how to style your guy

A few weeks ago, CJ and I had the opportunity to work with Robert, of Odudu Photography. Although Robert dabbles in fashion photography, he’s well-known for his event-based and creative work. We had tonnes of fun working with him, and it was pretty neat to work with someone who can just point and shoot, capturing candids of us rather than having us pose. This guy had a bunch of awesome visions for this collab, and our morning of shooting pretty much consisted of the three of us bouncing around downtown Ottawa, from place to place that fit his creative direction. We always have a lot of fun collaborating with local photogs, and Robert was no exception!

We actually have two outfits from our collab with Robert. Although you’ve seen us in a lot of colour, we haven’t worn a lot of black and white. B&W is so timeless, and is something that you can have in your wardrobe season through season. Although it was really trending this summer, something so classic will really never go out of style.

The night before our shoot with Robert, CJ had to work into the wee hours of the morning, so I was granted (rather, thrown into) the task of styling both of our outfits for the next day, from head to toe. It’s an understatement when I say CJ’s pretty picky with how he dresses, so the task of coordinating both of our looks seemed kind of daunting!

So ladies, how can you dress your guy, and coordinate your outfits without the prom-esque tackiness? When I was piecing together CJ’s outfit, the most important thing I kept in mind was his own personal style, and what would suit him. Although you may envision an awesomely fresh look for your guy, it boils down to the fact that if he doesn’t like it, he won’t wear it.

I’ve kinda broken down the “how to dress your guy” question into something that us girly-girls can understand, even if you know zilch about mens wear. When I style CJ, it boils down to picking the shirt, pants, then details. This is by no means a comprehensive mens guide, but it’ll give you the basic A-B-C’s.

his shirt
Pick a shirt with a small pattern, like gingham, thin vertical stripes, or little floral details if he’s adventurous. Try avoiding larger prints and horizontal lines, because like women, depending on his build and stature, these might not be very flattering.

Mens shirt fit can generally be broken down into how tapered they are, from slim fit, to tailored fit, to regular. If your guy is built smaller, go for slim fit, or if he is more robust, regular fit would work. But when in doubt, tailored is pretty safe.

his pants
Neutral-coloured slacks are a pretty good bet. Something black, beige, or even seasonal white generally work well with most shirts. I’d say leave the coloured denim and chinos for when he can try them on and be comfortable with the idea.

Again, pant fit can skinny, slim, straight, and regular, based on how tapered the legs and seat are. Unless you want your guy to look like a skater boy (circa Avril Lavinge 2002), I’d stay clear of skinny fit pants. I know CJ likes wearing his pants slim, but when in doubt, go for a straight fit.

his details
Depending on the occasion, don’t forget about things like ties or bow ties, and a coordinating pocket square. Details such as tie bars to hold his tie in place, and lapel pins will also make his simple look into something much more sartorial and GQ. I had actually made that lapel pin that CJ’s wearing in this shoot! They’re super easy to make and can be an awesome gift for your guy.

coordinating his&hers
I have a serious bone to pick with how some couples will match a dress with the same solid-coloured tie or shirt. This is so wedding party and prom territory! When coordinating with your beau, pick up on subtle details to match. Like our brown belts, or my floral dress and CJ’s lapel pin.

So look out for part 2 of our collab with Odudu Photography. And be sure to visit him on and Facebook and Twitter!

Ladies, have you styled your guy? And gents – would you let your girl style you? Why or why not (you can answer anonymously, my lips are sealed!)

What she’s wearing Forever21 dress | Le Chateau necklace | Forever21 earrings | Dreamed by Melissa heels
What he’s wearing Indochino gingham shirt | Indochino blazer | Levi’s white denim | Edmond Allen loafers | DIY lapel pin

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