Hi Nikki,

Azn Jonathan

Hey J, there’s nothing wrong with being 15 and wanting to look stylish. At that age, that’s what we all think about, right? Oops, sorry, I’m not exactly 15 anymore. Moving on…

Judging from how you described the contents of your closet, I’d say you need some color in your life! Not all Japanese or Korean fashion trends are limited to these very basic colors you know. Both looks – especially the Japanese – are all about taking risks with your taste in fashion. Look up Shibuya, Aoyama and Shinjuku to know what I’m talking about.

As for not spending “heaps of money”, I definitely agree with your thinking! So bring out that needle, thread and scissors and start snipping. But even if you don’t want to spend, you will have to, at some point, because you want to invest in your looks. And investing means shelling out money.

Fortunately for you, you already have the menswear basics. You didn’t mention if you have any accessories like scarves, belts or ties. Sometimes all you need is the right accessory and voila, instant new style! So let’s go through each of your basics one by one and see what kind of magic we can do with it, shall we?

What you have: The White T-Shirt
I love white tees myself but to make sure I don’t end up looking like I wear the same thing every day, I buy T-shirts with different necklines – crewneck, V-neck, boatneck, etc. If I wear it as my statement piece, then it will dictate what other pieces will go well with it, which usually means everything!

How to Wear:
Pull on a blazer-style jacket, preferably with notched lapels to give it a more urban twist. Roll up the sleeves up to your elbows or at least halfway your forearms. For bottoms, wear it with dark-rinse skinny jeans or a distressed pair with a faded wash. For accessories, keep it simple with a single leather cuff and silver chain necklace or make a statement with silver or leather sneakers.

What you have: The Button-Front Shirt
Most of the time, I pay more attention to a guy wearing a button-front shirt than a T-shirt. There’s really nothing like a classic, preppy piece that gets the ladies looking.

How to Wear:
Find a contrast-colored cardigan (preferably with an interesting subtle pattern) in your closet and layer it over the shirt, then roll up the sleeves, making sure you include the shirt sleeves too. You’ve just given your cardigan completely new cuffs, thanks to the shirt! Bare your ankles by rolling up the cuffs of your trousers or jeans and slip into loafers.

What you have: The Hooded Jacket
Oh hoodies. You’re never really too old to wear them; just don’t make them your uniform. Like I said earlier, don’t be afraid of color! Wearing neutrals may be classic but I think you’re too young to look old! Blue is always a good choice for a guy. Shades like baby blue, royal blue or even teal are always easy colors to match other pieces with.

How to Wear:
Easy peasy! Wear your hoodie underneath your jacket for an instant Asian-inspired outfit. Make sure the colors of your hoodie and jacket aren’t the same or you’ll end up looking monotonous. You can pair this with a pair of boots and tucking the cuffs of your jeans into them.

What you have: The Jeans
You can easily create an outfit around jeans just like other pieces. Usually Asians can rock the skinny fit really well, but be open to other styles like straight-leg or bootcut. If you have a well-toned body, the right style of jeans will show that off perfectly.

How to Wear:
As you can tell, I’m a fan of rolling up jeans and shirt sleeves. Do the same to your jeans and create asymmetric lengths on each leg. Team it with white sneakers, boat shoes or those slip-ons. Alternatively, wear funky colored sneakers with the tongues hanging out or with a dandy pair of leather oxfords for a case of “opposites attract”.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. You’re young and that’s the perfect excuse, trust me.

Nikki

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