The 9 Aesthetics
1. Clean classic: navy, white and grey in fits that never date: oxford shirts, chinos, plain knitwear, leather sneakers. 2. Old money: knitwear, pleated trousers, loafers and quiet colours; see old money style. 3. Streetwear: heavy cotton, relaxed fits, hoodies, graphic pieces and statement sneakers.
4. Minimal: few colours (often black, white, grey and beige), good fabric and no logos. 5. Rugged / workwear: canvas jackets, flannel shirts, raw denim and boots, built to last. 6. Techwear: technical, often waterproof fabrics, mostly black, with functional straps, zips and pockets.
7. Gen-Z / Y2K: baggy denim, retro sneakers, cropped or oversized tops and playful layers inspired by the early 2000s. 8. Preppy: oxford cloth, stripes, cable knits and boat shoes; see preppy style. 9. Athleisure: gym-to-street clothes: joggers, technical tees, zip-ups and clean trainers.
How to Find Your Aesthetic
1. Save what you like. Collect 20 to 30 outfits from Pinterest, Instagram or street-style photos without thinking too hard. 2. Find the pattern. Look for repeated colours, fits (slim, relaxed, oversized) and pieces. 3. Check your life. A techwear wardrobe makes sense for a rainy city commute; old money suits an office. 4. Check your wardrobe. Which clothes do you already reach for most?
Most people are a mix of two, such as minimal with workwear or classic with preppy. That's fine; pick one as the base and borrow from the other.
Read more: Preppy Style: How to Dress Preppy Without Looking Costumed
Matching Your Build and Face
Any aesthetic works on any body, but fit decides how it looks. Relaxed streetwear and Y2K can swamp a short or slim frame unless the proportions are balanced; structured classic and old money pieces flatter most builds. See how to dress for your body type for details.
Your haircut should match too: a textured crop or curtains for streetwear and Y2K, a side part for classic and preppy, a buzz or crew cut for workwear.
Try All 9 for Free
In Ollie Stylist, pick a style and tap Choose for me to get a full outfit in any of the 9 aesthetics on a model set to your gender, look, build and height. Then scan your face for haircuts that suit both your face shape and the style.
Read more: Old Money Style for Men: The Complete Outfit Guide