Most men want to look their best, but let’s be honest—style isn’t just about wearing expensive clothing. It’s about understanding your shape, your aesthetic, and the rules that govern visual harmony. In this guide, we break down the principles of looking “aesthetic” in clothes through a lens of structure, geometry, and contrast—building personal style with intention, not guesswork.

Understanding Your Body Type

Before anything else, you must recognize your body type. Why? Because style is fundamentally about proportion. Knowing your body's shape allows you to choose clothing that brings symmetry, movement, and elevation to your natural form. Most men's physiques fall into one of these core categories:

Oval Body Type

This body shape typically carries more weight around the midsection, which gives a rounded appearance. The key here is to create vertical lines and avoid clothing that exaggerates the width.

• Avoid tight-fitting or oversized garments. They’ll emphasize roundness or swamp your frame.
• Go for tailored pieces with a clean line through the torso.
• Layer smartly — open jackets or lightweight overshirts create vertical flow.
• Stick to darker tones for shirts and jackets to slim the upper body.

Inverted Triangle (The "Johnny Bravo")

This is the classic V-shape—broad shoulders tapering down to a slim waist and legs. It’s an athletic build, and the goal is to balance the top with the bottom.

• Wear straight-leg or relaxed-fit trousers to add volume to your lower half.
• Lighter colors on the bottom work well here to avoid all focus going to your shoulders.
• A cropped hoodie or t-shirt pairs beautifully with wide pants—this is the textbook “big pants, little shirt” combo designed for this shape.

Rectangle Body Type

This is generally a more balanced or straight silhouette. The shoulders, waist, and hips all tend to line up. Lucky for you, this is a versatile body shape that can carry off most styles well.

• Feel free to layer, tuck, and explore shapes without needing extreme contrast.
• To add some sharpness, structured shoulders through jackets and blazers can give some needed form.

Triangle Body Type

This type features narrower shoulders and broader hips. Think of a body that’s heavier below the waist. The goal here is to bulk and broaden the upper body.

• Layering works extremely well. Stack shirts with jackets to add dimension.
• Go for shoulder-structured fits to widen the top half.
• Prefer darker colors on the bottom for grounding the visual weight.

Mastering the Rule of Thirds

Now, let’s dive into the art of proportion. The Rule of Thirds isn’t just for photographers or painters—it's a universal design principle that also works in fashion. It's simple: divide your outfit visually into 1/3 on top and 2/3 on bottom. This elongates your frame and creates pleasing balance.

Source: Harry Has

Why This Rule Works

Humans are naturally drawn to imbalance that feels balanced—1:2 proportions feel intentional, structured, and pleasing to the eye. 50/50 splits in an outfit cause visual stagnation.

Examples of the Rule

Let’s compare two looks:

• Outfit A: Slightly Cropped T-Shirt + Relaxed Pants — The cropped cut places the break at the 1/3 point, giving a cleaner, elevated silhouette.
• Outfit B: Long T-Shirt Covering the Hips — Cuts the body at 50/50, making the upper body look heavier while shortening the legs.

Contrast is King

You ever hear a symphony where all instruments play the same note? Boring, right? Now imagine an outfit where the top, bottom, and shoes are all the same tone. Just as boring. Effective contrast in your fit introduces depth, intention, and separation of layers.

Perfecting Contrast Combinations

• Light top + dark bottom + light shoes
• Dark top + light pants + dark loafers or boots

What to Avoid

• Monochrome fits unless done masterfully—they often turn out flat and lifeless.
• Colors close to your skin tone in tops—they’ll wash out your face and reduce contrast.

Color Framework When in Doubt

When you're stuck, default to neutral hues (white, navy, black, beige, olive), then build contrast using deeper tones or subtle patterns. Grab a striped Oxford shirt and layer it with a charcoal structured jacket, and you're good to go.

Build a Capsule Wardrobe That Works

Style without clutter is where real elegance begins. A capsule wardrobe allows you to own fewer, higher-quality pieces that match each other seamlessly. Cut the noise and double down on versatility.

Top Capsule Closet Essentials

• Pleated trousers
• Blue and cream denim
• Striped Oxford shirts and fitted tees
• Hoodies, crewnecks, leather jackets, puffers
• Versatile shoes: chunky loafers, combat boots, white sneakers
• Polo shirts and basic white tees

Filter By Aesthetic

Eventually, you’ll start gravitating toward a specific look. Here are popular styles:

• Minimalist: Think neutral colors, classic fits, no visible branding.
• Old Money: Structured tailoring, luxury textures, and muted tones.
• Streetwear: Bold silhouettes, logo-heavy items, utilitarian cuts.

Once you’ve chosen your aesthetic, make it specific. For example, if you lean toward streetwear, opt for cargo pants over traditional trousers and swap loafers for combat boots.

Details Make The Man: Accessorize With Precision

Accessories are conversation starters. They communicate attention to detail and inject personality into even the most basic outfits.

Accessories To Personalize Your Look

• Rings and bracelets — stack them for a rugged, intentional vibe.
• A signature timepiece — the most classic masculine accessory.
• Caps and beanies — explore contrast between materials and colors.
• Chains or subtle necklaces — layered under a tee or visible over a hoodie.

Final Words

Dressing well doesn't require a celebrity stylist—it requires personal awareness, understanding your proportions, and developing visual literacy. Once you master the rules of body shape, contrast, third proportions, and start curating your aesthetic, you will step into any room radiating intentionality.

Commit to fewer but higher-quality pieces, play with dimensions, contrast, and rules that highlight your shape. Style is not about hiding yourself—it's about optimizing what you already have.

Revisit this guide regularly. Building aesthetic presence is a journey, not a finish line.