the hilt? The impressions we make on others affect our interactions and quality of relationships, as well as open up doors for business and networking purposes.
If you believe you’re the best, you’ll surround yourself with the best things. People see this, and measure your worth with it.
Best doesn’t always mean expensive or high-end, but your own definition of it. I’ve yet to meet a person who thinks of messy and dirty as their “best.” Even people who just want to get from point A to point B in their car - who say they don’t care about cleanliness - would admit to feeling better if their car was looking immaculate and new.
Have you ever stepped into someone’s car filled with garbage, with barely enough room to sit comfortably? What kind of impression did you get?
How does it make you feel when you enter someone’s car and it still smells of ketchup and french fries from a fast food bag they purchased last week?
Not only does it make me feel uncomfortable, but it forms my impression of the person who owns the car.
Something My Father Taught Me
Back when I was a little kid, my father used to march into my overly messy room and nag me to clean it up. He would keep telling me that my messy room was an outer reflection of my inner state of mind.
For weeks I ignored his words, as I played my video games, mumbling some form of agreement to his demands.
One day after getting home from school, I wanted to take a nap. I pushed a humongous pile of clothes off my bed, and finally felt a slight discomfort that kind of made me want to clean my room.
Did I clean it up that week?
No.
I had too many things on my mind, and felt too busy and stressed out to find the time to clean.
Then my father came into my room again later the next week, but this time he didn’t yell at me. He just calmly stated the same words he had been trying to get through to me for weeks.
“Your disorganization and messiness is a display of what’s going on inside.”
The fact that he wasn’t yelling got my attention, and this time I really listened to his words.
After he left, I sat there ruminating over what he said, and all of a sudden the words finally hit me like a ton of bricks. I looked around, and it really did seem true that that my messy room reflected the stressful mess in my mind.
The disorganization was a reflection of scrambled thoughts in my head - with no real order, purpose, or direction. There were random things lying around that I left to be dealt with in some mysterious future moment. There was garbage lying around the room (even when I had a garbage can), reflecting how lazy I was.
My father’s words had finally struck a chord in me. Immediately I got out a pen and paper and started to write down all the steps I needed to take to organize my mind as well as create the same sort of order in my surrounding environment.
During the next whole week, I learned how to use a time management system, and got all my scattered thoughts onto paper and created a plan for my life - from my long term goals to my short term goals.
I picked up all my dirty clothes, and threw them in the laundry. I was surprised at how easy and quick cleaning up could be.
I was having fun so I got a garbage bag and started to pick up all the empty bottles and useless school papers as well. I vacuumed and dusted every nook and cranny, and created an organizational system for my books, papers, and supplies. I even took the time to rearrange some furniture and threw out a whole box of things I no longer used.
When I finally finished, I stood back and admired what I had accomplished. I felt so much better about myself; I felt so stress free.
I also didn’t have to worry about misplacing or losing things anymore because everything had it’s designated place. I knew EXACTLY where something was if I needed it. Before I cleaned my room, things would get lost in the random piles of other things and it would cause more stress and disorganization.
It became a downward spiral.
I realized that it really does start from what’s going on in your mind. If you believe that your life is a mess, there will most like also be a messy environment around you. Then you get fed more negative emotion every time you look at it or lose something. You also have that silent voice in your head that is telling you to clean things up, and by ignoring it, you subconsciously adopt other negative ideas such as not having enough time, that it doesn’t matter anyway, that you have nobody to impress in your life, etc. All these thought patterns just pile on top of each other and make you lazier - creating more mess.
When you’re organized, I’ve found there is so much more freedom and productivity. It has the opposite effect on your psychology. You feel better about yourself and eliminate so much negative stress that comes from dealing with clutter.
My father was right, when your head is cluttered inside with no organization, it’s most likely reflected somehow on the outer level.
Looking back, I see that my dad never really cared about the ROOM being messy, it’s that he wanted me to see the valuable power in organization and cleanliness. He figured out that my mind was scattered and that I was full of stress, just by looking at my room.
He knew that it would affect my psychology as well as help me to see that it affected my relationships because of the impression I was making.
You should have seen his face the next day he came home from work when he expected to enter a messy room. He looked at me but didn’t say a word, he just smiled at me. He was happy that something inside of me had shifted.
Keeping your CAR clean will have the same affect as it did on me when I cleaned up my room. Your car is like a portable room. You take it with you wherever you go, and people sometimes step into that room.
What they see will leave an impression on them, and can affect their decision of choosing to hang out with someone like you or not.
What Women Will Notice
It’s true that some guys don’t care because they’re not trying to impress any of their guy friends. But most of their friends who don’t care probably have messy cars as well.
Anyone who really takes care of their own car will know the benefits and naturally suggest that their friend do the same. It’s what a good friend does.
But who cares about impressing guys unless it’s for business. Just know that women will notice.
Women are naturally attracted to men who look like they can take care of themselves physically, emotionally and financially. From what they see, they assume he can handle most of life’s challenges, and perhaps take care of them.
Taking care of yourself also means taking care of your possessions.
Women notice everything. It’s all a window in which they can look through to who you really are.
I dated a girl who’s car was always a mess. She also smoked and the car reeked of cigarettes every time I stepped in. One day I taught her how to clean her car because she said she’s never done it before.
I know, I was as shocked as you are right now.
The next week I saw her there were coffee cups, half-drunken water bottles, and papers lying around her car again.
It didn’t matter that we cleaned her car, because her internal state of mind still happened to manifest itself on the outer level.
I got the impression that she was a mess in many other areas of her life, which I found to be totally true. She carried a lot of insecurities and limiting beliefs in her mind, and she was totally scatterbrained. I haven’t talked to her since.
Does this mean that we need to focus on the internal first?
Yes, because even if you clean your car today, it’s most likely going to get dirty again if you follow the same habits. You must have a shift in thinking.
I’m not saying that EVERY single person with a messy car or a messy room has a scattered mind. They could have legit reasons like being really busy. But nobody is that busy. If they are it’s probably because they don’t know how to manage their time and thoughts. You could split up cleaning your car into 5 mins a day throughout the week.
You have be honest with yourself and look inside. Are you constantly stressed out? Do you feel like you never have time for the things you want to do? Do you have management tools in place that give you internal clarity?
Haven’t you had a time where you were in a really happy state, and you just felt like cleaning your car or organizing something? And then after you did that, didn’t you feel even BETTER as you started to build that positive momentum?
But most of the time what happens is that we lose that momentum, and start to go down the downward spiral.
This used to happen to me a lot in the past, but I’ve learned how to keep that momentum going.
You can trigger these same good feelings by forcing yourself to build the HABIT of keeping a positive and clean environment. When it becomes a habit, then your positive emotional state becomes a habit as well.
But beyond benefiting yourself, it influences the quality of your relationships. The girl I mentioned before didn’t build that habit, and so it continuously fueled her negative state of mind and stress, and that had a negative impact on our relationship.
On the flip side of the coin, having a clean environment can positively influence your interactions with others, and one of your main daily environments is inside your car.
Women I’ve dated have told me that they loved how clean my car was. When I asked them why, they basically told me that it was just attractive the way I took care of it.
Think about that. It gave them the impression that I have my life together and I’m not a lazy, disorganized person - as well as reflecting what I believe to be my self-worth. If you don’t believe in your own worth, who will?
Keeping Your Car Clean and Looking Like New
For most people, a car is the second largest investment they’ll make in their lives. But many people fail to take care of them, losing money down the road. If you own a car you should know how to keep it excellent shape.
Here are some basic tips you should follow to make your car looking new inside and out in just ONE day:
Materials that you’ll need for cleaning the outside of your car:
Garden Hose with nozzle
Plastic bucket
Car Wash Soap
Wash Mitt or Sponge
Clean paint-safe microfiber towels or 100% Cotton Towels
Car Wax
Glass Cleaner
For cleaning the inside of your car:
Vacuum
Duster
Cleaning wipes
Glass Cleaner
Washing your car
Before you head over to your nearest commercial car wash, know that the brushes and methods used for drive-thru car washes are not friendly on your paint. You may not be able to see it but it slowly strips your car of it’s coat and in the long term is not good for your car.
They never get the entire car clean like you want it anyway, and it can be costly. So the best idea for you is to take a little time and wash your car correctly yourself, and here is how to do it.
First, make sure you park your car in the shade before you wash it, otherwise the soap suds will dry before you can rinse it off - it’ll create water spots and you don’t want that.
Fill your plastic bucket with water, and then add the amount of soap it tells you to on the label. Now I realize that some people use dish soap -DON’T- it’ll strip off the wax and polish you have on your car and is also not good for it in the long run.
I’ve found it better to add water first, and then add the soap - mixing it by swirling the water and soap with my hand. You’ll find that if you use the hose to mix the soap the bucket will just fill up with suds and make the water overflow. The suds will form as you keep washing the car anyway - it’s important to have a good mix of over and soap.
You should wash your wheels first before anything else because if you clean the wheels last then your car will start to air dry which will create water spots. You want to be able to properly dry it with your towel while it’s still wet. Even if you dry the car first, and then do the wheels, you’ll get the car wet again when you use the hose on the wheels. So clean the wheels first.
When cleaning the wheels, on top of using my sponge, I like to use a bristle brush to really get in there and get rid of the brake dust that builds up around the rims.
After that, wet your entire car with your garden hose from the top down and let gravity be your friend - letting all the loose dirt run down your car.
Dip your sponge or wash mitt in the bucket and start washing your car from the top down.
Or get your girlfriend to do it in a bikini while you watch.
That would be ideal, wouldn’t it.
She probably would ruin your car. So do it yourself you lazy bum.
Okay, so when you’re washing your car with your mitt, one or two passes is enough. Go in the direction that the wind passes over your car. Up and down or side to side. A lot of people scrub really hard in circular motions and that’s why they create swirls in the paint of their car. Then they wonder where the swirls came from.
Rinse your sponge frequently as well, so you’re not rubbing dirt particles into the paint.
There is no need to keep scrubbing one spot, one or two passes should be enough. Only do it if you haven’t washed your car in ages, and there is a build-up of heavy dirt or grime in certain areas. This is why the more you wash your car the easier and faster it’ll be the next time!
After you soap your entire car, rinse it with water but make not to blast your car with a strong jet of water, as this can push dirt particles into the paintwork. Use a medium strength.
Remember to dry your car with a microfiber towel or a 100% cotton towel. Letting it dry on it’s own will make water dry in patches and your car won’t look clean at all. Use one dry towel to wipe up most of the water, and then go over it with a second dry towel.
Then to protect your car as well as give it a great shine, take some car wax and rub it on evenly using a circular motion, doing one section of the car at a time.
Allow the wax to dry to a haze for one or two minutes. Then buff the wax off with a cotton towel using the same circular motion. Wax on, wax off.
Lastly, wash your windows with glass cleaner to remove streaks and spots.
Now you’re done with the exterior!
Keeping The Interior Like New
The inside of your car is just as important as the outside, if not MORE. Some guys will call it their “sanctuary.” Unless your date or friend is riding on top of your car and staring at your paint, I suggest you pay extra attention to the inside.
Remove ALL the clutter and garbage out of your car. Nothing should be on the floors. Use a vacuum and get rid of all the crumbs and dirt under the mats. You’ll be surprised what you find down there; probably enough change to buy yourself a meal after you’re done.
Make sure to keep a small garbage bin or plastic bag in the back for you to throw your trash in. It also gives your friends a place to put their trash whenever they’re riding in your car. A good habit to develop is to grab some trash every time you get out of your car, this will ensure that your car stays clean.
To clean up all the dust, I use disposable Swiffer dusters. They’re really cheap and I like them because they don’t leave little fiber particles like towels do.
I use Armor All cleaning wipes to clean all the vinyl and plastic areas of the front of my car. They also leave everything looking like new with a nice shine.
To get into the tiny cracks, I use a Q-tip and spray some Armor All cleaner onto it. It gets all the nasty dirt and dust that have fallen between the small cracks. You can also use a small paintbrush to get in between these cracks.
If you have carpet upholstery and you have some stains in them, use a carpet cleaner like Turtle Wax Power Out Carpet Cleaner. You just have to spray it onto the stain and rub, then let it dry. You can also use it on your floor mats.
For cloth seat stains, another thing you can do is to take a tiny bit of the car soap and put it directly on the stain - then rub gently. Then wet the area with a really wet paper towel, then let it air dry.
If it’s a floor mat, do it outside of your car on the ground, you can use a scrub brush to really get the dirt out and rinse it down with your hose.
If you have leather seats:
You have to make sure you clean and condition leather or vinyl. After a couple of years, you’ll notice that the color of the leather seats no longer matches the rest of the interior. It’s not enough just to condition the leather. First spray on leather cleaner and rub vigorously with a clean terry cloth towel. To avoid rubbing the grime back into the seats, keep flipping the cloth to expose a fresh surface. Let the seats dry for an hour and then rub in a leather conditioner like Lexol to keep the leather supple. It’s available at discount stores and auto stores.
Organize your CDs with a CD visor, placing all your most listened to CDs in it for easy access. You can then rotate whatever CDs you’re listening to for the week in and out of the visor. Keep your other CDs in a CD case and keep them in a different compartment, in case you want to bring one out at a later time.
You can also eliminate all CDs in your car by getting an mp3 player and hooking it up to your stereo.
One thing I hate is the goo that is left on the windshield after peeling off an old inspection sticker. I’ve found the best way to get rid of it is with Goo Gone. The stuff is amazing. Cover your dash with an old towel and dab on Goo Gone. Then scrape and wipe it off.
The Scent Of Luxury
What does your car smell like?
The smell of your car is very important - if the car is spotless but it smells like crap, this obviously doesn’t do any good.
A car that SMELLS dirty FEELS dirty.
This is why it’s so important that you keep your car smelling fresh. It’s the same feeling you get when you step into a brand new car and you smell that good ol’ new car smell that you only get to experience a few times in your life.
How would you feel if you stepped into your NEW car and there was a foul odor coming from somewhere inside?
Even if your car smells fine, get a car freshener. It’ll change the whole mood of the car when someone gets in. They’ll smell the nice scent when they get in and then it’ll trigger them to notice how clean your car is, and feel good in it. You’ll feel good every time you get in it as well.
You can find a cheap little tree freshener at your nearest convenience store, but personally I like to pay a little extra for a liquid car perfume.
They come in fancy bottles and last a lot longer - as well as look way cooler.
There are also air fresheners you can plug into your AC vents (pictured above).
If there are odors in your car, you can use Febreze on the carpets or seats to freshen up the scent of the car. You should keep one in the back if you’re the type that eats in the car with friends. Which you should try to avoid.
More Tips:
The cleaner your car is, the more you’ll be inclined to keep it that way, whereas a messy car will more easily get messier.
A good when washing your car is fill two buckets instead of one. Keep one as the soap bucket and one as the rinse bucket so you don’t have to keep replacing the soap water. It also prevents particles from staying in your sponge or wash mitt, so that it minimizes chances of scratching your car.
Don’t keep the water running while you wash your car. The average home wash will use between 80 and 140 gallons of fresh water. Buy a hose sprayer with a lever that shuts off the water when you let go.
Do not assume that the 100% cotton label on the towel is telling the truth. The only way to check is to actually set fire to a rolled up corner of the towel. If you get a clean flame like a candlewick then it is 100% cotton. If you see black smoke and melted fibers, then you got one of the non 100% which will scratch your paint.
You should wash your car a minimum of once a week, each week it’ll take less and less time. A fairly clean car can be washed in less than 30 mins. You should wash your car a minimum of once a week due to the fact that your car is constantly bombarded with contaminants such as tree sap mist and bird droppings. If the contaminants are not removed quickly they can bond to the paint and even etch the paint. Bird droppings are highly acidic, and must be removed as soon as possible!
Keep a pack of car wipes in your glove compartment so if you’re stuck in traffic, waiting at an extra long light, or arrive at a destination a little early, you can whip one out and do some quick cleaning.
I’ve never had to fix nicks and scratches on my car myself, but here is a great website for tips on how to remove them by yourself at home.
If you’re busy, at LEAST wash your car ONCE a month. Make it a habit because it’ll be very beneficial to keeping your car in tip-top shape. If you’re planning on keeping your car for a long time, or selling it in the future, it’s very important that you learn how to take care of your car. It’ll cost you lots of money down the road if you don’t.
The more often you clean your car, the easier it is and the less time it takes.
And don’t forget to have fun!
- Jae
P.S. Go to our community forums and post up some pictures of your car. Let’s see how clean it is!
I want to share with you a short and simple concept that you can easily apply towards your current image.
Whether you’re just starting to pay attention to your image, going through a complete overhaul, or looking for that extra edge, you’ll need this concept to make the best first impression.
Let’s get straight to it.
The Balance of Masculinity and Femininity
If you’re a straight man, you should look like a straight man. Unless you want to be like Prince, and keep people guessing.
Women are naturally more attracted to men who seem masculine. While we want to dress well, there is a fine line that can bring some guys into looking gay. While women may love gay men for friendships, it’s obviously not the best image for sparking real attraction.
This is a problem for some men, because as they pay more attention to their appearance, they may start becoming mistaken for a gay male or come off as feminine. There is a solution to this, and it has to do with knowing whether you naturally look feminine and making sure there is a balance.
The feminine polarity is always attracted to a strong masculine polarity.
Thus, your image should either display a highly masculine OR neutral polarity.
If you have naturally more feminine facial features or body type, you should create balance with a more masculine appearance. Even with feminine features, you can still increase your image so that on first impression, you come off as highly masculine.
At the least, you should carry not a feminine polarity but a NEUTRAL one. Neutral is neither too feminine or too masculine.
This is all to avoid looking either gay or weak. Which minimizes the masculine polarity that makes it easier to attract women.
If you naturally have masculine traits, you can create a highly masculine appearance by complimenting what you were born with. You also have more leeway to wear clothing that some would say is more “feminine” than most, as long as you don’t fall below the neutral point.
What defines feminine features?
Well, for one, if people sometimes mistake you for a woman, you’re obviously more on the feminine side. If most of your female friends are bigger than you - while they are still considered “skinny” - then you are further down the feminine side of the scale. Do you ever get complimented on specific facial features? For example: do you have “pretty” eyes?
Soft cheeks without a prominent jaw line, perfect skin combined with little to no facial hair, long eye lashes, a poor muscular development, or a lower weight than what is considered healthy for your height, are traits that will create a first impression of you being less “manly.” If you have a combination of these, you may need to counter it with an image that ensures you’re giving off a masculine polarity on first impression.
If this is you, you may be feeling a bit uncomfortable about yourself right now. Don’t.
There is nothing negative about having a more “feminine” polarity. I have feminine features myself, and it’s neither good nor bad. It’s simply a loaded attribute that comes with a very different message than its polar, masculine counterpart.
However, if one has an extremely feminine look to his image, it can lead others to make assumptions such as “weak, insecure, beta” - traits that are very unattractive in the eyes of women.
Why not maximize your potential for attracting women with a more masculine polarity?
If you feel that you are on the feminine side, don’t worry, there is road towards balance.
What defines more masculine features?
Some traits that scientists say are a natural display of “masculinity,” are a prominent jaw line, a wide chest and broad shoulders, a muscular body, and lots of hair.
An easier way to look at all of this is:
Masculinity = Strength and lots of testosterone
Feminine = Weaker compared to the “ideal man” and more estrogen
How to Create Balance
If you’re on the feminine side, here are some examples of how to create a more masculine appearance.
Growing out your facial hair
Here is an example of what facial hair can do:
Leonardo DiCaprio looks a lot more masculine with shorter hair as well as growing facial hair.
Tips for the Skinny Guy
If you’re skinny, start working out if you don’t. These types of things are obvious, and they take time, but what can more easily be changed is the type of clothing you wear.
First of all, avoid overly tight clothing if you’re skinny. This will only accentuate your skinniness. Avoid baggy clothing as well, as they will have the same effect. Make sure your clothing skims your body.
Bring In a Masculine Edge To Your Clothing
Go for clothing that give you a masculine edge. Some examples would be rock inspired clothing, military style clothing, or even classic menswear such as a suit. Be careful with floral print shirts, and pink, as they will only accentuate your femininity.
What’s in fashion right now are military style shirts, with epaulets on the shoulders. It will broaden the look of your shoulders, as well as allude the military association to give it that masculine edge.
Here is an example of Orlando Bloom who wears pieces that create a stronger masculine polarity:
Notice the way he grows out his facial hair, wears a rocker-style shirt, and sports a thick leather band watch that adds thickness to his wrists - all these things add more masculinity to him.
Accessories
Make sure your accessories would never pass as your girlfriend’s accessories. Be careful wearing thin flashy jewelry. If you naturally have more masculine traits, you can get away with more feminine pieces and not be mistaken for a gay guy. You can wear floral print shirts, scarves for fashion, and easily look good in jewelry.
This does not mean that you have to balance out your natural masculinity with a more “metro-sexual” style. You can dress and groom yourself in a very masculine way, and you don’t have to work really hard at it. Just know that you have the option to dress and groom yourself in a “feminine” way without losing that masculine polarity.
There is a limit to how far you can go with a more feminine appearance though, depending on how naturally masculine you look. You can grow out long hair like Fabio, wear things that most guys can’t, but avoid crossing the fine line between a metrosexual style and passably gay.
The Message to Remember
So assess yourself today and decide if you are naturally born masculine and feminine.
As you continuously build your own unique image, remember the concept of masculine polarity. If you have feminine features, ask yourself “Do I have room to come off as more masculine?” If you’re blessed with masculine features, you have the choice to accentuate your masculinity or create a style that brings out some of your feminine side.
This is an important element in making a stronger first impression with women.
Having the latest and the greatest just for the sake of having the latest and the greatest.
Before I start writing about the Yuppie mentality, I’ll tell you the key to attracting women.
Ask a woman what the most important quality they look for in a man is, and the most frequent answer will be:confidence.
If confidence is the key to attraction, how does one come across as confident?
Well, after talking to many intelligent women who can better articulate their thoughts than most, I’ve found “confidence” is better explained as self-assurance.
It’s also something that you are, rather than something that you do. All that is required of you to come across as confident, is a healthy love for yourself. Being completely grounded and comfortable in who you are. This includes knowing all your values, beliefs, your standards and purpose for living, what kind of life you want to lead, etc. All these things should be worked out if you want to be grounded in yourself and have a high level of self-assurance.
In terms of image, women want to know that below the surface of your appearance, you have a solid self-assurance that is congruent with what you are projecting on the outside.
Let’s break down “self-assurance” into an even better concept:
Authenticity.
What women want is a man who is authentic to the core. Not a fraud who is merely projecting a false appearance to the world.
This led me to think about the way most people in society are more focused on their outer appearance rather than their inner appearance as seen in their own minds, creating a huge gap of inauthenticity between who they appear to be outwardly and who they truly are inside.
It’s like focusing on orchestrating a massively fabricated volcanic eruption with the help of pyrotechnics and giant smoke emitters, when underneath the surface the volcano is as dormant and peaceful as a sleeping baby. A woman will investigate the scene, and looking closer, she’ll eventually discover that it was all a phony simulation. The volcano is no longer cool or fascinating, it’s just stupid.
Just to be clear: I am not saying that you should abandon any attention to your outer self, but that your appearance should be communication of YOU, not a practice in conformity.
I’m reminded of the movie American Psycho, where the main character Patrick Bateman (played by Christian Bale), takes you through his rigorous morning routine in the beginning scene where he narrates:
There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman… some kind of abstraction… but there is no real me… only an entity… something illusory… and though I can hide my cold gaze… and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours… and maybe you can even sense that our lifestyles are probably comparable… I’m simply not there.
Everything that is seen on the outside of Patrick has no connection with who he truly is inside. He’s trapped trying to keep up with the rest of the world and wishing he could escape it at the same time. The movie is a great representation of the Yuppie lifestyle.
What Is a Yuppie?
Yuppie is an informal name for Young Urban Professionals (YUP) that arose in the 1980’s. It is used to describe young affluent business men and women who are employed in a well-paying profession and who live and work near a large city. But the term can now be used to describe anyone who will pretty much take any opportunity to flaunt financial abundance, whether money is truly there or not. They are basically people who find their self worth through brand names and high-status activities rather than just enjoying life as they truly want to. They are forced to enjoy these things because society says they are enjoyable, only to find that it’s not filling the gaping hole of security within then. They buy brand names not because they truly like the items they buy, but to keep up with their neighbors.
In American Psycho, Patrick Bateman is obsessed with comparing his possessions to that of others. Here is one of my favorites scenes in the movie where his co-workers are unconsciously one-uping each other through ego-based competition over something as small as a business card.
Becoming Authentic Inside Out
True self-assurance comes from how authentic you are to your image.
Is your outer appearance a bona fide representation of who you are inside? Or is there a huge gap of authenticity between your outer-image and your inner self-image?
The bigger the gap, the less core confidence you’ll have. The less core confidence you have, the less authentic you’ll be in social interactions, whether meeting women, in the business world, or amongst friends. People can easily sense when a guy is inauthentic, and this builds a lack of trust, resentment, and especially a loss in attraction with the opposite sex.
On the surface, you might seem like the man, but are you really?
Sooner or later your mask is going to slip.
It’s a lot easier to create a false image of who you are on the outside than to push yourself to actually become who you want to be - from the inside out. People will say “fake it till you make it,” but the concept is incomplete by itself, because there is no “making it.” Faking your outer image may buy you some time to back it up authentically in the future, but if you’re continuously fronting an illusory image, you’re always going to try to catch up to that outer image, causing the gap to grow.
It’s like a race between a hare and a tortoise, the hare being your outer reality and the tortoise being your inner reality. Expecting the tortoise to one day catch up is just foolish. It won’t happen unless the hare stops and takes one, long, nap.
If the outside simply took care of our inside and gave us authentic confidence, then we should all just go into debt buying ourselves the most luxurious clothing, cars, and consumer items that we can possible possess to get as much self-assurance as we can.
So how do we build a truly authentic image?
You need to first be honest with yourself, and to other people. We’ll always easily fall into projecting a false image to impress others, but from time to time, you must be honest with where you truly are. This is the only way you’ll ever grow.
I am NOT advocating giving up all your possessions and going back to wearing your free Pepsi t-shirt with your gym sweats. I only want to make the point that all these outer things do not define you. Your outside should be a showcase of who you are inside, not what others say it should be.
It’s not about displaying an image that will make you fit in, but cultivating your own sense of style that is the BEST representation of who you are inside. Don’t be afraid to stand out as an individual, it’s what is more attractive than conforming to the masses, and it also liberates others to start doing the same.
Escaping the Yuppie Mentality
The yuppie mentality is what holds us back from authenticity.
The yuppie mentality is comprised of constantly measuring oneself in the social hierarchy by getting a sense of worth through knowledge of popular culture and gossip, the newest up and coming bands, as well as all the important classics, and having the most expensive food and clothing that money can possibly buy.
Let’s face it. We live in a highly materialistic society, where many people become obsessed with fashion and high-end consumer products. All the marketing out there is basically conditioning our minds into believing that some product will bring us more self-worth or fulfillment. We then easily start to fall into the trap of identifying with what we own.
For example, sex sells, we all know this.
But instead of just reacting to it. We have to stop and think, am I getting it because of an advertisement, or do I really like this item?
This advertisement is genius in getting the masses to link pleasure to this product. There is only one thing stopping you from getting intimate with this woman, and it’s the bottle of cologne.
Even ask yourself if you’re following the news, popular culture, and listening to certain music because you’re truly interested in it or because you’re trying to keep up with your peers.
A lot of people think that having great style is about having all the best clothes and products out there. That’s not style. It’s called being fashionable.
Don’t misunderstand, I’m not frowning upon buying high quality clothing or being up to date with the latest trends, because you should build an eye for finding quality, as well as having the knowledge of what’s in trend. But if you’re just buying clothing simply for an expensive brand name, you’re really not being creative with an authentically unique style, you’re just wearing your money.
True style is not merely a popularly accepted facade, but a representation and reflection of the best self within.
Even by wearing whatever is the newest and hottest high-end trend , you are no different from the people who wear lower-end clothing just to blend in with the rest of their crowd. You’re still blending in, just on a higher scale.
If you want an example of the Yuppie mindset on a lower scale, look at all the high school kids who travel in packs wearing Abercrombie & Fitch. Rather than stopping and taking the time to think of ways to express their unique personality, they let themselves be spoon-fed by whatever is being mass-marketed towards anyone looking for direction. They don’t buy it because of special material or quality, but because of a brand name.
It says, “Hey, I saved up all my lunch money and bought a $50 shirt that normally would cost me $10 somewhere else, but it says A&F on it!” Again, you’re just wearing money. If an Abercrombie sweater didn’t have any of it’s brand name labels on it, it would be a pretty bland sweater. Why do you think the models in their advertisements are not even wearing the clothes? HA! Because they are just selling the BRAND name with hot bodies, not the quality or look of their clothing. Personally I buy clothing for the quality, fit, and whether I like it or not regardless of the brand. In fact, I rarely wear anything with a logo on it, I think it’s cheesy. But hey, there is nothing wrong with that, you just have to ask yourself whether you’d buy the clothes even without its logo.
The Yuppie will buy a Burberry trenchcoat because all his co-workers have one and he must get one to fit in. Any other coat and they’ll laugh at him behind his back. His co-workers are clones wearing the same Oliver People’s glasses, Cross Pen, Ralph Lauren Suit and Rolex watch. They only find individualism in having the latest model or color. There is no unique sense of personality in anything they are wearing, they are simply carrying whatever it is that makes the fit in with the rest of their peers.
Doing this will attract a certain breed of people. People only trying to one-up each other with the newest trend or better quality product. It becomes an ego battle and survival of the highest bidder, pushing everyone into higher debt and eternal enslavement to their jobs. Yuppie men will mostly attract materialistic women who love getting their sense of worth from wearing designer dresses carrying their expensive purses, but rarely will they attract the true beauty. Truly high-caliber women have so many options, that money and bling alone do nothing to grab their attention anymore. They want a man who is authentically confident, and not an insecure man who has his identity rooted in all external possessions.
Finding Authenticity Amongst a Yuppie Culture
Make sure your clothing represents who you really are inside. If you’re going to buy high-end trendy clothing, make sure it’s because you really like the items you’re buying, and you would buy for the quality, fit, and look even if it wasn’t a brand name. Whatever you’re buying or getting for yourself, make sure you don’t at all feel like you’re being forced to buy it to fit into some mold. This will keep you authentic, getting more trust from women as well as give you more core confidence.
Without a strong core sense of self, you’ll never bring a confident presence into a social interaction. When you’re out meeting women, they’ll see that your image is just a front. A transparent veneer under which your lack of authenticity is transparent.
It’s also important not to fake what you know or do. This happens to us when we’re comparing ourselves with other people around us. This can be effective in the short-term, but in the long-term, you’ll gain more respect and trust from other people - as well as love - for admitting where you truly are. If you don’t know anything about fashion, admit it. If you don’t know anything about cars, stop acting like you do around your friends. If you don’t have any women in your life, stop pretending to all your guy friends that you’re some massive pimp. They all know the truth, and ultimately they don’t trust you because you make things up. The only way you’ll truly grow and stay authentic is to admit where you are in any situation.
I’m not perfect, as I catch myself falling into this mindset as much as anyone else. But this is a reminder that we need to constantly stop and think for ourselves. To stop and ask why we’re buying certain image-enhancing products. Our style should be congruent to the unique identity that we each have within, wearing what we truly like rather than wearing what we think we should to fit in. Stand up and be an individual, be who you are, rather than conforming to the world around you.
Note: When you’re out shopping for clothing, this is not to say you shouldn’t explore new things and break out of your comfort zone. But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll know when you’re getting a new piece of clothing because you actually love it, or because all your friends are wearing it.
Find your style.
Stay ahead of the masses,
Jae
If you’re looking for a fast track to building personally unique authentic style, check out our consultation page and sign up for a 1-on-1 consultation. You’ll receive expert training on how to convey your personality in a powerful way that is congruent, resulting in a highly potent first impression that will give you a massive advantage with women or in business. Every consultation is highly personalized to your own individual needs. If you have anymore questions, don’t hesitate to shoot an e-mail to Kinowear@gmail.com.
For those who missed it, here is a video of Paul’s style transformation. Paul was one of the “Kinowear 20″ to receive a 1-on-1 consultation with Jae in NYC. He goes from an average “polo shirt guy” to a total GQ model in this video. Enjoy!
Ever see a men’s fashion show? Well here’s your chance. Play the video — and you can now say that you’ve seen one.
The weather is beautiful here in New York. Finally the clear blue skies and the bright sun can be associated with warmer days. Time to store away the overcoats and heavy sweaters, and dive into the fresh look that the spring season demands.
Fashion week was crazy here in New York. I love men’s fashion shows, but in the end you know there are only so many runway concepts that are going to make it into the retails stores of America.
I’m not a huge fan of trends because they come and go, but some inspiration from the runways can be timeless and practical. Because what’s the point of inspiration if you can’t put it into action?
So here are some of the practical ways that any man can incorporate the recent runway trends into his outfits this season:
Biker Jackets
The biker jacket is back this season, so if you’re the kind of guy that loves leather jackets, wear one with pride and comfort knowing that you’re actually being “fashionable” without trying.
Embrace the Pink
If you own any pink garments, bring them out of hibernation and wear it proudly. If you’ve always been afraid to wear pink, the age of men not being able to wear pink is now behind us, and this season it’s more popular than ever.
White and More White
Black took over the cold season, now it’s White’s turn to take over the warmer season. Bring more white into your outfits this spring and summer by wearing a single white jacket to the club, a pair of white pants as your standout piece, or white shoes to freshen up a rather dull outfit.
The Skinny Tie
The skinny tie is still popular. Wear one with a suit, or even out with a shirt and your favorite pair of jeans.
Colors
Neon is very popular this year. Would I wear neon? Probably not, but be inspired to put aside some of the dark and boring colors you wore this past winter, and brighten up your outfits with a little color. Even a colored accessory such as a tie or scarf will liven up any outfit.
A lot of guys seem to be asking about shorts. Plaid shorts and cargo shorts are in fashion this season. But you really can’t go wrong with classic solid colored shorts like Khaki or Navy blue.
Cheers,
Jae
P.S. Want to see one Kinowear reader’s style transformation? Check out his before & after pictures, as well as his testimonial of his 1-on-1 consultation with me in New York City.And for those who are interested,I’m offering 1-on-1 consultations in New York City for April & May 2008. For details, check out this page. If you have anymore questions, don’t hestitate to contact me at Jae@kinowear.com.
