And now for a subject which can have a huge effect on your look and your style. It’s to do with the style mistakes that men often make. Avoid these and you will stand out from the crowd in terms of your appeal.
Knowing how to avoid these mistakes will put you ahead of your competitors. Fix these warnings in your mind and don’t forget them.
So, down to some serious business. Here are some of the main ‘Do Not’s’ of style:
Wrong Size
Shirt too big, T-shirts too baggy, jeans badly cut… it’s very easy to wear something too big. The visual effect is disastrous. Your silhouette will be totally obliterated. Strangely enough, wearing things that are too large actually makes you seem thin – as if you can’t fill your clothes – and gives the impression that you don’t know how to choose your outfits.
To avoid this, here’s some advice:
When you buy a piece of clothing, check to see that the size is right:
a. Shoulders: they shouldn’t go past the point of your shoulder bone. That’s also true for large items like overcoats and jackets. With leather jackets, especially, dropped shoulders are becoming popular and look fine when the size is right. Check that the sleeves end just above your wrist and that your hand doesn’t disappear inside the fabric.
b. The right ‘fit’: this is also about the quality of the piece, which means that if a garment is in your size, according to all the other criteria, and you are still swimming in it, it means it has probably been badly cut and you should find another. The well-cut piece, in your correct size, adds value to your look.
One more word of wisdom: when you are happy with a piece of clothing, try it in one size smaller and you might be surprised. Sometimes it will look even better. It’s harder to do that with jeans; they should be a pretty tight fit when you buy them because denim is a fabric that will relax with wear (so will the stitching). Otherwise, the jeans be too big after a few weeks.
Not looking after your shoes
Failing to look after shoes is a common failing among men and, even worse, coming up with all the excuses.
Neglect in the shoe department reflects a general neglect and, quite frankly, gives an impression of grubbiness. It isn’t necessary to have shoes that have a mirror-shine all the time but:
- put a shoetree inside your shoes to prevent creases
- once a week, treat your shoes to some moisturizer (yes, Nivea will do the trick) and a little wax, but not for your ‘top of the range’ shoes.
These simple tricks will take only 5 minutes but will put you on top of the heap.
Thinking of dressing yourself as a chore
Basically, for most men, buying a tee-shirt is a chore but choosing outfits should be about pleasure and relaxation. You can enjoy it and get something out of it.
‘Feel the moment’ and think of it as a way of sculpting an image that others will see and will then be able to form an impression of who you are, inside your carefully prepared shell.
Overdoing the accessories
Less is more. Wearing too many accessories will just create a “heavy” look.
Another mistake that beginners often make is to make ‘from the heart’ choices that clash with their overall style. Before buying an accessory that appeals to you, ask yourself whether it really goes with your total look.
So what should you do?
Simple. Limit yourself to wearing only 3 accessories and make sure they have impact – eg. watch, scarf and leather bracelet.
Ignoring the context
People who care about style are preoccupied with the way they wear their clothes but sometimes forget the context in which they wear them.
For example:
- a stylish trench coat in winter rather than a warm coat (it’s not sexy to freeze in the streets)
- a trench in summer when a well cut tee-shirt is enough
- wearing sunglasses in winter (unless you have swollen eyes)
sports clothes when you are not actually training (something you see everywhere, like football tracksuits and Nikes
Not looking after your clothes
Too many men invest in quality clothes and then neglect them. Too bad.
- having trousers altered to the right length doesn’t cost a fortune
- treat collar and cuffs with stain remover so as not to have to wash them at 100 degrees. A hot wash will often set the stains permanently.
Instead of launching ‘operation destruction’ with washing machine and iron as reinforcements, just read the labels.
You’ll find that following the washing instructions will make your basic items last longer, saving you money which you can spend on even more stylish items.
Putting (too much) faith in women’s judgment
When men go shopping they often go with a woman – either girlfriend or mother. Women generally have good taste but the trouble is, it only applies when they are shopping for themselves.
They have fairly limited knowledge when it comes to male fashion – creating masculine appeal, choosing a fabric that will stand up to wear, the right colour etc …
They don’t know how to send out the right ‘masculine’ message and will probably automatically choose a unisex alternative that might correspond with their idea of a sexy man, but which might not be the same as yours. Don’t forget that. I love women, but. You get the point.
Cutting corners
Have patience and take it easy, my friend.
Too many people move too quickly and try to cut corners.
Don’t choose expensive items too quickly, or buy designer clothing that’s the wrong size just because it’s the right label and the price is affordable. It’s not the brand label that makes the item better but the quality of the piece that builds the reputation of the label.
Don’t take too many risks to begin with – for example, with adventurous colour combinations or ultra-trendy styles.
Don’t be in too much of a hurry to buy all the basics; integrate them gradually with your other clothes and watch your wardrobe become more and more stylish!
~Kamal
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