While there are very few rules in men’s fashion anymore, there are a number of age-old myths that can actually take away from your outfit. The old guard will tell you that your shoes should match your belt (exactly), that your metals (buckles and cufflinks) need to match, and under no circumstances should you wear tan shoes with anything but khaki pants. And then finally, the undying rule that real men do not wear pink!
While these antiquated notions are not without merit, it is very difficult to express one’s self and still follow all of the rules. So, I am here to break some of the myths and keep you from making a major faux pas.
Myth 1 – You can’t wear brown and black together
False, when done right these two colors are great together. Try pairing brown pants with a black sweater. You will find that it not only looks great, but it separates you from the pack.
Black sweater, white shirt, brown pants: Banana Republic
Myth 2 – Your belt must match your shoes
Wrong! Your belt should be in the same color family (i.e., black or brown) but it does not need to match. If you are not sure what do, always err on the darker side. A black belt goes well with almost everything. Forget about the rules, you would be surprised how some things work in an untraditional way.
Purple shirt, black belt: Men’s Wearhouse
Blue tie, grey pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Allen Edmonds
Myth 3 – Real men cannot wear PINK
Incorrect, sir! A real man doesn’t care what you think about the color shirt he is wearing. He only cares that it looks good on him. Pink is a great color for most guys and it goes with just about every color trousers. Get over it, it is a great color.
Purple shirt, pink tie, belt: Men’s Wearhouse
Pants: Banana Republic
Myth 4 – You can’t wear more than one stripe
You can in fact wear two stripes together. The key to this is to make sure that the scale of the stripes is different and that you have a common color in the two patterns. If you have on a thin stripe shirt, do not wear a thin stripe tie. There is one rule guideline, however: three stripes and you’re out!
Shirt, tie, pants: Banana Republic
Myth 5 – You can’t wear brown with navy or grey
Not only can you do this but you SHOULD. Tan or brown shoes look spectacular with grey and navy. If you are worried about doing this, then start simple. Try to add a navy scarf when you wear a cozy brown sweater next time. I promise you will look fantastic and very appropriate.
Sweater, scarf: Banana Republic
Jeans: Men’s Wearhouse
Now that fashion has evolved, there are not a lot of faux pas one can really make—but, here is the most common one I see.
Light-colored socks with dark pants. Try to match your socks to your pant color instead of your shoe color. If you do not have a pair that matches your pants, then wear a blue pair. This, however, is only recommended if you have any other pant color but black. If you have on black pants, then wear black socks.
Some customary fashion rules are meant to be broken. Keeping these debunked myths in mind should promote a more bold and creative wardrobe, all the while allowing you to look your very best.
