e h t e d i u g e l y st
2 Torchprep : " We are a band of visionaries, artists, teachers, hackers, poets, advocates, and friends. Our movement is about changing the lives of students. We work with families, schools, universities, non-profits, for profits, cities, and anyone else who cares to see this emerging generation well positioned for life. We make our mark on this world by training students to maximize their score on the ACT速 test. " ACT tests are not fun, but you guys already know that. But do you know what else is not fun ? These guys...
Cladwell : Here at Cladwell we pride ourselves on helping men to look and feel their best. Some would say that "the clothes make the man", but we disagree with that. We think things like integrity, sacrifice, and hard work are what make the man. But we also know that the right clothes can empower the man.
introduction
Torchprep
X
Cladwell
This style guide was designed to educate and inspire the Torchprep team in an effort to help you create a style all your own. Having "style" is sometimes held as a super ficial or potentially unattainable goal, but, in reality, it is an evolving concept within reach of all who desire it. Your personal style should combine comfort, functionality, and appropriateness - topped off with some element of personal expression. On the next few pages you will find basic tips, guidelines, and outfit suggestions that will help you find the right clothes for you and for Torchprep.
What's Inside: style analytics wardrobe basics know your audience mix & match fit philosophy
p.4 p.6 p.8 p.10 p.16
4 So what is the Torchprep style? Par t of our ser vice here at Cladwell is to help our customers find their own style profile. To get a visual for this style, we created a chart. We've categorized style on two major scales - formality and trendiness. To the right you will see an area highlighted in green that we would consider to be the Torchprep style. As you can see, it is on the higher end of the trendiness scale, and somewhere near the middle as far as formality goes. Into actual clothing this will translate into modern styles and silhouettes combined in a way that gives you a clean and tailored appearance, yet is not so formal as to be a full suit and tie. You may consider your personal style to be outside of this circle, but that is where we come in. We've pulled together some looks catered to direct your personal style into the realm of the Torchprep style. Thats not to say we expect you to put on clothes you don't feel good in, just to push yourself a little outside of your usual boundries to find your new style somewhere on the green.
style analytics
R.P.
Tom
6
wardrobe basics Maintaining a consistent style has more to do with the quality of the items in your wardrobe over the quantity. Just a few pieces can really go a long way when you mix up your clothing pairings. A wardrobe like you see on this page would be considered a capsule - meant to give you the most versatility while remaining as minimal as possible. Considering that you most likely have a few items similiar to these already in your closet; achieving a full capsule collection is much easier then you think. On the next few pages you will see all the different ways this capsule could be paired to meet your needs for any Torchprep occasion. L E FT: Old Navy V- neck Tee 12. 50 | U n iq lo St r ip ed Cr e wn e c k 1 9 .9 0 | Z ar a P u l l o v e r 3 9 .9 0 | E v e r l an e W hit e Oxford 5 5 .0 0 | H& M Den im Sh ir t 39. 95 | H& M C o tto n O x f o r d 3 4 .9 5 | U n i ql o L am bs wo o l Cardigan 2 9 .9 0 | H &M K n it Ca r d ig a n 49. 95 | H& M S l i m Fi t B l az e r 7 9 .9 5 | H &M P i l o t Jac k e t 9 9 .0 0 BE L OW: Uniqlo Selvedg e J ea n s 49. 90 | J . Cr ew Br ok en - i n C h i n o s 7 5 .0 0 | U n i ql o Wo o l Tr o u s e r 4 9 .9 0 Riv e r Isl and B lue Su it 1 60. 00 | Va n s Sn ea k er s 45. 00 | Van s L e ath e r B o at S h o e s 7 5 .0 0 | H &M B r o g u e Bo o t 60 .0 0
8 S t udent s : ACT tests are daunting, but they must be taken. When you are presenting to the students you want to express that you can relate to how they are feeling, and that they can trust you as a mentor to walk them through the process. In this sense you want to look like their big brother but wiser, and more established. As long as your outfit is clean and well fitting, you will come off as a professional to the kids. You're already giving them a presentation - that’s what professionals do, right? Mixing those clean silhouettes with some trendy pieces and visually interesting details will give you that "cool" factor that can win a teenager over right from the start.
know your audience Faculty: When presenting to a school's faculty, the mission is to straddle the line between professional and creative. You want to show them that you are confident about Torchprep and its results, but also that you are different from those other guys (your lame competition). You have the advantage in being younger and better at relating to students. When dressing for the faculty, try mixing professional silhouettes with more modern styles like sneakers tee shirts and denim.
10 The key to standing out from the crowd is to break away from the mundane by changing up your pairings. When in a situation where you are presenting yourself and Torchprep to an audience, you need to look professional, but approachable. By mixing up smart attire and adding in some casual items you can create a new look that is all your own. Time to break away from the typical shirt and tie and venture into the inbetween. SMART: Blazer
THE IN-BETWEEN
CASUAL: Tee shirt
Button up shirt
Jeans
Dress Sweater
Chinos
Trousers Dress shoes Suit
Sweatshirt Sneaker Boots
Creating a style is about trying something new for you -- change it up. Mix styles, silhouettes, fabrics, colors, textures; it’s all fair game. The key to making this method work is keeping a constant focal point. For example, if you're mixing patterns, stick to neutral colors. If you're mixing colors, keep the patterns simple to non existent. If you're mixing textures, try a bold texture on one item, and keep the rest minimal.
mix and match
The onset of cold weather means one thing - time for layers. When it comes to layering two or more tops, the key is to keep the under layers thin and comfortable, and reserve the thicker fabrics for the top layer. Bomber jackets are a great outerlayer for when you're trying to keep things fairly casual.
Play around with mixing fabrics. Denim is a great fabric for more then just jeans, and a denim oxford can still look very professional paired with a blazer or nice sweater. A chunky wool knit is a great item to have in your wardrobe, and is a refreshing change up from a typical pull over.
12
mix and match
14
Dress trousers do not only have to be worn for formal occassions. Find a pair of wool trousers with a tapered leg and a textured appearance, and keep it comfortable by pairing with a tee shirt and pullover or button up cardigan sweater.
A full suit is a must have for every man's wardrobe, and contrary to popular belief, it is meant to be worn for more than just your most formal occasions. Try pairing a slim fit suit with a tee shirt and clean sneakers for a tailored look with modern flair.
mix and match
16
mix and match As you can see, out of these eighteen items it was easy to pair together twenty distinct different outfits - and that is not even the end of the line as far as pairing options. If you think about it - 20 outfits is almost three weeks of an outfit a day with no repeats. All of these items on the left hand side would retail out to be just over 900$. Considering that this could suffice as your full wardrobe, I'd say that price tag isn't too bad. Of course this is just an example wardrobe. As I mentioned before, you most likely already own a few of these items; and of course you can always look for similiar items that are more personal to your own style, fit, and budget. So if you found this guide helpful and you want to give the capsule a try, I've laid out pointers below on how we chose each item, and why they are actually relevant. The most important thing to keep in mind for maximum versatilty is to keep all items within an interchangable color family. The easiest way for this is to focus on neutrals, and then pick two or three "accent colors" that you know look good on you, and with eachother. The color palatte of the wardrobe on the left is actually complimentary to about 65% of the different color seasons. Now to walk through the thought behind each item - starting at the top row, and travelling from left to right. 1. A basic tee shirt. Something everyone already owns. The key is making sure that your tee has a clean look and fits well so that you have the option of wearing it as a standalone item, and not just an undershirt. 2. A tee shirt with some interest. Whether it be patterned, a waffle texture, a henley, etc. Find another cotton tee thats comfortable, but also has some visual interest. 3. A clean cut pullover. Personally Im a big fan of the solid crew neck sweatshirt like the one I chose here, but this could also be just a heavier fabrication of item two, or perhaps even a simple pullover sweater. 4. A casual button up with some interesting detail. Something I'm always a big fan of - find some texture. Whether it be denim, canvas, or even a nice flannel; this shirt will add some extra interest to an outfit. Plus - these fabrics tend to last longer.
18 5. A patterned button up with a button down collar. Although solids may be easier, its always good to throw some pattern into your wardrobe. A button down collar helps to give your shirts some versatility, as it makes it easier to dress that shirt up with a blazer or even a tie. 6. A solid dress shirt - or at least very clean cut casual button up. White is always a safe bet, but if you'd rather go with color opt for a light blue. 7. A colored sweater. Something fairly basic of a lighterweight construction will make it easier to layer with other items. 8. A heavier top layer sweater. A cable knit cardigan, such as the one chosen, will look great in place of a blazer ot jacket. 9. A casual blazer. Something a bit lighterweight such as this cotton khaki blazer allows for warmer weather wear as well as layering for the colder months. 10. A jacket 11. A pair of solid dark denim jeans in a straight or slim straight cut. Theres not much to say about this item, other then that every man needs a pair. 12. A pair of colored chinos. Again this is a great way to incorporate some color into your wardrobe. But if something like this maroon is too loud for you, go for a basic khaki or dark green. 13. A pair of dress trousers. Trouser styles have remained fairly classic over the years, so to mix it up a bit try a thicker wool blend. The texture adds an extra element of interest. 14 & 15. A
mix and match
20
BA
D
FI
T:
do
n't
be
th
es
e g uy s
What most people don't realize about having a stylish presence is that it's really not about how expensive the clothes are or who made them, but rather the FIT. inowing what fits best on you may sound a bit daunting, but in reality it’s very simple once you know the guidelines. The ver y first rule is to not be afraid to slim down. Forget about the size you’ve been buying for years. Start over and try one size down. Slim cut denim really isn't a bad thing. Do you have a tailor you trust? If not, get one. Most are actually very easy to work with and very affordable. The truth is that no single body type is alike and your nice suit probably isn't the only thing in your closet that could use a few alterations. Remember that something that fits well (even if it fits closer to your body) will be comfortable: Check out these basic fit tips to the right.
fit philosophy Slacks should fit slim, but still have slight drape over your butt. Hem should hit at top of shoe. Avoid pleats. Tee shirts should have a slim fit to show definition, but not so tight as to show every curve.
Blazers should fit close to the body, but NOT have any visible pulling at the seams, or across the center back. Sleeves should allow for 1in. of shirt sleeve to show at the cuffs. Blazer & shirt hems should hang below your waist but above the crotch.
For jeans & chinos, opt for slim or slim straight fit, and a longer leg length allowing room for a cuff. Button ups & sweaters should fit close to the body, but still allow room to move. Slim does not mean "tight", just tailored.