As a man, dressing well should not be hard. A lot of it comes down to not making mistakes, rather than wearing flashy outfits or having some kind of sixth sense for fashion. We’ll explore how you can avoid these basic men’s fashion mistakes.
Most men should stick to simple basics with their style. Avoiding the mistakes below while nailing simple style moves will make you stand out in a quiet, confident way.
- Wearing things one size too big
- Inappropriate footwear
- Skimping on grooming
- Juvenile attire
- Overcomplicating a simple outfit
Wearing things one size too big
This is one of the most common men’s fashion mistakes. Your attire should not be skin-tight, but most men should at least try sizing down on their shirts and pants to see if the fit flatters them better. It usually will.
Some baggier styles are coming back in fashion, but you should look to wear clothing that accentuates masculine features. Shirts should fit to make your waist look slimmer and shoulders bigger. Pants should give your legs some shape and not flare out or bunch up at the bottom. Shorts should hit above the knee.
Executing all of these fit basics will make you look more attractive and put together, as well as taller and slimmer – something that will benefit almost all men. These advantages can usually be achieved by sizing down or taking your clothes to a good tailor.
Now, if you are muscular, don’t size down too much to where things are skin-tight or pinching/pulling on your body. You still should look comfortable and be mobile. Your clothes should skim your body without restricting movement.
Below is a good example of what not to do. Unfortunately, this is all too common. (If you have Simon Cowell’s money you can get away with this)
Inappropriate footwear
Technical running shoes with chinos or nice jeans. Shiny dress shoes with casual jeans. Overly casual shoes with a suit. Too many grown men are making these basic mistakes.
Wear technical/sporty shoes with workout attire only. Check out these foundational shoes you need for your wardrobe, and when you should wear them for the rest of your outfits. Don’t look like the fellas below, which again, is all too common.
Skimping on grooming
You have to wear your haircut everywhere. Avoid the clip joints that churn out cheap looking haircuts. It’s obvious to everyone when your hair is butchered. Go ahead and spend $10-$20 extra bucks per month to get a real professional to cut it. You’ll look and feel better all the time. Do some google searching and find a place with good reviews for men’s cuts – it’s well worth the investment.
As for your other grooming, change your razors out regularly (we’ve all been there hanging on to a razor for too long…). There are a ton of companies that deliver razors to your door, if that’s the issue. Even if you sport a full face of hair, which can look great on some men, you should keep it trimmed regularly.
Nothing is worse than an overly scraggly beard or unkempt stubble. You know if you can’t grow a good beard or if your stubble is patchy. If this is you, then shave regularly and embrace the clean cut look. If you do shave regularly, invest in a decent shaving gel or cream (with little or no alcohol) and a good aftershave lotion.
And obviously make sure to shower everyday. Don’t cheap out on soap either – it will dry out your skin and make you look older. Spend a couple bucks more on something with all natural ingredients. Here is a good resource if you’re not sure where to start.
Juvenile attire
Graphic tees. T-shirts with “clever” wording. Old college hoodies. Ratty sweatpants. Overly ripped jeans. Sports jerseys (unless you’re at the game). You are a grown man, don’t wear these things anymore.
While it should go without saying, too many men are going out in public looking like 15 year-olds. You’re better than that. Below are couple pics of how bad it can look.
Overcomplicating a simple outfit
You see it all the time – mismatched patterns, too many accessories, too many bold “statement” pieces in one outfit. When in doubt, keep it simple.
Plain or muted patterns usually match well with each other (bolder patterns can match, but it’s not easy to pull off). Men usually look better with only a couple accessories with an outfit (watch, wedding ring, pocket square, and maybe one other thing if you’re dressed up). Leave the excessive accessories to the celebrities.
If you’re going to wear something more noticeable in your outfit (i.e. a bright pair of chinos, or a bold pattern sport coat or shirt), everything else should be toned down. Wearing one bolder or more colorful piece in your outfit can be a great look, but let that one piece stand out.
See the images below courtesy of Well Built Style (check out this site for great style and fitness advice). The pic on the far left is a great example of how to incorporate a bolder piece in your outfit. Keep everything else simple. All the other outfits are way too busy. You should avoid this, as you want your clothes to make you look good, not to grab attention for their own sake.
Avoid these basic men’s fashion mistakes, and you’ll stand out over 95% of the population. When in doubt, keep it simple and classic.