10 Fashion Don’ts for GUYS

Socks and sandals.

Need we even discuss this? Who decided this was a good look? If it’s too cold for bare feet, it’s too cold for sandals. Either bare your toes or hide your feet entirely — fashion sense dictates that you can never split the difference.

Sweat socks with dress clothes.

Unless your job is in the great outdoors or a gym, there’s no reason to wear white socks with your work clothes. Dress socks are thinner and tend to be in the black, blue, gray or brown color families. Match your socks to your clothes and not your shoes — blue suit, blue socks and black shoes.

Make sure your dress socks are long enough that your bare leg doesn’t show when you cross your legs. If your socks only come to mid-calf, they may not be long enough for complete coverage. If they are losing elasticity, throw them out or use them as dust rags — in the world of wardrobe expenses, socks are pretty affordable.

Baggy shirts and pants only work for teens. If you wear loose-fitting clothes because you’re self-conscience about your body, find a good tailor who can adjust your clothes so they complement your body. When you extend your arm, your sleeve should cover your wrists and stop about where your thumb begins. Your pants should cover the top third of your shoe.

Over-patterned or too bright looks.

A checked shirt, a paisley tie and a seersucker suit are just too many patterns for one person. Likewise, a yellow shirt, a red and white striped tie and a blue suit make you look like the spokesman for a major fast-food restaurant. Think subtle pattern and color combinations.

Messy shoes.

Scuffed or dirty shoes indicate you’re not paying attention to small details that can make or break an outfit. If the heels are worn or there are holes in the sole, have them repaired, or buy a new pair.
Too short (or long) ties. What is the correct tie length? The end of the tie should fall right at the middle of your belt. Too short looks clownish and too long looks childish.
Dirty, wrinkled or damaged garments.

Make sure there are no sweat stains on your dress shirts, T-shirts or polo shirts—think collars and armpits. Throw out shirts with ink spots or other stains. Keep your dress shirts fresh by having them dry cleaned and lightly starched for a crisp, professional look. If you want to avoid dry-cleaning chemicals and smells, there are green dry cleaners everywhere.

Some dress shirts are now perma-press or wash-and-wear. To clean these shirts, use mild detergent and cold water. Promptly remove them from the dryer and iron with starch.

Short-sleeved shirts with ties.

Unless you want to look like Dwight on The Office or manage a hamburger restaurant, avoid wearing a tie with short-sleeved, button-down shirts. There’s no way to make this look professional. If you get warm in a long-sleeved shirt, roll up the sleeves.

Too many buttons.

If your jacket has two or three buttons, always leave the bottom button open. It has a classic, smooth look that is always in style.

Tank tops.

Gentlemen, please save the sleeveless shirts for the gym! Tank tops are almost never okay.