What Your Clothes Say About You

Stop right where you are! Find the nearest mirror and give yourself a couple of minutes to really explore the person who is looking back at you.

It doesn't matter whether it's morning or afternoon, whether you are in your pajamas or wearing your best suit to an important business meeting. We are who we are every second. Therefore, what we wear, how we present ourselves in private or public reflects a hint of our essence. Yes, if your gym shorts are baggy, over-faded and have holes around the seams, you'll be categorized as "scruffy" and will be expected to be scruffy under all circumstances and it is going to be very hard to change that first impression.

When a woman looks at you, from your clothes she'll know much more about who you are than you would imagine. We are so used to seeing ourselves a certain way that we can't even tell whether the way we are seen is even similar to our own perception.

Which Character Are You?

I don't want to tell you who you are, how you should dress, or how you should be. But be aware of the signals you're sending out by choosing your outfits.
Different women look for different traits in you. One might go for the "steady, no-drama" type, others like the "bohemian wanderer", the "stylishly geeky" or the "outdoorsy gentlemen".

All these characters have one thing in common: a defined neatness. And when I say "neat" I mean put-together, pleasant to look at, clean. No, girls don't like the "I wear the same shirt every day because I'm a bachelor" type. Even shabby chic lovers want their guy to be scruffy in a neatly put-together way. You know, like Han Solo. You have to be confident in your elegance or nonconformist charm!

From Head to Toe

You might not think about it that way, but your hairstyle is part of your outfit. Messy bangs equal "young-at-heart adventurer". Precisely parted on the side, held in shape with a touch of gel: you are likely to have a 9 to 5 job, a flat-screen TV and a love for chick-flicks, though you deny it. Are you balding a little? If you own it confidently, the girls will know they can expect straightforwardness. If you are trying to hide it, they'll assume you have intimacy issues and it will take them forever to reach to your soul.

Next, let's look at your coat or jacket. If you'd like to come across as a worldly, suave gentleman, make sure the sleeves are long enough, the fit is perfect, and the shoulders are not heavily padded. A leather jacket is always a nice choice. Keep it simple. Unless, of course, you love zippers and studs of all sorts, in which case you might come across as "the rocker guy", which is perfectly okay, as long as that's really who you are.

Do you wear a tie?

If you do - is it tied in a double-knot (which would suggest that you are overly neat and not easy to open up), an artsy perfect single knot, or it's just tied around your neck in a semi-successful, messy blob thus introducing you as risky boyfriend-material?

Your tie must match your shirt. It either has to create balance, or contrast. Depending on how you feel, what you would like to communicate. The only thing that's a warning sign is when a tie is almost the color of the shirt, but not quite. It exudes insecurity. Choosing a solid color or simple pattern tie that will surround you with an air of harmony.

Lookong at the shirt

Girls love tailored shirts. Not too tight, not "muscle-bulging-tight", but form-fitting and more is less - you can't quite go wrong with solid colors and simple buttons. Like with the jackets, remember the rule: keep it simple unless you really are the guy who likes shiny shirts, bold patterns, skulls, studs and other loud decorative elements.

A burgundy or aubergine purple shirt says "I'm creative and confident". Black and dark grey emanate confidence, creativity and calm. The common cornflower blue office shirts say "I'm a conformist." White is always a classic choice. You can't go wrong with it.

Match your shirt with a pair of black jeans, and you'll be seen as the modern, intriguing type. Even though blue jeans don't say a lot, they are classic and show that you are comfortable in your skin. If you'd like to keep it up-to-date and sexy, choose trousers that are made of nice material and fit your body type perfectly.

Tread Lightly

Please, please, match your socks with your trousers and shoes. We, girls love shoes. Women's shoes, men's shoes - all shoes. So, we'll look them for sure. Dark trousers and shoes with white socks mean "I don't care about my look", and "I don't pay attention to details in general." Girls love to be around men who pay attention to details. It might feel like a waste of time to pick the perfect pair of socks in the morning, but it's well worth the effort!

Finally, the shoe selection - this is where your personality can really shine. A beautiful pair of shoes will turn even the simplest blue jeans and T-shirt combo into a fancy outfit. You want to be comfortable in your shoes, but don't forget that shoes are also like accessories.

Written by Judith Wellner