A Better Look From the Ground Up, Devin McGovern Uncategorized This is the first of a series of chats with Devin of Outlined Cloth. Devin will be sharing tips and advice about menswear, personal style, branding and community. Today we’re starting from the ground up and talking footwear… Devin McGovern 5 Tips to Look Better from the Ground Up by Devin McGovern Before jumping into my 5 tips, let’s discuss as dudes the importance of good footwear. Sometimes for guys, shoes can be an afterthought, but ask a girl when she goes on a first date the importance of shoes and she will tell you, it’s make or break. A guy may have all the pieces up top and look slick, but if the footwear is off, there may not be a second date. Now let’s dive into the top 5. Devin McGovern 1. Align Your Shoes With Your Style My shoe of choice is boots, so first tip is getting a shoe that aligns with your style. That doesn’t mean you only have to buy boots, trust me, I have a lot of other types, but get one you can style with 80% of your current wardrobe. If you have a shoe you can only wear with one thing, get rid of it. (This does not apply to dress shoes. My casual wardrobe means I only break them out for dressier occasions, but I still have them.) 2. Pair Accordingly The right pants can make or break your shoe game. Complementing the two will make your style look effortless and stand out from the crowd. This means making sure your pants are sized properly and or cuffed accordingly. Go to a tailor if you have to, it’s an affordable way to customize your outfit. Devin McGovern 3. Sock It Up Have great socks. The right socks will complement the shoes. My top picks are Richer Poorer and American Trench. Both have a variety of thin to heavy boot socks. I am a fan favorite of the Richer Poorer athletic socks. They are thicker, but keep your feet cool and comfortable when wearing boots. 4. Upkeep Clean or polish them a few times a year to keep them looking fresh. For this I either like Red Wing products to polish, but for a nice clean, I like Blackrock Leather. Devin McGovern 5. Make Them Your Own I know this won’t help you right now, but wear them, beat them up, give them character. Don’t worry about getting them dirty, they are meant to be worn. The shoes that are made well will last longer and show the personality you’ve put into them over the years. Some of my favorites for every price range: Red Wings, Chippewa, & good ole Converse Chuck Taylor’s. For more pointers and inspiration from Outlined Cloth’s Devin McGovern follow along: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Website.
