As promised we are here again today with our Part II in the Men’s Style Mistakes series. In Part I we discussed about some style mistakes related to shorts, trousers, shirts and t-shirts. Today we will be discussing mistakes related to general styling as well as mistakes related to men’s accessories. Enjoy reading!
MISTAKE #11 - IGNORING THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY FABRICS
Fit, style, brand – a lot of things are considered while buying clothes. What usually gets ignored is the quality of the fabric. Without quality there is little true value of the clothing since it won’t feel good or look lustrous, won’t last long and won’t age well. Cheap materials can be spotted a mile off. So do not scrimp short term. Always go for quality that lasts. Style is always enhanced with good quality fabrics.
Try the exquisite quality of The Cotton® London’s wide range of Italian dress shirts, Italian Chino trousers and shorts, 100% SUPIMA cotton t-shirts and luxurious Sea Island & Egyptian cotton socks and feel the difference. We believe in quality over quantity, timeless style over fast fashion and give meticulous detail to everything we do.
MISTAKE #12 - WEARING MORE THAN ONE PATTERN PER OUTFIT
A good rule of thumb is to limit number of patterns in an outfit to a minimum. Clashing patterns, prints and colours make your look too busy and devoid of any style sense. If you are wearing a colourful floral printed shirt then keep your chinos and shoes simple. If you are wearing printed shorts then pair it with a plain one coloured t-shirt.
However with suits, you can get away with two mild patterns. If you are wearing a patterned suit then you can match it with a solid shirt and patterned tie or if you are wearing a solid suit then you can wear a mild printed shirt and tie. However if everything in your look is patterned then it starts to look less refined and too conflicting.
MISTAKE #13 – NOT MAKING SURE YOUR STYLE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR AGE
As men get older and wiser, their style should naturally evolve with them. It’s cringe worthy seeing a 50-year old guy dressing up like a 20 something. Some points to keep in mind for a refined and mature style are:
- Stick with simpler colours, cleaner looks and more classic styles. Avoiding things like graphic print t-shirts and hoodies and opting for things like fitted blazers, oxford shirts and navy chinos is recommended for guys over 35.
- Avoid trends, and aim for a smarter style. Rotating shirts, jackets, accessories, trousers can add variety within a similar style.
MISTAKE #14 - SOCKS WITH SANDALS – A MAJOR NO-NO
Socks and sandals are never a good look. Wear sandals without socks or just don’t wear sandals at all! Instead, go for a slick pair of white sneakers without socks if you do not want to go sockless with sandals.
MISTAKE #15 - WRONG SOCKS WITH A SUIT
This may be the most common error made by well-meaning but clueless men. The temptation to match your socks to your shoes is an obvious one, but it’s the wrong idea. For professional and formal occasions, socks should match with the trouser colour to give a unified line. If you are feeling adventurous in casual gatherings then you can try with coloured and patterned socks which are stylish and fun. But care should always be taken to wear them casually; they aren’t considered suitable for formal meetings and black tie events.
MISTAKE #16 - DRESS SOCKS THAT AREN’T LONG ENOUGH
When wearing a suit, a man’s socks should always come up to the calves, and stay there. When crossing legs, no part of the leg should be visible. So it is important to invest in good quality socks with good ribbing so they stay in place. Try our luxurious and incredibly durable Sea Island cotton and Egyptian cotton socks.
MISTAKE #17 - MISMATCHED SHOES AND BELT
Too often men do not match the colour and the formality of their belts with their shoes which breaks the coherency of their outfit. Shiny leather shoes call for formal shiny belt in similar colour; likewise match your canvas shoes with thicker woven canvas belt, sneakers with fabric belts, so on and so forth.
Explore the contemporary hues and style of The Cotton® London’s handmade in England canvas and braided belts to complete the coherency of your smart-casual ensemble.
MISTAKE #18 - WEARING A BELT WITH A SUSPENDER
Suspenders and belts have the same purpose, holding your trousers in place. You don’t need both to do the same job, so use only one at a time!
MISTAKE #19 - INAPPROPRIATE HEADGEAR
Hats — especially fedoras and other dressier hats — are totally outdated in 2017. It’s not the 1920s! Instead, wear absolutely nothing on your head.
MISTAKE #20 - IMPROPER GROOMING
Grooming is very important. A stylish guy is never unkempt. Whether it is his beard, stubble, shoes, nails everything is prim and proper. When a guy is messy & shabby, others notice and not in a good way!
That’s it for today! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our lists of styling mistakes and suggestions on how to avoid them and they have helped you in understanding men’s fashion and style better.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
The Cotton Team!
