Keep these simple fashion tips in mind when pulling together a look that is sure to slay.

The first step toward a killer wardrobe is mastering the proper cut.

Once you start wearing suits and trousers cut precisely to fit you, you’ll realize this. No man looks elegant in a too tight jacket or baggy pants. Overall, your pants should be snug around your waist, but not too tight, the hem should touch your shoe, but not cover it. Proper alterations can make a good pair of pants into a great one.

Try on a shirt before you buy it: the collar should fit snugly whether open or closed, the buttons should lie flat and fabric should not pull between them. The shirt should never balloon when tucked into your pants.

Make sure you are well-suited.

The suit is most important in a man’s wardrobe, and it should be worn confidently – and regularly. The right suit has the ability to transcend mere dressing and bring otherwise hidden attributes to the surface: power, confidence, and authority.
A good suit starts at the shoulders. It should fit your posture and flatter your frame. A suit should be neither too tight nor too loose, it should gently hug the body, but not resist you in any way. The seams should fall along your shoulder, the suit should have a trim line that follows the lines of your body. Your sleeve length should allow some shirt cuff to show. If your suit jacket doesn’t make you look better when you put it on you’re wearing the wrong one.

When shopping for suits, it’s important to wear a collared shirt, a belt, and the appropriate shoes. That way the tailor can fit the arm length to your own shirt cuff and the pant break to your shoes.

Don’t be outnumbered.

As a rule, it’s far better to have two great suits than five mediocre ones. Midnight blue is always a great call. Go a few shades darker than the average navy. This suit will transition beautifully from day to night, and can be worn with both black and dark-brown shoes.

Master the subtle gray area.

Gray is the ultimate neutral color, which makes it an excellent choice if you want pants that are versatile enough to wear with almost anything. As for whether the perfect gray trousers should be pleated or flat-front, that’s up to you. Our advice? Go flat-fronted. It’s a more modern look and almost always more flattering.

Don’t get hung up.

When it comes to ties, the knot should rest snugly on your throat between the points of the collar, no knot is complete without a dimple, and most importantly, the tip of the tie should hit the middle of your belt buckle.

Make sure your shirt and tie share a common color–but, beware of the monochromatic look. Balance patterns: the easy rule of thumb is to use striped ties to offset patterned shirts and printed ties to offset stripes; however, make sure the print is of a different scale. Remember, ties are meant to accent your outfit, not to over-power it. Finally, a tie is only as good as the fabric it’s made of. A good tie is made from thick, strong silk, and lined with minimal material to give it a good “hand.”

Sometimes it’s best to have an accomplice.

Accessories enable you to add personality and flare to your look by using subtle accents. Just remember to keep it simple. Your belt should match your shoes: black shoes, black belt; brown shoes, brown belt. Don’t forget the most important accessory–attitude is an important factor to style.

Be clued in.

Classics you should already own: an overcoat that complements custom suits and makes jeans look elegant, a navy blazer, two pairs of good shoes – one black, the other brown, a single-breasted navy blue suit and a gray suit in a medium weight that you can wear year-round, two white shirts, one blue shirt, two polo shirts, a slim-dark colored tie, a simple black belt, several pairs of black cotton socks, and lastly, a pair of basic straight-leg blue jeans.

Lastly, remember to always cover yourself.

Overcoats need to fit over the rest of what you are wearing. It should accommodate a suit but still show your form when buttoned. Think of a coat as an investment. It’s something that you’ll want to own for a long time. Your coat is often the first item of clothing that people see. It’s worth splurging.