The moms of this community have been asking for a capsule wardrobe for their guys, and today I’m excited to announce that we now offer The Men’s Style Guide: Capsule Wardrobe Essentials for Casual & Business Wear in the Frump Fighters® shop!
In today’s blog post I’m giving you an excerpt from Part 1 in the book which covers some basic men’s style tips like how to dress your shape and how clothes should fit.
This excerpt on “The Most Common Fashion Mistakes Men Make” will give you some quick fashion wins for your guy.
All you have to do (or help him do) is stop making these mistakes and his style will improve dramatically!
The 13 Most Common Fashion Mistakes Men Make
(co-authored by Giovanni Segar and Corina Holden)
Dressing well doesn’t have to mean conformity, nor does it have to mean “dressing up.” That said, here are some fashion faux pas you should definitely watch out for:
Clothes that are too big or baggy
As we’ve covered earlier, the most important factor of men’s fashion is FIT. Even stylish pieces will look frumpy on a body if the fit isn’t nearly perfect. Be careful not to size up for comfort.
When wearing athletic clothing, go for the tighter fits with stretch material rather than baggy clothing. Unless you’re actually playing basketball, basketball shorts should not be considered “general athletic shorts”. There are plenty of options for athletic wear that are functional but still fit well.
Cargo shorts and pants
Avoid cargo shorts or shorts with a lot of seams, pockets, and detail. They add bulk and just generally look frumpy and unkempt. These kinds of shorts and pants can be fine in the right context for the right reasons (combat, hiking, hunting), but not as everyday wear.
Mixing incompatible fabrics or textures
Be wary of mixing materials in your outfits. Most materials work with each other, but not all. A silky, shiny dress shirt will look strange with jeans. Athletic pants will look strange with a short sleeve button up shirt. Generally, athletic clothing can be worn with cotton but not dressed up. Smooth dress clothing such as suit jackets or shiny shoes won’t look good dressed down with thick chinos or denim.
Fastening all the buttons on suit jackets
When wearing a suit jacket or blazer, leave the bottom button undone at all times (unless it’s a one button jacket). Unbutton them all when you sit down, but you don’t necessarily have to button them when you’re standing. The reason for this rule goes back to King Edward VII, but honestly—it’s just how it’s done.
White crew socks
Go throw away your white tube socks. There are alternatives that serve the same function while looking much, much better. Try black or gray ankle or calf-length socks instead and only wear crew length socks when they’re hidden under pants.
Socks with sandals
On the topic of socks, don’t wear them with flip flops or sandals! How does this need to be said anymore? If it’s cold out, don’t fix the problem by wearing socks under your sandals. Just wear close-toed shoes.
Crew socks with shorts
Whenever you’re wearing shorts you should not pair them with tall crew socks. Wear socks that are as close to the edge of your shoe as possible (or completely hidden). Or opt for sandals (without socks).
Mixing too many patterns
As you create your own personal style and get comfortable with the rules, you can start to break this one. But when you do, make sure that the patterns are of different sizes. A small gingham can look good with a tie that has large stripes, but if they’re anywhere near similar size they’ll clash.
Wearing the wrong shoes for the occasion
Many men dress just fine until they head out the door. That’s when the running shoes come on. Yes, they’re comfortable. Yes, they can ruin your entire outfit. Use Part 4 of the book to learn what kinds of shoes to wear with each outfit.
Flip-flops always and forever
Try leaving the flip flops behind for loafers or boat shoes every once in a while. A good pair can be just as comfortable while looking a million times sharper.
Super wide ties
Barring the exceptions in the fit guides above, your tie should be around 3.5 inches at its widest point.
Old, worn out jeans
Upgrade to a nice dark-wash pair that fits well and consider a medium-wash or tastefully ripped jeans as a second pair. These are essentially the only type of jeans you need in your wardrobe. Light wash is okay but if the only reason your jeans are light wash is because they’re a decade old, it’s time for a new pair.
Pants with pleats
Pleats will automatically date you as well as add unnecessary bulk. Look for flat front styles in your chinos and dress pants and retire your pants or shorts with pleats.
—Excerpt from The Men’s Style Guide (Part 1: Basics Style Tips for Men)
Purchase The Men’s Style Guide
The Men’s Style Guide is designed with all the information you need to completely revamp your man’s wardrobe and style, starting with what he already has.
In addition to breaking down how to dress different body types as well as how clothes should fit, you’ll receive easy-to-follow steps for creating a capsule wardrobe for (or with) your man.
This book gives you three complete capsule wardrobes in one!
- The Casual (includes Athletic) Capsule Wardrobe
- The Business Casual + Special Occasion Capsule Wardrobe
- The Business Professional Capsule Wardrobe
In addition to the capsule wardrobes, it provides easy reference charts for how to stylishly put the pieces together in each season.
“With three different style guides (a casual, business casual, and business professional), this guide helps men pick outfits for home, church, or work. Every step of the process is laid out in an easy-to-understand format. The color palettes are super helpful to determine which colors to go with. I have been waiting for this guide for a while now, and it did not disappoint!” —Mayda
Learn more about it below!
Does your guy make any of these mistakes? Did I miss any?
