Apart from your birth, many mistakes have happened in your life. I bet a lot of those are related to your fashion choices. Here are my 10 men’s fashion mistakes you don’t realise you are making.
1. NOT REALISING YOU HAVE WORKING POCKETS
Blazers and overcoats mostly come with the jet pockets and side pockets sewn together as standard. A sewn pocket doesn’t mean the pockets are unusable, all you have to do is pull the pocket apart with your finger and voila, a working pocket.
2. LEAVING LABELS ON SHOES
Were you in such a rush to wear your new shoes that you didn’t have time to remove the label? An amateur move. Your shoes should not look like you got them straight from the stockroom. When you unbox your footwear, check the sole before you leave the house.
3. NOT UNBUTTONING YOUR COAT / BLAZER WHEN YOU SIT DOWN
I have tried to learn to sew on a button and failed. It’s annoying, fiddly and time-consuming, so I end up relying on my dry cleaners to do the job. The problem with dry cleaners is the price they charge for one button is extortionate. Save yourself money but taking better care of how you treat your buttons. Unbutton your blazer before sitting down. It’s that simple.
4. NOT IRONING YOUR CLOTHES
Creases tell the world that you don’t know how to manage your time. Iron your clothes the night before like the rest of us. Fortunate favours the prepared.
5. WEARING WHITE TRAINERS IN THE RAIN
White doesn’t stay white for long when you accidentally step in a puddle. Save your white trainers for a dry, sunny day.
6. WEARING TROUSERS TOO LONG FOR YOUR LEG LENGTH
Would you buy a shirt too long for your arms? Then don’t buy trousers longer than your legs. This mistake is the most common fashion faux pa I see the most. The next time you buy pants to be more mindful of the length, some stores don’t want to spend money catering for all trouser length, 30/32:34.
Using myself as an example, I am a 28/30, and most trouser lengths come in a 32 as standard. Because of this, I go to my local dry cleaners to get the length shortened. Yes, it’s an added cost, but it means that my trousers don’t bunch around my shoe.
Tip: Stores like Zara and Uniqlo offer a free alteration service on non-sale product. Don’t believe me? Ask a sales assistant.
7. NOT DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to check your iPhone weather app the night before. A well-dressed man is one who dresses appropriately for the weather.
8. WALKING AROUND WITH SLANTED HEELS
I get chills when I hear a guy drag the bottom of their heels. Didn’t your mother tell you to pick up your feet? The ruler of your conversions walk is a slanted heel that no board room will take seriously.
Tip: When you notice a slant, get your shoes re-heeled.
9. WASHING YOUR CLOTHES TOO OFTEN
Washing your clothes too often breaks down the fibres of your clothes and also fades some of your darker clothing items. The cheaper the garment quality the easiest it is to fade.
Tip: To avoid washing your clothes too often make sure you stay clear of spills, don’t cook with your favourite clothes on, and sweat less!
10. BUYING CLOTHES TOO OFTEN
It’s hard to to get swept up in all of the seasonal pressure in buying clothes. The problem is that you end up buying things that are too trend specific that don’t end up having lasting value in your wardrobe.
Tip: Wait until the trend hype has died down, and if you still like the garment or accessory, add it to your core wardrobe.
There you have it, my 10 men’s fashion mistakes you are making.