Smart Dressing: How Clothes 'Make The Man'

Smart Dressing: How Clothes 'Make The Man'

Majority of men in the corporate world are very well groomed, but when it comes to choice in clothing, they are a little on the unadventurous side. When it comes to style and colors, the average male sticks to what he knows best – button down shirts or knitted tees in blue (sky and navy), baby pink (since men can be such babies), pale yellow (a daring change), olive, black and other basic and solid shades.

Of course, sticking to the basics keep them out of trouble with the fashion police. Or so they think. Men make tons of fashion mistakes that put them in the league of Third World fashion. In other words, if you wore any of these looks or even discussed them in the Western world, you automatically be a GQ fashion.

Men out there, take heed.

Designer Labels

This is the biggest fashion mistake. Ninety percent of the average male populations slide their belts underneath the labels of the designer's jeans they are wearing. What's the reason behind this practice? Is it to show women that they can afford Versace and Armani? That they have such great taste that they know how to pick the trendiest labels?

Men should keep in mind that if they really have to flaunt their style, that means they have no style at all. There is a saying that money can't buy love. Well, it can't buy a sense of style either.

Tuxedo in the Tropics

How many weddings have you attended where the groom and his entourage were wearing tuxedos under the heat of the sun? It's ninety degrees in the shade, the bride's makeup is running, the flower girls and ring bearers have turned to liquid, and your monkey suit doubles as a sauna slimmer. Whose idea was that to wear tuxes?

Don Johnson Now Wears Socks

Miami Vice was cool, WAS being the operative word. That was then, but this is now. This is the 21st century and Don Johnson has made enough money to buy himself some socks. Sure, it's hot; but for the sake of your feet and those present when you remove your shoes, please wear socks with leather shoes.

That sockless Miami Vice look went out with Dynasty, the power suit, big hair courtesy of Aqua Net, Wayfarers, and Don Johnson himself. Even Melanie Griffith was smart enough to make the switch to a more man-of-the-moment, Antonio Banderas.

Suspended For Wearing a Belt

That's what's going to happen to men who wear suspenders AND a belt. This is a definite fashion 'don't'. This is as big a booboo as insider trading in the stock exchange and as dangerous to the image as hedging funds. Wearing suspenders and a belt is like wearing a bowtie and with a boy scout scarf. Doesn't make sense, does it?

Spinning Tops

Reserve the tanks for the beach or the gym and the sheer tees go on only if you are a male stripper. No matter how great a body a man's got, tanks and sheer tees shouldn't be a part of their daily lives.

A Suitable Match

So he's wearing a great Armani power suit… that doesn't fit! But he wears it anyway because it's an Armani. Wearing an ill-fitting expensive suit is like a woman wearing a French bra that is two sizes too big, but she's wearing it because, well, it's a French bra.

Consider the fashion blunders mentioned above. When in doubt as to what to wear for when, it would be best to ask a fashionable friend or, better yet, a gay guy with a great sense of style (they usually do have it). But, remember, if any of them tell you to wear any of these no-nos, do not just question their friendship. Dump them for fashion's sake!