7 easy tricks men should use to dress better, according to a Fortune 500 employee turned fashion influencer

He spent the early days of his career in tech, working for Fortune 500 companies in their software sales departments. All the while, he was making videos about his life on TikTok.

He began focusing on his fashion specifically about two years ago, which grew his audience and inspired Nicoll.

"I just geek out on buying new pieces and styling them," he told BI. "Fashion brings me a lot of fulfillment. I can talk about it for hours on end and not get bored."

Viewers also resonated with his passion. In February, he officially transitioned from part-time creator to full-time influencer.

"My fashion is pretty simple if you look at it from a 50,000-foot view," he said. "I used to be kind of insecure about it, but now I think it's why my style resonates with so many people."

While working in tech, Nicoll's style was limited.

"I felt like I had a dress in a very simple, straightforward way," he said. "You'd maybe wear some ABC Lululemon pants or chinos and a branded polo of your company. There was very little room to experiment there."

So, he found a different place to express himself: the gym.

"I always loved having really nice gym fits because they made me feel better about myself," he said. "The gym was the place where I first started caring about my outfits quite a lot — and then that trickled into my daily fashion."

If the gym doesn't work for you, try finding inspiration wherever you're most comfortable. It could be the golf course, nights out with your friends, or anywhere in between.

Nicoll told BI that every man should have three wardrobe staples: a high-quality white T-shirt and two solid pairs of jeans (one in black and another in light-wash blue).

The three basics feel comfortable, look effortless, and can be used as bases for more statement-making accessories.

Specifically, Nicoll recommends shopping for jeans at Madewell and COS, and T-shirts at Uniqlo and Abercrombie & Fitch.

"Baggy jeans are trendy, and for a while, I preferred straight jeans," he said. "But the happy medium is a relaxed fit. I think they're timeless."

Layers, Nicoll said, are where "you get to spice things up."

In the winter, that can mean wearing a cardigan or hoodie over your shirt and then a puffer vest or jacket on top. The extra pieces can add unique color combinations and different textures to your look.

But layering can also be synonymous with accessorizing. Why limit yourself to a shirt, pants, and shoes when you could also wear a hat, some jewelry, and a crossbody bag?

Nicoll is particularly fond of translucent sunglasses — the $65 Cumbi style from Meller gets him many compliments, he said — and hats from brands like Huega House and Aug 11.

Nicoll said these extra pieces are ideal for "adding your own flair" and "making the difference in men's fashion," whether worn for function or style.

Silhouette trends have been everywhere in recent years — especially in the world of women's fashion.

Gen Z, in particular, has become obsessed with mixing and matching shapes; they wear tight, short tops with baggy bottoms and pair oversize T-shirts with miniskirts.

As Nicoll noted, men can also use silhouettes in their styling.

"Two years ago, I was wearing very slim jeans and oversize tees, and I thought that was a cool look," he told BI. "I do like that style on other people, but the trends have really shifted, and now I find my comfort level is in relaxed jeans and tops that are more cropped. It creates an almost hourglass look, and I think it's more flattering for my personal physique."

To get started, he recommends shopping at retailers that sell classic pieces with modern twists, such as COS. He especially likes the $135 Dome jeans and $99 Relaxed Textured Resort shirt.

"I think it's really slept on for men's fashion," he said of the London-based brand. "It's a good place to play around with classic silhouettes and pieces that are a little bit more playful and different."

"There are cropped looks and boxy ones, which I really like," he added. "Those shapes allow you to add some personality to your outfits."

"I always joke and call myself a 'beige baby' because I hardly ever wear color," Nicoll said. "And that's what I suggest for other men as well. You can get a lot more use out of neutral pieces because they coincide and match so easily."

Still, he isn't against making menswear more vibrant — he just thinks you should save it for the accents of outfits.

Nicoll uses hats to add pops of color to his casual looks and jewelry to brighten formal attire.

"If you can wear a watch with a blue or green face, that's a great way to add a little pop," he said. "Or if your sweater has some color, drape it over your shoulders. You may not want to go full out, but there are definitely little details you can add."

After working in tech for six years, Nicoll is well-versed in the industry's unofficial uniform. Despite its popularity, though, he said men can improve upon it.

"As much as I love Patagonia — I think it's a great brand — branching away from the Patagonia vest doesn't mean you're going to look less professional in any way. You can add your own style to the tech look, maybe spend a bit more time looking at vests, and not buy the one that everybody else in the office has."

He feels similarly about everyday outfits and says men "need to be cautious about following trends" to avoid losing their individuality and buying cheaply made pieces.

One way to do that is to try shopping at different stores.

He said that while H&M and Zara are hit or miss in terms of quality and selection, other popular brands like Uniqlo, Madewell, and Abercrombie & Fitch have leveled up and offer better pieces more consistently.

Nicoll said dressing better can help one maintain a positive mindset, which "sets you up for success."

"I've come to love that about fashion — it goes a long way with improving confidence," he said.

Still, he thinks it's important that men know "it's a journey to build your wardrobe."

"Someone could look at my videos and think, 'This guy has everything.' But it's taken me two years to collect all of these things," he said, referencing his physical wardrobe and the fashion hacks he's learned.

"So, just take your time and build it up, slowly but surely," he said.