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Classic Style: Carry Yourself Well. . .

Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr. No (1962).

An oft overlooked point of personal style is how a man carries himself.  Standing up straight(er) at the very least will enable you to project more elegance, greater self-confidence, and help your clothes look better on you.  Your body language also has no small effect on how you feel about yourself.  Surprise!  I stumbled onto these related points recently in my usual evening meanderings around the 'net.  Here is what a few others have to say on the matter:

  
You should always be conscious, as much as possible, of your posture.  Even if you don’t yet own a perfectly fitted suit, start paying attention to how your body interacts with your clothes. A great dose of elegance can be obtained through the right mindset and attitude. Posture is one of the least commented upon elements in the field of men’s style. Yet, the way you stand in your clothes is extremely important. We’ll have the opportunity to expand on this subject another time.  -- Hugo Jacomet, Parisian Gentleman 


Body posture can affect not only what others think about us, but also how we think about ourselves, said Richard Petty, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at Ohio State University.  -- Research News, Ohio State University 


A man’s success can be affected by his posture. How you stand, sit and where you place your arms, hands and legs can project power, confidence and charisma. Not being aware of this tell-tale body language, on the other hand, can project the image of a man who is insecure, weak and fearful.  --  AskMen.com


We all know the importance of a firm handshake, but not enough can be said about solid posture. Having great posture is personally my biggest challenge, but I keep trying because this one is so in our control – it is like a freebee. Even the shiest people can project confidence with great posture. So pretend that a puppeteer is controlling your string from above and stand tall.  -- Forbes.com  


Your body language shapes who you are. . .  tiny tweaks can lead to BIG changes.  
-- Amy Cuddy, Social Psychologist



There is a veritable slew of further information out there on the web about the importance of carrying yourself well plus the benefits of doing so.  Have a closer look at the links supplied here, and do a bit of your own exploring online.  As always, we take a holistic approach to style here at Classic Style for the Average Guy.  Kicking up your everyday style several notches and presenting yourself as a man with some grooming and sophistication involves much more than simply the kinds of attire you wear.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Comments

  1. Mr Leavett-BrownMay 24, 2015 at 6:47 PM

    It is important to understand how to maintain a good posture and be relaxed at the same time. My mother used to tell me 'Head up, shoulders back, stomach in!', but this advice is next to useless. If you force back your shoulders and suck in your stomach while keeping your head up, it is quite an effort to maintain and it is quite uncomfortable too. I find that if I keep my hips forward and my palms facing directly towards my thighs, then I adopt a good posture naturally. Keeping the hips forward is not done by forcing them forward but rather by shifting my weight down through my spine. I find that this brings my stomach in without any effort. This is what I do and I hope it may help someone else.

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-- Heinz-Ulrich

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