Meet Shane Hefty, Your Designated Dapper Dude
I met Shane the day he walked in for his photoshoot. I was so impressed by how prepared he was for the experience, especially given the lack of resources I had provided. He brought several suit and tie options that fit his personal brand and business goals. He had a fresh haircut and neatly trimmed beard.
On top of being organized, he knew exactly what he was looking for in a successful photo, and together, we achieved his goals. When I started designing a Men’s Style Guide, I knew Shane was the best choice for advising on men’s fashion. The following pages are filled with great advice, not only on how to prepare for your headshots, but useful knowledge on where to get started in the wide world of men’s styling. Happy reading!
A NOTE FROM SHANE
People often ask if I own any clothes other than suits; many can’t recall ever seeing me in anything else, and in a number of cases close friends are shocked the first time they see me in a pair of joggers. A large part of my personal brand is being suited up at all times; even though I may be over dressed more often than not. My mantra when it comes to my personal attire is, “Dressing like the place you’re coming from or going to is more important than where you currently are.”
Regardless of your profession, you need to look like you’re the best at what you do, whether it’s a server at a restaurant or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. For some, that simply means clean clothes that fit well and are in line with the dress code of your employer. For others, that means a suit and tie, and for a broad swath of people, it’s somewhere in between.
In the coming paragraphs, I’ll share a few key items every man should have in their closet, some grooming and tailoring tips, and finally, what you should wear to a headshot session with Whitney. Let’s get started!
10 Closet Essentials
A Navy Suit
Navy suits are a great alternative to traditional black and are perfect for everything from job interviews to dates. Bonus: It’s versatile enough, you can wear the jacket as a sportcoat or the pants without the jacket.
A White Collared Shirt
You need one perfect dress shirt to go with your perfectly tailored navy suit. If you’re of average build, always get a slim fit shirt. I buy most of my dress shirts online from Charles Thywhitt – great prices, quality and fit.
Brown and Black Lace-up Dress Shoes
You can buy the same shoe in different colors. Brown will go with your navy suit and the black are more formal. This is an opportunity to invest, as well-made shoes can be repaired and last decades. I suggest leather soles and sticking to a classic style like a cap toe or wing tip.
Dark Blue Denim Jeans
Dark denim looks great with sneakers or dress shoes, t-shirts or dress shirts, cardigans or sport coats. I prefer J. Crew’s or Levi’s 513 jeans – good quality, great fit, and they’re not $300.
White V-Neck Undershirt
If you’re wearing a dress shirt without a tie or a polo shirt, select a v-neck tee. The sleeves should hit your mid-bicep – if they don’t, it will affect the fit of your shirt.
A White Pocket Square
A white pocket square is conservative and simple, but also shows that you pay attention to the details. YouTube has great tutorials showing how to fold it in a square.
A Grey Tie
A grey tie goes with everything from your suit to your jeans; it works for weddings and job interviews or on a first date with your white button down and dark jeans.
A Gray Polo Shirt
A gray polo shirt is the short sleeve version of the white button-down shirt – it goes with everything. You can dress down your navy suit or wear it to Sunday brunch. Try to find one without logos and try numerous brands on until you find one that fits perfectly. A good fitting shirt hits mid-bicep and if you wear it untucked, it should hit just below your belt.
Jack Purcell was a badminton star who had his own converse sneakers, which looked similar to the ubiquitous Converse All-Stars. The difference is the “smile” on the toe of the shoe. These sneakers are simple and incredibly comfortable. The colors are fairly subdued, so you can get them in navy, white, and grey. I like white or grey, as they provide a nice contrast to the jeans or the navy suit.
A Cardigan
You can wear a cardigans like a coat in the spring and the fall. It’s like a sweatshirt, but dressy; if you get hot, it’s easy to take off. It’s also a great substitute for a sport coat.
Leveling Up:
Invest in tailoring. I can’t emphasize this enough. It will make your investment in the suit and shirts that much more valuable. A good fit just as important as good quality material and construction. I recommend building a relationship with a tailor. J.D. at Frederick’s Tailoring in Clive is the best. Tell him Shane sent you.