THE STYLE PLAYBOOK ISSUE 01

THE

ESSENTIALS
A Modern Guide to Timeless Menswear

MADRID, 2026 WRITTEN & EDITED BY

NICOLAS BOHIGUES
 WHAT´S
INSIDE
02 The Intro
03 Start Here
04 Fit & Proportion
05 The Rule of Thirds
07 Neutrals First
08 Texture
09 Let One Piece Lead
10 Footwear
12 Accessories
14 Perfume
15 Buy Less, Buy Better
16 Your Signature
17 The Rule
18 Final Word

01
THE INTRO
Before, getting dressed was a constant source of
insecurity. I tried copying my friends or the
people I saw online, but what worked for them
never truly worked for me.

For years, I thought I needed more clothes. More

colours. Better brands.

The word that changed everything was simplify.

Simplifying meant understanding what actually
suits me: the colours, proportions and pieces
that naturally work with my body and lifestyle.

When I stopped improvising and started

dressing with intention, something shifted.

I gained clarity. And with that clarity, I gained

confidence.

Today, I don’t walk into a room wondering if I’m

dressed well. I know.

This playbook is the shortcut I wish I had earlier.

You don’t need more clothes.

You need intention.

Welcome to The Essentials.

Nicolas Bohigues

02
Start Here
We're not going to start by buying clothes.
That would be the easy part.

First, we need to understand how you want to look

and how you want to feel when you walk into a
room. When you're clear on that, everything else
starts to fall into place.

Most men overthink getting dressed. Too many

options, too many combinations, too many doubts.
A uniform eliminates that friction and makes
dressing a much simpler process.

A uniform is your way of dressing when you already

know what works for you. It’s the combination of
pieces that naturally make you feel comfortable,
confident and like yourself.

It doesn’t mean wearing the same clothes every day.

The pieces can change depending on the season, but
the overall structure usually stays the same.

When people hear the word uniform, they usually

think of something repetitive or boring. But a real
uniform isn’t about wearing the same clothes every
day. It’s about repeating what works for you.

If you know certain fits, colours or combinations suit

you, the variations become endless.

The formula stays the same, but the pieces can

always change.

💭 What outfit or combination do you naturally repeat when you want to feel confident? 03
 Fit is probably the single
factor that most changes
how an outfit looks.

Even with simple pieces,

when the proportion is
correct everything looks
cleaner, more intentional
and more confident.

Most of the time the

problem isn't the clothes
you're wearing. It's how
they fit.

There is no single type of fit that

works for everyone. The goal is
not to dress too tight or too loose,
but to find the balance that works
best with your body.

In general, a straight or slightly

relaxed fit is usually the safest
starting point. From there you
can adapt it depending on your

FIT &
body type.

Someone with a more muscular

PROPORTION
build may feel more comfortable
in slightly closer-fitting pieces
that define the silhouette. A
leaner or straighter frame, on the
You can have good clothes, good colours and a well- other hand, often benefits from a
thought-out outfit. But if the fit isn't right, nothing slightly more relaxed fit that adds
works. balance.

04
In other cases it can work the other way One of the simplest ways to understand
around. proportion is what's known as the rule of
thirds. Instead of dividing the body into two
A more relaxed shirt or a jacket that equal halves, many outfits look more
occupies two thirds of the outfit combined balanced when divided in proportions of one
with shorter trousers or shorts that take up third and two thirds.
roughly one third.
For example, an outfit can work very well
It's not a rigid rule, but it's a very useful guide when the upper half occupies roughly one
for understanding why some outfits look third of the total look and the lower half two
balanced and others don't. thirds. This tends to happen with a fitted t-
shirt or polo combined with straight or
pleated trousers.

THE RULE OF THIRDS

💭 Does your outfit feel visually balanced when you step back from the mirror? 05
One of the most common mistakes is wearing t-shirts that are too long. When the hem falls too
far below the hip, it breaks the proportion of the outfit and makes everything look messy.

The other very frequent mistake is wearing trousers that are too tight. When the trouser is
excessively narrow, it limits movement and breaks the visual balance with the rest of the outfit.

Small details like these completely change how a look is perceived.

When you try on a piece, try to focus on something very simple: proportion.

There's no need to overanalyse. If the silhouette looks balanced and the piece falls naturally
on the body, you're usually in the right place.

With time you'll develop an eye for recognising it quickly.

06
 NEUTRALS FIRST
One of the fastest ways to simplify your style is to build
your outfits around neutral colours.

Neutrals are colours that combine easily with each

other and don't compete visually within an outfit.

Not every outfit needs strong contrast Over time, everyone develops a palette that
to work. In fact, many of the most naturally repeats itself throughout their
elegant looks are built around what we wardrobe.
could call soft contrasts.
In my case, I usually stay between darker
This means combining colours that
tones like black or navy and lighter tones
belong to a similar palette or share a
close intensity. like beige or brown. Simple combinations
that always work together.
Black with grey. Navy with grey. Beige
with brown or olive. Beige with white.

These colours don't compete with each

other. They complement.
The result is usually a clean, balanced
outfit that's easy to wear.

💭 What colours naturally repeat themselves throughout your wardrobe? 07

When your wardrobe is built around Why it works?
neutral colours, outfits become much
easier to combine. But if everything looks When your wardrobe is based around neutral
too similar, they can also start to feel flat. colours, texture becomes one of the easiest
ways to add depth without relying on prints or
That’s where texture makes the louder colours.
difference.
A simple outfit with knitwear, wool trousers
Even within the same colour palette, or leather loafers already feels more
fabrics like knitwear, wool or denim interesting, even if the colours stay very
completely change how an outfit feels similar. The texture gives each piece its own
visually. presence.

That’s why many timeless and elegant styles

rely more on texture than prints. It keeps the
outfit clean, balanced and much easier to
combine.

TEXTURE

💭 Does your outfit have enough texture to create depth and contrast? 08
 Sometimes, one piece naturally becomes the focus
of the outfit. In those cases, the rest of the outfit
usually works better when it stays simple and
balanced around it.

One of the most common mistakes is trying to make every piece stand out at the same time.

A strong jacket, loud trousers and statement shoes together often create too much visual
noise. The cleanest outfits usually have one clear focal point. Once that piece leads the outfit,
everything else can stay simpler and more balanced.

That’s often what makes an outfit feel effortless rather than overstyled.

LET ONE PIECE

LEAD
09
FOOTWEAR
You can wear the same t-shirt and the same
trousers, but changing the shoes can completely
transform the outfit.

LOAFERS SNEAKERS SANDALS / BOOTS

The shoes I wear most are On more casual days, I usually During summer, elevated
probably leather loafers. They go for simple white sneakers. sandals work very well with
work with straight trousers, Clean silhouettes and neutral more relaxed outfits and lighter
denim and even more relaxed colours tend to work best fabrics. In winter, I tend to
outfits. Elegant without feeling because they combine easily wear leather boots more often,
too formal, they instantly make with the rest of my wardrobe especially with wool trousers or
most outfits feel cleaner and without taking too much denim, since they add a bit
more elevated. attention. more structure and weight to
the outfit.

10
One of the most common mistakes I see is
wearing trainers out of pure comfort.

People often think sneakers are the only

comfortable option, when in reality a good
pair of loafers or well-made shoes can be
just as comfortable.

The problem appears when trainers become

the automatic solution for everything.
And if they're also dirty or worn out, they
can completely ruin an outfit.

When I choose shoes, I mainly look for

comfort and versatility.

The pairs I wear most are usually the

ones that combine naturally with
almost everything in my wardrobe.

💭 Do your shoes complement the outfit or completely change the feeling of it? 11
 You can wear a good t-shirt, well-cut trousers and the
right footwear. But many times what gives an outfit its
final intention is the small details. Accessories shouldn't
be the centre of the look. Their job is to accompany and
reinforce what already works.

ACCESSORIES

12
In my case I tend to go for simple, discreet A good watch adds presence in a very
accessories. Less is more, and that applies here subtle way. It doesn’t need to be loud or
more than anywhere else. expensive, just clean, balanced and
easy to wear with most outfits. Small
A minimal sunglasses, a ring, a simple elegant details like this often make everything
bracelet or a fine chain can add real character feel more considered.
and personality to an outfit without competing
with it.

If you need to carry things, a structured leather

bag in brown or black is always a better choice
than a sports backpack.

💭 Do your accessories complement the outfit or compete with it? 13

 Your fragrance helps build an
identity. The way you want to be
perceived, the impression you
leave in a room, the feeling
someone associates with you
after you've left. In a way, your
perfume defines you.

It's something that goes

unnoticed when you don't have
one, but makes a real difference
when you do. Taking the time to
find a fragrance you genuinely
identify with, one that feels like
an extension of your aesthetic, is
worth every bit of effort.

Clean, elegant and easy to wear.

Just like everything else in this
guide.

PERFUME
Perfume is also part of style, even if you can't see it. It's
one of the most powerful tools of differentiation and
recognition you have.

14
BUY LESS
BUY BETTER
One of the most common mistakes when building a wardrobe is buying too much without thinking
enough about what actually works long term. Many people buy pieces they like in the moment, but
end up barely wearing them after a few months.

Over time, I realised the solution isn’t having more clothes, but having better pieces.

When your wardrobe is built around good fits, timeless colours and versatile pieces, everything
becomes much easier to combine and wear repeatedly without getting tired of it.

A smaller wardrobe with the right pieces usually creates far more outfits than a wardrobe full of
trends.

Does it fit my style? Does the fit work on me? Will it

combine naturally with the rest of my wardrobe?

If the answer is yes to all three, it’s usually a good buy.

💭 Could you naturally build at least three outfits around this piece? 15
YOUR SIGNATURE
With time, style stops being something you're
searching for and starts becoming something
you recognise.

Over time, after trying different combinations and understanding what suits you, you naturally start
building your own way of dressing.

It’s not about following every trend. It’s about understanding what works for you.

In my case, that meant simpler pieces, neutral colours, good proportions and clothes that feel easy
to combine and wear for years. Nothing complicated, just a style that feels clear and natural.

Elegant.
Confident.
Timeless.
Clean.

16
THE RULE
Find what suits you. Repeat it.

17
FINAL WORD
Throughout this Playbook, we’ve talked about
uniforms, proportions, neutral colours, texture,
tailoring, and essential pieces.

But in the end, style becomes clear when you see

it in practice.

These outfits represent the combinations I return

to most in my everyday life. They are not
complicated looks or outfits built for one specific
moment. They are reliable formulas shaped by
the principles we’ve covered throughout this
book.

Most of them begin with the same foundation:

straight or wide trousers, neutral tones, clean
footwear, and simple pieces that work together
instead of competing for attention.

This chapter is not about copying these looks

exactly.
It is about understanding the logic behind them.

Once you find silhouettes, colours, and

combinations that consistently suit you, getting
dressed becomes easier.

You stop guessing.

You simply repeat what already works.

The fabric changes.

The season changes.
The statement piece changes.

The structure stays the same.

18
 Uniform 1 The Summer Uniform

Fitted white T-shirt, wide beige trousers, and black loafers. A clean, masculine,
timeless look built on proportion and fit.

Why it works: soft contrast, clean lines, balanced silhouette.

Best for: summer days, holidays, lunches, everyday wear.

↗ Find my outfit here 19

 Uniform 2 Daily Essentials

Light blue shirt, wide straight denim, and dark loafers. The perfect daily
uniform.

Why it works: timeless staples and strong proportions.

Best for: everyday wear, relaxed office, travel.

↗ Find my outfit here 20

 Uniform 3 Texture for Heat

Cream knit polo, flowing brown trousers, and suede loafers. Elegant, breathable,
effortless.

Why it works: rich fabrics, earthy tones, clean silhouette.

Best for: warm days, terraces, weekend escapes.

↗ Find my outfit here 21

 Uniform 4 Coastal Ease

Light white shirt, dark brown straight trousers, and black loafers. Fresh, refined,
natural.

Why it works: classic contrast and airy fabrics.

Best for: holidays, brunch, seaside walks.

↗ Find my outfit here 22

 Uniform 5 Dark Minimal

Navy T-shirt, navy wide pinstripe trousers, structured bag, and brown shoes.
Minimalism with attitude.

Why it works: strong base, sharp accessories, elegant drape.

Best for: city wear, dinners, creative events.

↗ Find my outfit here 23

 Uniform 6 Leather Balance

Black leather jacket, white henley, and wide dark trousers. Confident and
timeless.

Why it works: the jacket leads, everything else supports.

Best for: evenings, transitional weather, weekends.

↗ Find my outfit here 24

 Uniform 7 Winter Presence

Long dark coat, black turtleneck, and wide trousers. Strong and elegant
silhouette.

Why it works: monochrome depth, structure, vertical lines.

Best for: winter days, travel, city dressing

↗ Find my outfit here 25

 Uniform 8 Mediterranean Contrast

Open navy shirt, cream linen trousers, and camel sandals. Relaxed
sophistication.

Why it works: clean contrast with Mediterranean energy.

Best for: sunset drinks, terraces, holidays.

↗ Find my outfit here 26

 Uniform 9 Soft Tailoring Daily

Brown blazer, open striped shirt, wide denim, and dark loafers. Relaxed tailoring
with a casual base.

Why it works: formal meets informal with natural ease.

Best for: city days, casual meetings, dinners.

↗ Find my outfit here 27

 Uniform 10 Modern Formal

Double-breasted navy suit, white shirt, and vintage tie. Formal style with
personality.

Why it works: classic foundations with a modern fit.

Best for: weddings, business events, important meetings.

↗ Find my outfit here 28

THE ESSENTIALS

THE STYLE
PLAYBOOK
Thanks for reading.

I created this playbook to share the principles

that completely changed the way I dress and
understand style.

My goal is simple:
to help you build a wardrobe that feels
effortless, intentional and truly your own.

This is only the beginning.

Nicolas Bohigues

NEVER MISS ANYTHING FOLLOW MY JOURNEY

Future editions If you want to see more about my daily style, outfits
New recommendations and travels, you can find me here.
Seasonal updates
@nicobohigues

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