The Off Duty Style Guide

Step 1

Get in shape

Your style is a multiplier on your fitness. You need to workout and get your nutrition dialed in. As a general rule of thumb, aim for 10–15% body fat for men and 20–25% body fat for women. Of course there are exceptions, and these are not hard rules. Here are some general guideline for body fat percentages.

Men

Women

Step 2

Know your seasonal colors

Your skin, hair, and eyes affect which colors make you look healthy or tired. In daylight with no makeup, check three things.

• Check your skin. Stand by a window with no makeup. If your skin looks pink or reddish, you probably suit cool colors. If it looks golden, yellow, or peachy, you probably suit warm colors. If neither stands out, you may be neutral.
• Check your hair and eyes. Dark hair and dark eyes usually work with deeper colors. Light hair and light eyes usually work with lighter colors.
• Check the contrast. If your hair is much darker than your skin, stronger colors usually work well. If your skin, hair, and eyes are similar in tone, softer colors usually look better.

Winter

Cool, deep, bright

Likely you if you have dark hair, high contrast, and cool or olive skin. Wear black, pure white, navy, and jewel tones.

From Off Duty

Weekend TeeBlackSunday HoodieWhiteWeekend TankNavyWeekend Hooded TeeHeather Navy

Summer

Cool, light, soft

Likely you if you have ash blond or light brown hair, soft features, and pink undertones. Wear heather gray, dusty blue, soft pink, and denim.

From Off Duty

Sunday Cropped HoodieStormWeekend Ribbed TankBaby BlueWeekend TeeGrayWeekend Ribbed TankPink

Autumn

Warm, deep, soft

Likely you if you have golden or olive skin, brown or red hair, and warm brown or hazel eyes. Wear olive, forest, tan, rust, and brown.

From Off Duty

Sunday Cropped HoodieMilitary GreenSunday HoodieHeather ForestWeekend TeeTan

Spring

Warm, light, bright

Likely you if you have golden blond or light warm brown hair, clear eyes, and peachy skin. Wear cream, coral, camel, and warm aqua.

From Off Duty

Weekend Cropped TeeVintage WhiteWeekend TeeTanSunday ShortsLight Washed Denim

Step 3

Buy one size up, then tailor down

A tee that fits perfectly is almost never off the rack. Order one size bigger, then have a tailor take it in. This is for tees, tanks, and crop tops only. Buy hoodies, sweats, and shorts in your normal size.

What it costs: In major US cities, you can typically get a tee like this tailored for under $20 at a local tailor or dry cleaner. Department store tailors charge more.

Step 4

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Review every single item of clothing that you have. Ask three questions.

1. Does it fit the body you have now?

2. Is it in your colors?

3. Would you buy it again today?

What is left is a smaller closet of clothes that fit, suit your colors, and look good every time you put them on.