What Is Good Taste? How Any Man Can Develop It (Even If You Grew Up in a Trailer)

Some men just have it.

You see them walk into a room and everything just… works. The fit of their jacket, the fragrance they’re wearing, the confidence in their stride—it all says one thing:

“I know what I like. I know who I am.”

But here’s the truth:

No one is born with great taste.

It’s not genetic. It’s not reserved for the wealthy. And it’s definitely not out of reach for the average guy.

In fact, developing good taste is one of the most rewarding skills any man can cultivate—and in this article, I’ll show you how to do it, step by step.

Whether we’re talking about clothing, watches, food, or even pro wrestling—yes, really—good taste can be learned.

Let’s break it down.

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Why Good Taste Matters (And Why Most Men Never Develop It)

Before we dive into how to build good taste, let’s address the big question:

Why bother?

Some of you are thinking, “Antonio, who cares if my boots are stylish or my watch has heritage? I just want to live my life.”

But here’s the thing…

When you care about something—trucks, lifting, cigars, steak, whatever—you naturally start to learn more about it.

And when you learn more about something, you enjoy it more. You appreciate the details. You notice what other people overlook. You extract more flavor from the experience.

That’s what good taste does—it gives you more.

• More enjoyment.
• More confidence.
• More ability to signal value, precision, and authenticity.

So the real question isn’t “Why care?”

It’s: “Why settle for a watered-down experience of life?”

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The 4 Foundations of Good Taste

1. Awareness: Open Your Eyes

The first step to developing good taste is simply this:

Pay attention.

For 43 years of my life, I didn’t care about fragrance.

Then one day, I leaned in. I started noticing how different scents made me feel. How they triggered memories. How they added a silent layer of presence to every outfit I wore.

Same thing happened with watches. And suits. And boots. And even professional wrestling (shoutout to Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka).

Once you become aware of something—once you see that there’s a whole world beneath the surface—you can’t unsee it.

And that awareness is the gateway to taste.

So start looking around. Start listening. Start smelling.

You’ll be shocked at how much depth there is in things you used to walk right past.

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2. Education: Learn the Craft

Let me be real with you:

Most men will never develop good taste because they’re too lazy to learn.

They want the shortcut. The 30-second TikTok. The bullet-point summary.

But if you want to develop true taste, you need depth.

And that comes from education.

Now, education doesn’t mean you need to buy $100 hardcover books (though I’ve done that).

It means you:

• Watch YouTube channels that go deep (like mine).
• Follow people with real expertise on Instagram.
• Read blogs, guides, and books—even the weird niche ones.
• Ask questions. Get curious.

Here’s the rule:

If you want to develop good taste in something, study it like you’re going to teach it.

The more you understand the history, the craftsmanship, the nuance—the sharper your taste becomes.

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3. Authenticity: Don’t Fake It

This one is simple:

Taste without authenticity is just status-chasing.

You can wear the most expensive watch in the room—but if you’re only wearing it to show off, it’s not in good taste.

On the other hand…

If that watch means something to you—if it marks a milestone, tells a story, reminds you of your father—that’s real.

And people can feel that difference.

Authenticity gives taste its weight.

So whether it’s your haircut, your fragrance, or your car—make sure it reflects you, not who you’re trying to impress.

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4. Experience: Get Your Hands Dirty

“But Antonio,” you say, “how can I have good taste in watches if I can’t afford a Rolex?”

Great question.

Here’s the answer:

You don’t need to own something to experience it.

You just need to engage with it.

• Walk into that luxury menswear store and try on a Zegna sport coat.
• Visit the watch boutique and try on that Cartier Santos.
• Sample Creed Aventus at Nordstrom—even if you don’t buy it.

You can build experience through:

• Touch – feel the fabric, the leather, the weight.
• Smell – understand notes in fragrances.
• Sight – train your eye to notice proportion, color, texture.

You’d be shocked how much taste you can develop just by interacting with high-quality pieces—without spending a dime.

And once you can buy your first piece? That’s when the real magic happens.

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Where Should a Man Develop Good Taste?

Taste isn’t just for style. It applies across your whole life.

Here are 5 areas every man should focus on:

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1. Your Body

Yes, your physical body.

But we’re not talking six-pack abs or Insta-perfect biceps.

Good taste in fitness means being intentional.

A sumo wrestler, a marathon runner, and a CrossFit athlete all have radically different bodies—but each has trained intentionally for their goals.

That’s good taste.

Choose a form of movement you enjoy—rucking, hiking, rowing, boxing—and commit to it.

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2. Your Clothing & Grooming

You knew this was coming.

But let’s make one thing clear:

Dressing with good taste doesn’t mean wearing a suit.

You can have great taste in:

• Streetwear
• Western wear
• Gothic fashion
• Casual athletic style

The key is fit, proportion, harmony, and self-awareness.

Same with grooming. Your haircut should reflect your lifestyle, your face shape, and your goals—not a trend from 5 years ago.

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3. Accessories

This is where taste really shines—and where it’s easiest to mess up.

Because accessories are subtle. They whisper, they don’t shout.

• Watches
• Pocket squares
• Jewelry
• Bags
• Sunglasses

You can spend $100 and look like a million bucks. Or you can spend $10,000 and look like a try-hard.

That’s why taste matters.

And in the world of accessories, less is usually more.

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4. Food

Here’s a game-changer: develop great taste in food.

You don’t need to be a Michelin chef. But you should know:

• How to cook a steak to your liking.
• What medium-rare actually looks like.
• How to season vegetables properly.
• The difference between undercooked pasta and al dente.

And once you do?

Every meal becomes 10X better.

(Just be warned: you’ll ruin 90% of restaurants for yourself. My kids refuse to eat at most places because we all cook better at home.)

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5. Art, Music & Culture

This is the “soft” side of taste.

But don’t overlook it.

Visit museums. Talk to artists. Learn the history behind a song or sculpture. Ask yourself why something moves you.

Because once you gain cultural fluency, your conversations get deeper. Your worldview expands. You become more… interesting.

And gentlemen, in a world of surface-level noise, interesting men stand out.

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The Real Power of Good Taste

Good taste isn’t about impressing others.

It’s about enriching your own experience of life.

It’s the difference between living in black and white… and living in full color.

You’ll enjoy more. Appreciate more. Feel more.

And best of all?

You’ll start to attract people—not because you’re flashy or loud—but because you radiate discernment.

That’s power.

So, gents, what area of your life are you ready to level up?

Clothing? Cooking? Watches? Fragrances?

And if you're ready to sharpen your taste in style—check out my Style System course. I took the best of what I’ve learned from 100+ books and decades of experience and boiled it down into an actionable, step-by-step system designed to make you the best-dressed man in the room.

Click here to learn more about the Style System

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