Actor. Model. Risk taker. In his mid-twenties, Evan Mock is a professional extrovert. He loves a fit that grabs the attention of the paparazzi. He errs on the side of sexy – sheer shirts, cropped at the naval – while he’s got a style that reflects his interests. He’s a proper skater boi and his fashion choices are a mingling of ramp-ready Dickies pieces, Nike Dunks, fuzzy shearling jackets cargos slashed at the knees.

How to dress in your twenties: 7 golden rules

1) Go for slim cuts

You are in the best shape of your life right now, and that’s without slaving for hours in the gym. Good old metabolism. Make the most of it by searching out clothes with slim cuts (note: not skinny cuts) that don’t swamp you in acres of excess fabric.

2) Get to know your colour

Now’s the time to figure out which colours work best for you. As a general rule, lighter colours work best on darker skin tones (pale blue, yellow, pastel pink, white) and darker colours work best on lighter skin tones (navy blue, dark green, dark red, brown). When you’ve decided on which you feel most comfortable in, adopt it as the backbone of your accessories game. If you invest in socks, pocket squares and ties that are both solid and have hints of the colour in a pattern, you have created a thoroughly interchangeable selection.

3) Experiment

There are more shops out there catering to guys in their twenties than in any other age bracket. Make the most of it by trying out different patterns and more trend-led items that can be added to your core wardrobe as the seasons change: smart jogging bottoms, colourful Nineties-style fleeces or summer-appropriate sandals, should budgets allow.

4) Make friends with a tailor and a barber

Never, ever underestimate the power of a good haircut and an expertly fitted suit. Get to know these men and/or women now and they will keep you looking good for years to come. Remember, a relatively inexpensive suit can look like it’s come from Savile Row if it’s fitted right.

5) Learn to look after your shoes

This is a decade where making the right first impression counts, whether that be going on a job interview or getting out there on the dating scene. It’s often said that shoes are the first thing a person notices about your outfit, either consciously or subconsciously, are your shoes – so they’d better be shiny. If you don’t know how to polish your formal shoes yet, take a look at our handy How To. For trainers, invest in a bottle of Mr Black’s shoe cleaner spray, which will keep your trainers looking fresh.

6) Slowly build your wardrobe’s depth

At this age, you hopefully make the transition from dead broke, buying clothes entirely for their function of keeping you warmer and not-so-naked, to something where your little bit of money affords some choice. Our advice, pad out your wardrobe and that means making sure you are covering all of the basics. Buy a shit tonne of white T-shirts and black T-shirts. Buy different colours of jeans, a few different trouser types and colours, a few blazers, a few different colours and style of shirts, a few different colours of jumpers. It’s all about breadth. So that when you buy clothes you are excited about wearing, you have the back catalogue to be able to style them out properly too.