Have Swag
Having swag isn't about having the perfect wardrobe -- it's about having the right mindset and attitude. Yeah, a great pair of kicks or the right pair of sunglasses can help, but having swag is about having the attitude that makes everything you do, say, and wear look cool. If you want to have swag, you'll need to adjust your attitude -- and then you can start stepping your wardrobe up. If you want to know how to have swag, then just follow these steps.
Steps
Adjust Your Attitude
- Be proud to strut your stuff. Having swag is all about being confident. If you just bought a new piece of clothing or are trying out a new hairdo and are starting to worry that you may look ridiculous, it will show. If you don't have faith in your appearance and are feeling iffy about your personal style or the words that come out of your mouth, then the people around you will start to doubt you as well.
- Whatever you're doing, own it. Don't look around, seek approval from others, or ask people if "it's okay" if you check out the movie you wanted to see or step into a funky clothing store.
- Don't spend hours looking in the mirror, checking yourself out, or asking your friends if your new kicks are ridiculous. Look in the mirror, know you look good, and walk on.
- Stand tall, walk with your head high and your shoulders up instead of slouching. Look ahead, not down at your feet or the floor, to let people know you're happy to be who you are and are proud to take up space.
- Make it personal. Having swag isn't just about copying urban trends or mimicking your favorite rapper -- though your role models and friends can help influence your style, you should add your own personal flair to your wardrobe, your mannerisms, and your words. Figuring out what makes you unique is part of finding your personal brand, the thing that you can do that is undoubtedly a part of who you are. Here are some ways to make your swag personal:
- Maybe you like to dress urban chic as a girl, but you also love to rock pigtails once in a while.
- Maybe you're the only guy in your school who can make neon kicks look cool.
- Maybe you love giving a thumbs-up while winking in a way that's so corny that it becomes cool again.
- Maybe you're the guy who is always laughing, no matter what.
- Don't be a hater. You may think that having swag means being so cool that you're surrounded by little underlings who are vying for your attention -- that you need to constantly put people down and make them feel like they're not good enough to prove how cool you are. Well, in fact, the opposite is true. To have swag, you have to be cool with everyone.
- This doesn't mean you should be best friends with everyone, or spend hours complementing or sucking up to everyone you see -- it just means that people should want to be around you because you're not consumed by hate, jealousy, and bitterness.
- You may think that putting people down will lift you up, but in reality, it'll just show how insecure you are.
- If people around you are hating, then you should check them or find some new friends to hang out with.
- Hang out with people who make you want to be better. This doesn't mean you should latch on to the hip or popular kids at school just because you think it'll make you popular by association. It does mean that you should gravitate toward other people with swag because they'll make you know what it means to truly have swag, and because you'll be able to pick up some tips on how to act and what to wear just by hanging around you.
- If you hang around some people you would describe as "dead weight" just because you're too nice or you've been friends for a long time, but they don't have much to offer, then it may be time to cut them loose.
- If you know some people with swag but you don't know them well, then take it slow. Don't just start trying to hang out with them all the time or they'll think you're a lackey.
- Learn from Role Models Pick a few people that you admire, and let them guide you in your path to swaghood. They don't have to be the coolest people in the world, but they do have to inspire you in some way, whether it's because they make you want to pursue your dreams, kick your style up a notch, or even to improve on your lack of patience. Here are some role models that can inspire you:
- Someone in your family. Do you wish you had your mom's sense of humor or your grandma's ability to make anyone in the world feel better? Maybe you've always admired your older brother's work ethic. Do what you can to try to develop these qualities.
- Favorite musician. Do you love Mariah, Kanye, or Lady Gaga? Or are you more into the retro artists like Mick Jagger or Otis Redding? Whoever your favorite artist is, see what you can learn from him or her apart from the musical talent -- you can probably learn to be more independent, to have more fun, and to walk with style.
- Favorite athlete. What can you learn from LeBron, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, or Coco Crisp that you can't find in the halls of your own school? Watch these athletes both on and off the field and find something you admire about them.
- Favorite public figure. Do you admire Obama, Wendy Davis, or even more outlandish figures like Snooki from the Jersey Shore or the comedian Bill Burr? Whoever you like, figure out what qualities you like about that person and what you can do to achieve them.
- Someone in your social circle. Find a role model right in your own friend group or community who can teach you a thing or two about life.
- Stop caring what other people think. If you really want to have swag, then you should do whatever makes you happy and not care about how others may perceive you -- as long as you're not being offensive or hurting people in the process. You should wear and say what makes you feel good -- not what you think will impress the hip crowd at your school.
- If you're obsessed with impressing people and trying to please others, you'll never get their respect.
- If someone makes fun of your clothes or something you like to do, don't let them bring you down. If you stop wearing a certain outfit because you got picked on, you're just giving in. Wear it again with even more pride.
- It's okay to ask the people you care about for their advice and opinions -- it's not okay to ask your friends to validate every little thing you do or everything you're thinking of doing.
- Be independent. A person with true swag is just as comfortable on his own as he is with a pack of friends. If you want to have swag, then you should work on being independent and being happy with doing your own thing instead of following what everyone else is doing just because you don't want to be forgotten or left out. To be independent, you have to develop your own interests, goals, and dreams.
- It's cool to spend a lot of time with your friends, but don't spend every minute of your free time being social. It's important to spend some time on your own to pursue your interests, whether it's writing songs, reading, or working out.
- Part of being independent is being an independent thinker. Don't be afraid to have your own thoughts instead of always agreeing with your friends just to avoid conflict.
- If your friends ask you to hang out but you'd rather do your own thing, level with them. They'll respect you even more if they know you have your own goals to work on.
Look Swag as a Guy
- Have the right body language. The most important thing is to keep your head high and to never look down at the ground unless you want to look lost and insecure. If you want to practice the "swag walk," you can try spreading your legs out a bit and tilt your feet out as you walk with a bit of extra bounce in your step. Keep your arms at your sides or use them to gesture as you talk, but don't cross them over your chest or you'll look unsure of yourself.
- Don't be afraid to smile. Smiling does not mean you're uncool.
- When you talk to people, make eye contact. Don't make it seem like you have more important things to do than to really pay attention to the person in front of you.
- Wear the right clothes. For guys, the clothes are less important than the accessories that go with them. Just make sure to wear a comfortable, loose-fitting t-shirt, a hoodie, a jersey, or any top that makes you feel and look good. As for pants, you can wear baggy basketball shorts or pants, any workout pants, or tight-fitting jeans.
- Though you may want to sag your pants because you think it'll make you have swag, a lot of girls are turned off by this, so it's your call.
- Avoid V-necks, if you can. They're too pretty for a traditional swag look.
- Be bold and wear a denim vest, striped sweater, or any retro look that you want to bring back with some hipness and flair.
- For a more dressy look, wear a button-down with a funky pattern.
- Your pants can be loose, but not so loose that they fall off you.
- You can't go wrong with a Look Good in a White T Shirt
- Wear a suit jacket with a white button-down shirt and a pair of jeans. You don't have to be going anywhere fancy to bring out the suit jacket.
- Rock the right kicks. If you want to have swag, then you have to have the right footwear. For guys, this mostly means sneakers unless you have to dress up -- and if you're feeling bold, you can get dressed up while still rocking a cool pair of sneakers.
- Jordan Retro's
- LeBron's
- Kobe's
- KD's
- Roshe Runs
- Nike SB
- Vans
- Sperry's
- Nike Foamposite's
- Converse High Tops
- Accessorize. For guys, a few key accessories can help kick an ordinary outfit into the realm of the extraordinary. You don't have to wear a ton of accessories, but you do have to choose your accessories carefully, whether you're rocking a new pair of sunglasses or wearing an old but eye-catching hat. Here are some things to keep in mind as you accessorize your outfit:
- Black frameless glasses or shutter shades
- A gold watch
- Any baseball hat
- Laplanders
- Snapbacks made by Mitchell and Ness, Zephyr, American Needle, New Era, and Last Kings
- If you have the money, go for a designer belt, such as Hermes, Gucci, Fendi, or Louis Vuitton
- Dog tags or chains
Look Swag as a Girl
- Have the right body language. To have girl swag, you have to own your body and make everyone see that you're proud of how you look. Walk with your shoulders up, your chest out a bit, and your head high. Avoid slouching at all costs and stand tall and proud. Smile at people and make eye contact, and don't be afraid to give a person a gentle touch when you're talking.
- When you walk into a room, don't hesitate. Look like you know where you're going even if you have no idea.
- Avoid fidgeting with your jewelry, zippers, or hands, or you'll look insecure.
- Wear swag tops. As long as you look good, you can wear any shirt that looks cool to you. Whether you're going for a tight-fitted or baggy look, all you have to do is own it, whether you're wearing tanks, belly-shirts, shirts with graphics or fun logos, or halter tops. Try wearing some of these tops to kick up your level of swag:
- Hoodies. Wear a hoodie with your favorite sports team's logo on it. For a retro look, wear a hoodie with your elementary or middle school's logo on it. That will be so dorky that it'll be cool all over again.
- Wear a T Shirt. A baggy t-shirt, tight t-shirt, or a graphic tee or shirt with a logo will all look cool. You can even wear a t-shirt that falls just above your belly button with a baggy pair of pants. The shirt can also have a well-known logo like Adidas or Under Armour on it.
- Tank tops. Go for a halter, spaghetti strap, or even a tube top if you're feeling bold. Tiny tanks look great under big, flashy jackets.
- Rock a gold or silver jacket. The more pockets and zippers, the better.
- A letterman jacket, even if it's ten years old, is definitely cool.
- Rock aWear a Jersey (Girls) Put on a jersey with your favorite current basketball player's last name on the back, or a Shaq or Jordan jersey for a more old school look. Pair it with a pair of leggings.
- Wear swag pants or shorts. Any pair of pants can help step up your wardrobe as long as you wear them with the right attitude. Anything from basketball shorts to cargo pants can make you look good as long as you rock them with pride. If you wear tight pants, try to pair them with a loose shirt, and if your pants are looser, they'll tend to look better with a tighter top. Try on these types of pants or shorts:
- Booty shorts, baggy basketball shorts, or Chachi pants
- Baggy sweats, baggy workout pants, or drop-crotch pants
- Skinny jeans, leggings, or jeggings
- Anything with Wear Leopard Print or anything loud or bright
- Have the right kicks. If you want to have girl swag, you can go for a trendy and sporty look or you can go more girly with the right pair of heels. You can decide whether you want your shoes to be the centerpiece of your outfit, or if they should just subtly tie your whole look together. Here are some pairs of kicks to wear if you want to rock out:
- Sneakers such as Jordans, Vans, Supra, Nikes, and Adidas
- Black and white Converse
- Chunky gold, silver, or black heels
- Simple Rainbows or other sandals
- Ballet flats
- Birkenstocks
- Accessorize with swag. You can decide if you want to go over-the-top with your accessories, or if you just like to wear one pair of earrings or the perfect hat to tie your look together. Whatever you want, there are a number of accessories that can help tie your outfit together. Try some of these:
- Bangles, spiky bracelets, or snap-on bracelets
- Gold or silver hoop earrings or hanging necklaces
- Chains
- Toe-rings
- Chunky Grandma rings
- Diamond studs in your ear or nose
- Teamsport beanies or fitted caps
- Bandanas
- Oversized frameless glasses
- Have stylish makeup and hair. To truly have swag, you don't have to put on five layers of makeup or mimic Rihanna's latest hairdo. You just have to do your own thing and bring more attention to your appearance. Here are a few things you can do:
- Wear a Modest but Noticeable Amount of Makeup you're comfortable with. If you love wearing makeup, rock it, but if it's not for you, that's cool too.
- Put on a light lipstick or lip gloss.
- Use dark eyeliner and shadow to create smoky eyes.
- Switch up your hairstyle from time to time. Dye it a loud color like purple or green once in a while, and go for short spiky Miley Cyrus type hair, or let your locks fall long past your shoulder.
Tips
- Have fun, don't be afraid to be yourself while you have swag. If you like something that doesn't have to do with swag, show it off!
- Wear nice shoes like Jordan's or LeBron they might be high but they are sure to give you swag.
