Ever feel unsure about what to wear for an important event? Whether it’s a job interview, a first date, or just a regular day at a new office, knowing some basic clothing rules can make all the difference. Forget complicated fashion trends! We’re diving into simple, timeless advice that will help any man step out looking sharp and feeling confident. These tips are your secret weapon to always being well-dressed, no matter the occasion. Let’s get started!
1. Always Wear A Belt
If your pants have belt loops, put a belt on. It’s that simple. Pants with belt loops but no belt look unfinished. It might suggest you can’t afford one or perhaps that you’ve gained some weight and need extra room. A good rule of thumb is to match your belt to your shoes. So, wear a black belt with black shoes, and a brown belt with brown shoes. This small detail completes your outfit and shows you pay attention to the little things.
2. Don’t Wear A Belt And Braces (Suspenders)
This is the opposite problem of not wearing a belt. Wearing both a belt and braces (also known as suspenders) looks like you’re not sure what you’re doing. It can come across as insecure. The rule is easy: if your pants have belt loops, use a belt. If they don’t have belt loops, use braces. Ideally, braces should attach to your pants with buttons. Clip-on braces are okay too, but remember, braces are generally considered underwear. This means they shouldn’t usually be seen by others, except perhaps by someone special at the end of the day. Seeing both together just doesn’t look right.
3. Keep Patterns To A Minimum
The easiest rule for matching patterns for men is: don’t. If you’re wearing a suit or jacket with stripes, choose a solid-colored shirt and a solid-colored tie. This combination always looks good. If your jacket is plain, you can wear a patterned tie with a solid shirt, or a patterned shirt with a solid tie. The man in the picture shows a great example: a solid jacket and shirt paired with a patterned tie and a pocket square that doesn’t match the tie. Also, try not to mix more than three colors at once. Keeping it simple prevents your outfit from looking too busy or cluttered.
However, if you feel more confident, you can mix patterns. Just remember one key rule: don’t mix patterns of the same type unless they are very different in size. For instance, a wide-striped tie can work with a pinstriped suit. But please, never wear ties with cartoons, words, or funny pictures on them for formal or professional settings.
4. Choose Formal Shoes Wisely
Proper formal shoes have leather soles. Sometimes, they might have a rubber Dainite sole, which is good for snowy weather. Real formal shoes are not usually cheap, mass-produced items. They shouldn’t have overly long or squared-off toes; a natural, rounded shape is best. There are two main types of formal men’s shoes. Oxfords are typically worn with a suit. With Oxfords, the parts of the shoe that hold the laces are smoothly joined to the rest of the shoe. Derbys (also called bluchers) are often worn with a jacket and trousers that don’t match. On Derbys, the lace flaps are separate pieces of leather stitched onto the shoe.
5. Use A Pocket Square Correctly
Pocket squares aren’t as common as they once were, but some men still wear them for a touch of elegance. The main rule for pocket squares is simple: it shouldn’t be made of the same fabric as your tie. It also shouldn’t match the color of your tie too closely, or it might look like a pre-packaged set. The easiest and always acceptable option is a white linen pocket square (not silk). If you want something more interesting, pick the second most noticeable color in your tie and use that as the main color for your pocket square. If your pocket square exactly matches your tie (unless you’re wearing a very formal tails suit), you might look like you came from a cheesy 1980s wedding party.
6. Handle Undershirts With Care
Your undershirts, just like your underwear, should never be visible. This means if you want to wear a dress shirt with the top buttons undone, you should either skip the undershirt or wear a vest-style undershirt (one with a deep V-neck or scoop neck). It’s a common mistake, especially among American men, to have a crew-neck t-shirt showing at the top of an unbuttoned dress shirt. This can look lazy and careless. The picture above shows how unappealing it looks when an undershirt is visible.
7. Do Up Your Tie Properly
Avoid wearing a loosened tie, like you often see in movies. That look is for when you get home after a long night or if you’re a movie star. Always button your top shirt button when you wear a tie. If you don’t, it can look like your clothes don’t fit properly. Another important rule for ties is that the tip of the tie should hang at least halfway down your belt buckle. If you’re wearing braces, it should hang where your belt buckle would be. The man in the photo above is following all these rules perfectly!
8. Select The Right Socks
Rules for socks have varied between American and British men, but a classic rule is to match your socks to your pants. Alternatively, it can look nice to match your socks to one of the colors in your tie or another part of your outfit. You can even be a bit daring and wear brightly colored socks, as they aren’t often seen. This is more common in the UK and can be a fun way to add personality when your dress code is very conservative. However, avoid socks with cartoons or pictures on them; stick to solid colors or classic patterns like argyle or stripes. Ideally, men’s dress socks should be long enough to pull up to just below the knee. This prevents any skin from showing when you sit down or cross your legs.
9. Be Smart About Designer Labels
Designer labels are often not worth the high price. They can be overpriced for the quality you get and are frequently very trendy, meaning they’ll go out of style quickly, pushing you to buy more. Photos of you in a super trendy suit will look dated in a few years, much like wide lapels from the 1970s. The current trend might be for very skinny lapels. It’s better to avoid extreme trends. Instead, choose a good quality, moderately priced suit or jacket with medium-width lapels and two or three buttons. This is a timeless style that you can wear for years. If it gets a hole, consider getting it repaired by a tailor instead of immediately buying a new one.
If you really want to buy designer labels and can afford them, some Italian brands like Kiton, Isaia, and Brioni are known for timeless quality. However, suits from these brands can be extremely expensive, sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars. Most other designer suits, even if well-made, might look dated sooner.
10. Your Only Suit: Make It Count
If you’re going to own only one suit, make it gray, preferably dark gray. A dark gray suit is incredibly versatile. It’s perfect for weddings, job interviews, funerals, going to the theater, and almost anything in between. If you can afford more than one suit, you can then add shades of blue and brown to your collection. If you’re very wealthy, you might get a black suit, but typically, a black suit is best reserved for funerals. Black is a somber color and isn’t usually the best choice for a business suit. Remember, a suit jacket should always be buttoned when you’re standing. You can unbutton it when you sit down. And if your suit jacket has three buttons, leave the bottom button undone – they are designed to be worn that way. The picture shows Pierce Brosnan in a Brioni charcoal suit from many years ago, and it still looks perfectly modern and stylish today.
Dressing well doesn’t have to be complicated. By keeping these simple tips in mind, you can significantly improve your appearance and make a great impression wherever you go. These guidelines are designed to help you build a classic, versatile wardrobe that stands the test of time.
What are your go-to style tips for menswear? Share your thoughts and any other advice you have in the comments below!
