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12 Simple Style Upgrades Every Guy Can Make Today

Updated on June 9, 2025 by TMM Staff · Clothing and Style

A man standing by a river, looking down and smiling at his phone with a bridge in the background.
©Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.com

Looking better doesn’t always require a shopping spree or a stylist. Sometimes, a few small changes can make a big difference in how you show up. These quick, affordable style upgrades are easy to implement and deliver instant results. Whether you’re dressing for work, heading to brunch, or just running errands, these tweaks will help you look sharper with minimal effort.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Cuff Your Pants (The Right Way)
  • Swap Your Belt for Side Tabs or No Belt
  • Use a Lint Roller Before You Leave
  • Tuck In a Casual Shirt with Intent
  • Add One Subtle Accessory
  • Groom Your Eyebrows (Yes, Seriously)
  • Tailor One Item You Wear Often
  • Wear Less Logos, More Texture
  • Keep Your Shoes Clean, Always
  • Go Monochrome for a Sleek Look
  • Replace Your Old Wallet or Cardholder

Cuff Your Pants (The Right Way)

A person sitting with cuffed jeans and black sneakers with white socks.
©Alexas Fotos/Pexels.com

Cuffing your jeans or chinos instantly makes your outfit look more deliberate. Stick with a single or double cuff that hits just above your ankle bone. It adds structure, especially when paired with sneakers or loafers. This quick move also highlights your footwear. Avoid messy, oversized rolls that bunch at the ankle.

Swap Your Belt for Side Tabs or No Belt

A man in a white collared shirt and plaid pants holding a dark jacket over his shoulder.
©PNW Production/Pexels.com

Ditch the belt if your pants fit right. It creates a sleeker, uninterrupted silhouette. Side tabs or adjustable waistbands give the same function without the extra bulk. This small shift elevates casual outfits and makes tucked-in shirts look cleaner. Belts should be a choice, not a crutch.

Use a Lint Roller Before You Leave

A person holding a steamer to a green collared shirt on a hanger.
©Ron Lach/Pexels.com

A lint covered shirt or dusty jacket ruins an otherwise polished look. A quick roll down before heading out can instantly boost your appearance. Keep a travel size roller by your door or in your bag. It’s one of the easiest grooming habits to adopt that screams “put together.”

Tuck In a Casual Shirt with Intent

A man in a white t-shirt and dark pants, looking forward with trees in the background.
©Naro K/Pexels.com

A crisp tuck can transform a basic tee, polo, or henley into something sharp. Pair with well fitted trousers or drawstring pants and finish with a clean sneaker or loafer. It balances casual and classy effortlessly. Make sure the shirt is slim enough to avoid bulk when tucked.

Upgrade to No Show Socks

A pair of white Adidas sneakers with black stripes on a wooden floor.
©Jens Mahnke/Pexels.com

Visible white gym socks can wreck a great outfit. Swap them for no shows or low cut socks that stay hidden. This trick works best with loafers, boat shoes, and summer sneakers. It creates a cooler, more stylish summer silhouette. Just make sure they don’t slip.

Add One Subtle Accessory

A man wearing a ring and a bracelet, leaning his head on his hand against a brick wall.
©Mike Greer/Pexels.com

One ring, a thin bracelet, or a classic chain can elevate your style without trying too hard. Choose a single piece that feels natural to your personality and outfit. Avoid piling on accessories unless you know what you’re doing. Less is usually more.

Groom Your Eyebrows (Yes, Seriously)

A man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a brown jacket with a white collar, looking to the side with blurred lights in the background.
©Rein Krjigsman/Pexels.com

Unruly eyebrows make your face look less refined. Clean up stray hairs above and between the brows with tweezers or a trimmer. You don’t need a full reshape, just keep them neat. This small act sharpens your overall grooming game more than you think.

Tailor One Item You Wear Often

A tailor making adjustments to the sleeve of a man's plaid suit jacket.
©Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels.com

Take your favorite jeans, shirt, or jacket to a tailor for a custom fit. A $15 to 25 alteration can transform how something drapes on your body. Prioritize shoulder fit, sleeve length, and pant taper. Once you see the difference, you’ll want to tailor more.

Wear Less Logos, More Texture

A stack of three folded textured sweaters in dark gray, light gray, and brown.
©Mnz/Unsplash.com

Logo heavy pieces feel juvenile fast. Swap them out for textured fabrics like waffle knits, linen, or seersucker. Texture adds visual interest without relying on branding. It looks more intentional and mature, even when the outfit is simple.

Keep Your Shoes Clean, Always

A person cleaning black sneakers with a white sole using a brush, a blue cloth, and a bottle of shoe cleaner.
©GoGoNano/Unsplash.com

Scuffed or dirty shoes make you look lazy. Clean them regularly, even casual pairs like sneakers. Use a brush and wipes for quick touch ups. Good footwear doesn’t need to be expensive, it just needs to look cared for. Clean kicks signal attention to detail.

Go Monochrome for a Sleek Look

A man in a tan blazer, blue shirt, and dark blue jeans with white sneakers standing on a sidewalk.
©Benjamin R./Unsplash.com

Wearing one color in varying tones instantly makes you look put together. Think navy on navy, shades of gray, or tan layers. It’s an easy way to make basic pieces feel more elevated. Add texture or a small contrast (like white sneakers) to avoid looking flat.

Replace Your Old Wallet or Cardholder

A hand pulling a brown leather wallet with stitching from the back pocket of a pair of blue jeans.
©Geoffrey Crofte/Unsplash.com

A frayed, overstuffed wallet says you don’t care about details. Upgrade to a slim cardholder or minimalist wallet. It looks better when you pull it out and fits better in your pocket. Stick to neutral leather or fabric styles that age well.

Clothing and Style ethical clothing, sustainability, Tentree

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About TMM Staff

The Modest Man staff writers are experts in men's lifestyle who love teaching guys how to live their best lives.

If an article is published under TMM Staff, that means multiple writers worked on it. For example, sometimes several of us have experience with a certain brand, so we collaborate to publish a more thorough review.

Or, if an article was originally written by one person, but then it was updated by someone else, we'll re-publish it under TMM Staff.

Remember: all of our articles (including those below) are written by real people with decades of combined experience in men's fashion and lifestyle topics.

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