A lot of men don’t know what to wear, so they default to what feels safe: navy blazer, white shirt, khakis, brown shoes. There’s nothing wrong with any of those pieces. In fact, they can all have a place in a great wardrobe. The problem is when your entire closet starts to look like everyone else’s.

Most men were never really taught how to dress. They learned what was considered appropriate for work, a wedding, dinner, or a special occasion, but nobody taught them how to develop a personal style.

I’ve always loved clothes. I’m not afraid of bright colors, bold patterns, unusual combinations, or a ton of accessories. That’s me. You don’t have to dress like I do to have great style. The goal is to find the version of style that feels like you, then make it more sophisticated, more interesting, and more memorable.

That is a big part of what we do at Davelle Clothiers. We don’t want every man who walks through our doors to leave looking the same. We want to help you figure out what you like, introduce you to things you might never pick up on your own, and show you how to put everything together.

Here are five of the easiest ways to bring more personality into your wardrobe.

1. Rethink Your Suit, Sport Coat, or Blazer

Most men come in looking for a navy blazer. I understand why. A navy blazer is one of the most versatile pieces a man can own. You can wear it with dress trousers, denim, chinos, a dress shirt, a polo, or a knit. If you don’t already own one, you probably should.

But what does a navy blazer say about your personality? Not much. It says you’re safe. You play by the rules. You know what works and you’re sticking with it.

Once you have the basics covered, start looking beyond navy. A solid blazer in olive, rust, burgundy, cobalt, violet, or eggplant can add a tremendous amount of personality without being difficult to wear. Many of these colors are surprisingly versatile because they work beautifully with the neutrals you probably already own.

For example, an olive blazer can be worn with cream trousers, gray wool pants, dark denim, brown, tan, or even certain shades of blue. A deep burgundy jacket looks incredible with gray, navy, black, or winter white.

Then there are sport coats. This is where you can really have fun. Plaids, windowpanes, checks, herringbones, interesting textures, and multiple colors woven into the same cloth all give you more to work with.

A great sport coat gives you a roadmap for the rest of the outfit. If the pattern contains navy, burgundy, cream, and a touch of orange, you suddenly have four different colors you can pull out through your shirt, trousers, pocket square, shoes, or accessories.

Custom gives us even more freedom. We can choose the fabric, lapel, buttons, lining, pockets, stitching, and other details so the jacket reflects the man wearing it. Your jacket is often the first thing people notice. Give them something worth noticing.

2. Stop Treating Shirts Like Background Pieces

Let’s say you really want to wear that navy blazer. No problem. Now give it some personality with the shirt underneath.

Too many men think of shirts as something that simply fills the space between the jacket lapels. White and light blue are classics, and every man should own them, but your shirt can do a lot more.

Try a patterned sport shirt. Look for a print that relates to the color of your jacket without matching it exactly. Maybe there’s some navy running through the pattern. Maybe it uses several shades of blue. Maybe there’s a contrasting color that gives the entire outfit some energy.

You can also experiment with texture. Knits, brushed cottons, subtle jacquards, interesting weaves, and elevated polos can completely change the personality of a jacket.

And don’t assume every shirt has to be tucked under a tailored jacket with dress trousers. Depending on the occasion, a sport coat can look fantastic with a knit polo, a structured T-shirt, an open-collar shirt, or a more casual sport shirt.

This is also where having the right guidance matters. At Davelle, we don’t just sell you a shirt and send you home. We look at what you already own, what you’re buying, and how everything can work together.

When we select a shirt, I’m already thinking about the jackets you can wear it with, the pants that work underneath them, and how many outfits we can create. The best wardrobe isn’t the biggest wardrobe. It’s the one with the most possibilities.

3. Give Your Pants Some Personality Too

Men pay a lot of attention to jackets and very little attention to pants. That’s a mistake.

Your trousers make up almost half of the outfit, so why should they always be khaki, gray, or navy?

Suppose you’re wearing a plaid sport coat with burgundy, brown, and orange running through the pattern. You could put on a pair of khakis and look perfectly fine. Or you could pick up that orange or rust tone with your trousers and make the entire outfit come alive.

That one decision can turn a good outfit into something people remember.

You don’t necessarily have to go bright, either. Think about colors like forest green, tobacco, cream, stone, burgundy, chocolate, or different shades of blue. Even changing the texture of your pants can make an enormous difference.

Corduroy, brushed cotton, flannel, linen, wool, five-pocket pants, and beautifully tailored trousers all give you options beyond the standard business pant.

Fit matters here too. Pleats have made a major return. Fuller trousers can create an entirely different silhouette. A higher rise can look fantastic with tailored clothing. And custom trousers allow us to control everything from the waistband to the pleats to the width of the leg.

Sometimes the piece that gives an outfit its personality isn’t the jacket. It’s the pants.

4. Use Accessories to Finish the Story

Accessories are where you can push things a little further. A bold tie, a great pocket square, interesting socks, a beautiful belt, bracelets, a watch, eyewear, or shoes can all change the tone of an outfit.

The mistake men make is thinking everything needs to match. It doesn’t. In fact, outfits are often more interesting when things coordinate without matching exactly.

Your pocket square does not need to be the same fabric as your tie. Your socks don’t need to match your trousers. Your belt does not always have to disappear into the outfit.

You can mix patterns too. A striped shirt can work with a patterned tie and a plaid jacket. The trick is varying the scale of the patterns and making sure there is something connecting the colors.

That sounds complicated at first, but once you understand the basic principles, it becomes much easier. Start with one piece you love and build around it. Maybe it’s a patterned tie with purple, blue, and orange. Maybe it’s a great pair of shoes. Maybe it’s a bracelet you bought while traveling.

Your accessories are also a great place to bring pieces of your life into your wardrobe. They can start conversations. And that’s part of having personal style.

5. Look for Brands with a Point of View

We aren’t overly focused on labels at Davelle. I care a lot more about how something is made, how it fits, how it feels, and whether it belongs in your wardrobe.

But certain brands have a recognizable point of view, and that can make them a great place to look when you want something different. Some are colorful. Some are playful. Some are luxurious and understated. Others take familiar menswear pieces and add one detail you wouldn’t expect.

A few brands we carry that can help you add personality include:

Robert Graham
Known for bold patterns, unexpected details, and pieces that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Paul & Shark
Italian sportswear with a distinctive combination of luxury, performance, and color with unexpected details.

Eton
A complete lifestyle brand with a refined European point of view. From shirting and knitwear to casual pieces and accessories, Eton brings polish and sophistication to an entire wardrobe.

David’s Master Collection
Our own collection gives us the freedom to offer pieces that reflect what we believe great menswear should be: distinctive, beautifully made, and anything but ordinary.

SAND Copenhagen
Modern European tailoring and sportswear with interesting fabrics, patterns, and silhouettes.

Bugatti
Elevated European sportswear that brings more texture and personality to casual dressing.

Tramarossa
Luxury Italian denim with exceptional fit, fabrication, and details. Proof that even a pair of jeans can have personality.

7 Downie St.
Colorful, expressive menswear for the man who wants to have a little more fun getting dressed.

The point isn’t to cover yourself in recognizable brands. It’s to find designers whose perspective feels like your own.

Your Clothes Should Say Something About You

Developing personal style doesn’t mean walking into Davelle one day dressed conservatively and leaving in purple pants, a floral shirt, and six bracelets.

Unless you want to. We can certainly make that happen.

For most men, it happens gradually. You replace the navy blazer with an olive one. You try the patterned shirt instead of another solid blue. You pick the burgundy trousers instead of gray. You add a pocket square.

Then one day you realize you’re no longer standing in front of your closet wondering what you’re supposed to wear. You know what you like. You know what looks good on you. And you’re comfortable wearing something other than what every other guy in the room is wearing.

That’s personal style.

And if you’re not sure where to start, come see us at Davelle Clothiers. We’ll help you figure it out.