The do?s and don?t of men?s fashion

Here are five steps to avoid being a men’s fashion victim according to some fashion experts at Askmen.com

1. Always be yourself Wear what you think looks nice, not what others believe is trendy. You should always feel comfortable with what you’re wearing, so stick to items that suit your personality and regular style, while keeping the occasion and setting in mind. Just because something is headlined as the latest in men’s fashion, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the fashion for you.

Chances are that if you feel people staring at you every time you wear that “trendy” puffy shirt, or you trip occasionally while wearing your pointy shoes, it’s probably because they’re not for you. The same goes for flashy colors: if you’re not comfortable wearing fuchsia, then don’t.

2) Less is more Always think to yourself “I won’t overdo it”; you don’t have to wear every single trendy item you own all at once. Buy one or two trendy pieces every season and mix and match them with the basics in your wardrobe. It’s a cost-effective, safe way to look your best every day. But, always remember that what’s trendy is not always right for you.

3) Maintain balance Keep a good balance of basic and trendy clothing in your wardrobe. In other words, half your wardrobe should not consist of trendy clothes, or worse, clothes that are out of style. ~Before you decide to purchase a new item, ask yourself if you are buying it because it’s “in style” or because you genuinely like it. In addition, when it comes to men’s fashion and designer goods, ask yourself if you would buy the garment if it didn’t have the designer logo on the front pocket. In the end, if you don’t really like it, you probably won’t be comfortable wearing it and are therefore better off not buying it.

4) Don’t be a sucker for brand names Another good tip is to avoid referring to your clothes by their designer labels (i.e. “my Boss belt” or “my Diesel Jeans”). By dissociating the item from its manufacturer, you will condition yourself to look at the item itself rather than be swayed by men’s fashion brand names.

5) Don’t be a slave to the media Don’t base your look solely on what you see in magazines and on TV. Celebrities and models often overdo trends for attention, and their flashy attire will likely not translate well for you, in the real world.

Some men’s fashion myths:

1- No white after Labor Day. Not so! Possibly the most commonly cited fashion rule “Don’t wear white after Labor Day” is a misguided way to look at fashion since it was deemed appropriate solely for the summer months, This mostly applied to the color of your shoes and black and brown shoes were the color of choice for the drabber seasons.

Today, we’ve come to the realization that climate doesn’t control color. While certain colors may be in style in different seasons, your color pallet should never be limited. So, don’t fear the white shoe well into September and October.

2- Your shoes and belt must be the same color?another men’s fashion myth. Most people are so afraid of clashing colors that they go overboard with the color coordination. Out of this common fear stems the misperception that your belt should always be the same color as your shoes. This has caused many men to look like boring, monochromatic drones.

As long as the color of your belt and shoes belong to the same family, you’ll look sharp. In fact, this rule applies to your entire ensemble. There’s no need to pick two colors and have the same shade of each reappear throughout the outfit (Example: chocolate brown shirt, chocolate brown belt, chocolate brown shoes).

Instead, pick similar tones and shades that belong to the same family that, therefore, work well together (Example: browns, oranges and greens) – that’ll make your outfit more dynamic and you’ll look expertly dressed. The main thing to remember is: Colors don’t need to match with each other; they need to “go” well together instead.

Don’t mix patterns?not so again! The “fake” rule of only wearing one pattern at a time has been ingrained in our minds. It’s an easy assumption to make, since it’s only logical that combining a green plaid shirt and a yellow polka-dot tie would make you look like a clown.

Mixing patterns can be a very sophisticated and fashion-forward look in men’s fashion, but only if you have the know-how to pull it off. The best way to play with pattern is with your shirt and tie combo.

The main rules to follow are: The colors in both patterns should be in the same tone (again, they don’t need to match exactly), and one pattern should be more subtle than the other. For example, pick a striped shirt and throw on a tie with a subtle checkered pattern that’s in the same color family.

You my not become a fashion plate, but you’ll cerainly look well dressed if you follow these simple tips!Before you decide to purchase a new item, ask yourself if you are buying it because it’s “in style” or because you genuinely like it. In addition, when it comes to men’s fashion and designer goods, ask yourself if you would buy the garment if it didn’t have the designer logo on the front pocket. In the end, if you don’t really like it, you probably won’t be comfortable wearing it and are therefore better off not buying it.

4) Don’t be a sucker for brand names Another good tip is to avoid referring to your clothes by their designer labels (i.e. “my Boss belt” or “my Diesel Jeans”). By dissociating the item from its manufacturer, you will condition yourself to look at the item itself rather than be swayed by men’s fashion brand names.

5) Don’t be a slave to the media Don’t base your look solely on what you see in magazines and on TV. Celebrities and models often overdo trends for attention, and their flashy attire will likely not translate well for you, in the real world.

Some men’s fashion myths:

1- No white after Labor Day. Not so! Possibly the most commonly cited fashion rule “Don’t wear white after Labor Day” is a misguided way to look at fashion since it was deemed appropriate solely for the summer months, This mostly applied to the color of your shoes and black and brown shoes were the color of choice for the drabber seasons.

Today, we’ve come to the realization that climate doesn’t control color. While certain colors may be in style in different seasons, your color pallet should never be limited. So, don’t fear the white shoe well into September and October.

2- Your shoes and belt must be the same color—another men’s fashion myth. Most people are so afraid of clashing colors that they go overboard with the color coordination. Out of this common fear stems the misperception that your belt should always be the same color as your shoes. This has caused many men to look like boring, monochromatic drones.

As long as the color of your belt and shoes belong to the same family, you’ll look sharp. In fact, this rule applies to your entire ensemble. There’s no need to pick two colors and have the same shade of each reappear throughout the outfit (Example: chocolate brown shirt, chocolate brown belt, chocolate brown shoes).

Instead, pick similar tones and shades that belong to the same family that, therefore, work well together (Example: browns, oranges and greens) – that’ll make your outfit more dynamic and you’ll look expertly dressed. The main thing to remember is: Colors don’t need to match with each other; they need to “go” well together instead.

Don’t mix patterns—not so again! The “fake” rule of only wearing one pattern at a time has been ingrained in our minds. It’s an easy assumption to make, since it’s only logical that combining a green plaid shirt and a yellow polka-dot tie would make you look like a clown.

Mixing patterns can be a very sophisticated and fashion-forward look in men’s fashion, but only if you have the know-how to pull it off. The best way to play with pattern is with your shirt and tie combo.

The main rules to follow are: The colors in both patterns should be in the same tone (again, they don’t need to match exactly), and one pattern should be more subtle than the other. For example, pick a striped shirt and throw on a tie with a subtle checkered pattern that’s in the same color family.

You my not become a fashion plate, but you’ll cerainly look well dressed if you follow these simple tips!