Your twenties, or at least the first half of them, are your “great years” – you wonder how you’re going to pay for all this college, why people voluntarily choose to get married and have kids, why you had so many Jägerbombs last night, etc.
Then there’s the issue of what to wear, which gets even more complicated as your 20s is (hopefully) a time when you’re making the transition from being a student to being a young professional. Behind this seemingly superficial concern lies deeper questioning about who you are and what you want to do with your life. No wonder it seems harder than a rocket science degree.
The good news is that your twenties are a time for experimentation, the bad news is that your experiments can end in disastrous failure. So, narrated by someone wiser and older, FashionBeans brings you tips to help you avoid the most painful mistakes and learn how to dress in your twenties.
How to choose clothes for people in their 20s
Be an avid follower of fashion to some extent
You’re at an age (and BMI) where most things are acceptable, but you’re impressionable, desperate to establish your own identity, and prone to the notion that buying certain types of clothes will make you cooler or more attractive.
Becoming a fashion victim is part of growing up, but don’t sink further into debt, no matter how important designer brands may seem — that’s why God invented affordable fast-fashion knockoffs.
Reduce the frequency of trial and error
Experimenting too much can leave you with a Frankenstein’s wardrobe of mismatched clothes and overspending. Speaking of your figure, it needs to be fully developed. “A lot of men dread this, but there’s nothing wrong with getting advice from a shop assistant on the size and cut that will suit you best,” says Giles Farnham, head of River Island Style Studio.
After all these experiments, I learned that some things just don’t suit me.
Finding Yourself
When life is in flux and we’re surrounded by trends, fashion crowds, and celebrities, it can be hard to be self-aware. In college, I bought a cafe racer biker jacket and a beanie, trying to look like Justin Timberlake in the “Like I Love You” video. But no matter how hard I wanted to, I never looked like JT, or like I rode a bike, or like I fit in.
If you’re not that kind of person, it’s just a disguise and not convincing.
If you buy cheap, you buy twice
For working people, “investing in key pieces” is a bad idea. If you don’t have enough clothes, they’ll wear out. “Basics like sweatshirts and T-shirts tend to be disposable, and that’s okay,” says Farnham. “You don’t need to fill your wardrobe with designer white T-shirts that will wear out after a few hot washes.”
It’s better to alternate between two cheaper suits than one expensive one, and then upgrade once your wardrobe is more established and you start earning a salary.
Dress appropriately for your salary
“Dress for the job you want” may be a sound principle, especially if your current job involves sitting on the couch and watching daytime TV, but it’s not always realistic. Conversely, showing up to a graduate program dressed like Gordon Gekko is a bit too much.
“You can look good without spending a lot of money,” says Farnham, who suggests taking any ready-made suits to a local tailor for alterations (while you’re at it, shining your shoes, ironing your shirts, and trimming your nails will only take time).
I don’t take art history classes.
They say it’s better to regret something you’ve done than to regret something you didn’t do. Tattoos are a notable exception. Sure, body art is more socially acceptable now, but if it’s permanent, inappropriate, or just plain bad, it could affect your career prospects or force you to cover it up or remove it.
As appealing as the exuberance of youth is Freshers’ Week, many of the things you hold dear now will fade away, but ill-thought-out ink will stay.
Have fun
Sorry if this sounds more sentimental than a fortune cookie, but if you’re lucky, you haven’t yet learned that there are more important things than exam results, and keep in mind that clothes are not life (or death).
Plus, there’s no infinitely large, publicly accessible repository where photographic evidence of your sartorial infractions is recorded for posterity, to periodically resurface as “memories”…
Wardrobe essentials for a 20-year-old man
Dark Jeans
Slim black jeans are the closest thing to standard equipment during this most experimental decade, and because they can be paired with a blazer or biker jacket and smart shoes or sneakers, they’re perfect for whatever your evening plans are, from a gig to dinner with your parents.
Indigo is a versatile and essential piece if you want to keep your wardrobe lean.
White Shirt
Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or not, having a stack of white shirts is your adult sartorial safety net. Keep a high-quality, well-fitting, well-collared, rarely-worn shirt in your wardrobe for job interviews, weddings, and other formal emergencies.
Then pair them with easy (i.e. inexpensive) alternatives for your 9-to-5 job, and button-down oxfords for more casual appointments.
Smart shoes
If you work in a corporate environment, wearing “proper” shoes is one of the unspoken rules in the employee handbook. In the most formal offices, oxfords are all you need, but assuming your employer is at least pretending to be positive, wearing derby or brogue shoes will increase the chances of you wearing them outside of work hours.
Bomber jacket
Now one of the first names to appear on menswear teamsheets, bomber jackets can be paired with sportswear, tailored clothing and just about anything else and can be worn at just about any position – it’s all about deciding which type best suits your style.
The classic MA-1 brings military precision to streetwear, while slim-cut leather options double as blazer alternatives. In the middle of the park, Harrington jackets and wool styles cover a broad and confusing spectrum of smart casual.
Your first suit
The suit your parents dressed you in for your aunt’s remarriage doesn’t count. This is the first suit you picked out for yourself, and that’s what matters.
Firstly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying from the high street – just set aside a little money and have it altered to fit perfectly as if it were custom made. You can opt for something more distinctive in a pastel colour or a loud checked pattern, but the boring truth is that a well-tailored two-button style in grey or navy is much more wearable.
White Trainers
Over the past decade, menswear has become more practical, and frankly, that means it’s become easier. Certain staple pieces can pull an entire wardrobe together, and perhaps none do this more than a simple white trainer.
The same pair can be worn with anything from denim to a suit to a tracksuit. Just keep it simple (and clean). If you’re building a wardrobe from scratch, these are the first building blocks.
A watch for every occasion
Let’s say your dad didn’t give you a Patek Philippe for your 18th birthday. That’s probably a good thing. What you really need in your 20s is a watch that can withstand a few scratches and go with a variety of outfits.
Depending on your style, steel is your best bet. Try watches with minimalist designs and less sporty designs that you can wear under your shirt cuffs at the office and won’t have to take off on the weekends.
Style Icons of the 20s
Zayn Malik
The multifaceted Malik has been known to go in every direction the fashion winds blow, from dyeing his hair pink to showing up to the Met Ball in a tuxedo with armored arms that look like a cross between Tony Stark and Iron Man. Is he showing off too much? Maybe, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the 24-year-old’s mental strength.
Bill Skarsgård
If there’s anything scarier than a killer clown, it’s getting older. At 27, it-boy Skarsgård (Alexander’s younger brother) is more 30-something than teen, but his adherence to minimalist Scandinavian principles means he can rock the longline bomber that’s popular with kids without looking like the Joker.
Dele Alli
As an Arsenal fan, it pains me to admit it, but the Tottenham midfielder has really given Spurs a run for their money in the style department – he’s stepped up his game in well-tailored overcoats in particular, exuding a maturity beyond his 21 years and taking casual streetwear dressing to the next level.
Tinie Tempah
Whether he’s wearing a tuxedo or sportswear, the British rapper has a knack for making anything look tailored. Perhaps he only wears bespoke clothing, but a more plausible explanation is that he knows his measurements perfectly well. His go-to look is a one-button blazer over a plain T-shirt, but he keeps it from looking boring by wearing a range of colors that most people wouldn’t dare try.
Douglas Booth
Slim-cut tailored jackets don’t always look as good on him as they did on his 20s, and the British actor seems to understand this well, as he’s rarely seen wearing a perfectly cut jacket.
Even when dressing casually, you’ll often see fitted styles like biker jackets and knitted polos. Again, make the most of this look as it won’t last long.
Style Checklist: What to achieve before 30
It suited me
Certain colours and degrees of contrast complement your skin tone and eye colour, certain cuts flatter and accentuate your figure, and certain styles reflect your personality.
In the genetic card game of life, you can only stick, not bend — unless, well, you resort to cosmetic surgery as pioneered in Face/Off.
Wear a uniform
“Signature style” sounds super pretentious, but once you hit 30, you start to get into a rut, or rather, a routine, and you start wearing certain things a lot more than others, so buy more with just the right amount of variety in colors and designs so no one knows you’re basically wearing the same thing every day.
Level up
If there’s a gap in your clothing rotation, you need to fill it: “Then, sprinkle your wardrobe with high-quality, timeless pieces that will last, like leather brogues and a well-fitting suit,” says Farnham.
“Spending a little bit on a few key items can really improve your overall look.” This is also an excuse to buy a proper mechanical watch.
grow up
Sure, you’re still relatively young and attractive, but it’s time to step out and man up, says Farnham: “Stop dressing like a kid.”
That’s mostly down to sizing up: “Choosing a size larger can make you look like you’re wearing hand-me-downs.” But by your 40s, you’re likely outgrowing your stockpile of ripped jeans, slogan T-shirts, and worn-out uniforms. (Related: 5 Things to Throw Away When You’re 30.)
accept
Finding what suits you is one thing, but embracing it is another. Clothes won’t make you a different, happier person, like a six-figure salary or ripped abs will. The right clothes can go a long way, but at the end of the day, clothes are just going to help you be the best version of yourself, not Zayn Malik or Justin Timberlake or anyone else.
