A top my list of working world "little things" is a daily exercise that has the power to make us late, change our mood or shape a first impression. We cannot go a day without it but rarely give it much thought. No, not our coffee. Not even our shower. It is getting dressed, and the order in which we do it, that starts our day right!
1. Apply deodorant - Have you ever fastened your last button only to realize you never applied the stick? Avoid getting dressed twice and take care of your hygiene first. This is key in the summer months when a jog to catch the train can reveal the embarrassing, forgetful truth.
2. Put on an undershirt - Save the wife beaters for the gym. Actually, just throw them all away. The sleeve of arm pit coverage makes all the difference in avoiding residue on your pants, shirts, and sweaters. Did you know your armpit often rests on your knee while tying shoes? Protect yourself with a Hanes tagless.
3. Fasten your watch - Rather than unfastening the impossible cuff button, put your watch on prior to your shirt. This saves valuable seconds, sometimes minutes, you can spend watching SportsCenter's Top 10 plays. You might even have time to tweet about it... #SCTop10
4. Put on dress socks - Might feel strange the first couple times, but put your socks on before your pants. Never again will you need to hike up your pant legs, wrinkle them, and accidentally undo your hem. Plus, it serves as protection to jagged unclipped toe nails getting caught on loose pant threads. You will also appreciate the extra warmth in the winter months.
5. Put on dress pants - Now that your armpits and toenails are concealed go ahead and put on your pants.
6. Put on dress shoes - "Wait, wut?" the voice in your head mutters. "Isn't that the last step?" Wrong. This is actually the most important pivotal step in this sequence. Do it once and I promise you'll never look back. Putting on your shoes BEFORE your shirt avoids wrinkles created from bending over to lace 'em up.
*Mind. Blown.*
7. Put on dress shirt - Remove your shirt from its hanger, fist those sleeve holes and button that sucker up.
8. Loop and fasten belt - This step completes the look of a polished business man. A belt acts like base molding in a beautiful home. It brings two textures and patterns together seamlessly. Always match the color of your belt to the color of your shoes.
9. Take on the day - Grab your Beats and put on Aloe Blacc because you're the man today.