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Formal Wear Faux Pas: Shirts, Pants and Accessories
Perhaps the most formalistic rules in men's fashion apply to formal attire. This seems fitting. While rules exist for all types of clothing, formal attire faux pas tend to be the most noticeable, since rules governing casual garb are more flexible. Yet, with these rules well understood and properly followed, a man arguably looks his best in formal attire, as it gives him an elegant, dignified and polished look.
Of course, due to the rigidity of the rules, any mistake that a man might make is magnified to an even greater extent. In order to help you avoid such blunders, I will expose some common mistakes that guys make when wearing formal shirts, pants and accessories.
Shirts
Just say "no" to translucent
White is the safest color for a man's formal shirt. Incidentally, white is also the most boring. In some situations, however -- including job interviews and black-tie events -- a white shirt might still be the best option. In more relaxed settings, you should stay conservative, utilizing soft, muted colors, and/or mild patterns like stripes. In formal settings, translucent or see-through shirts are never appropriate.
Size matters
I cannot stress enough the importance of getting a shirt that actually fits well. You can manage to squeeze into a variety of sizes, but without the proper fit, the sleeves will leave your wrists exposed if they're too short or will bunch up if they're too long. Moreover, a tight collar will look bad and choke you when you wear a tie. A loose collar will look ridiculous. Make sure the sleeves and collar are the right size to fit comfortably and look sleek.
Button your buttons
On a shirt, all buttons should be fastened, including the small ones on the side of the sleeve near the cuff. Although these buttons might not seem functional, they prevent your forearm from being exposed through the hole where the sleeve is unbuttoned. A button-down collar must also be fastened. If left unfastened, the buttons below the collar will stick out awkwardly.
Pants
No pastel pants
For semi-formal occasions, figuring out what you can pull off by experimenting with pastel shirts and ties can be fun. Pants, however, are an entirely different story. If you are considering wearing some powder blue pants to a formal event, think again. Unless it is a shuffleboard tournament at the local nursing home, you will look ridiculous.
Size still matters
With pants, much like with shirts, you have to get the right fit. If you purchase a pair of pants that are too long, get them hemmed. Pants should rest at the waist and should be long enough so that there is a slight break before the bottom rests on the top of your shoe. If they bunch up at the bottom, they are too long. Of course, the opposite rule applies as well: Pants that are too short will make you look like you are going clamming.
I assume you already know that pants should fit your waist properly. If the waist is too small, you'll be in pain. If it's too large, your pants will look baggy.
Off the cuff
These days, the prevailing style seems to be ditching pants with cuffed bottoms. While contemporary fashion does not absolutely forbid wearing cuffs, they should be avoided, especially in slim-leg pants.
Pleats be gone
Prevailing fashion is doing everything in its power to banish pleats from pants. So am I. Yet, pleats still manage to creep their way back onto the pants of some of today's men. I've said it before, and I will probably say it again: Pleats must be avoided. That Z. Cavaricci look died in the '80s; just let it go and embrace the flat fronts.
Shoes & Socks
Always match
Never, ever, wear brown shoes with a black belt or vice versa. The color of your shoes should always match (or at least go with) the color of your belt. Those colors, by the way, don't extend beyond black and brown when it comes to formal occasions. Additionally, your formal pants have loops for a reason, so make sure you wear a belt.
Formal shoes should be formal
You know enough not to wear sneakers with other formal attire -- or at least I hope you do. But even shoes you might wear to a bar or to the office might not be formal enough for some very high-class occasions. For such events, you should have at least one pair of ultra-formal shoes that you splurged on a little. These shoes will last a long time, since they will probably be used less than the other shoes in your closet. A really nice pair of formal shoes will also give your look that subtle added elegance that other men at the event might be lacking.
Forget the flashy socks
For any formal occasion, your socks need to be ultra-conservative. Other than muted, neutral solids, your options don't extend beyond very subtle patterns, like tiny dots of a similar shade. The colors of the sock should also match your ensemble; you don't want them to stand out.
Get the type right
I'm trusting that you would never wear gym socks with formal wear. You need to pick yourself up a pair of dress socks. They should be long enough so that if you cross your legs, the skin of your ankle and calf remain unexposed. Moreover, formal socks should be relatively thin. While ultra-thin nylon socks aren't totally necessary, your socks shouldn't be cushiony or have excess fabric that sticks out of the shoe.
General tips
Keep it nice
When dressing formally, make sure your clothing is in good order. In other words, ensure that your clothes are clean and pressed. This rule might seem obvious, but for some reason, ring around the collar still exists. This also applies to shoes: Make sure you keep them polished and odor-free. Cedar shoe trees are a great way to accomplish that latter goal. Finally, if a garment has a problem, either fix it or get rid of it. For example, socks with holes belong in the trash, not on your feet.
Formally accessorize
Formal occasions demand formal accessories. Don't wear a sports watch or drugstore sunglasses. A fine timepiece is one of the few high-end pieces of jewelry that modern fashion allows a man to wear, so get one. Nothing is quite as impressive or looks quite as sleek as a Rolex or Omega strapped on your wrist. If your budget does not allow for such luxury, settle for something less expensive -- but still formal-looking -- from a designer like Fossil or Kenneth Cole.
Also, be sure to match metal tones throughout your jewelry. For example, if you are wearing a watch, a ring and a belt, match the metals by wearing all silver, all gold or all two-tone. The blending of metal tones isn't exactly a mistake, but it also isn't ideal.
Elegance awaits
The well-dressed man follows certain rules in order to wear his formal attire with class and sophistication. Making even one of the mistakes explained above could potentially ruin an otherwise great-looking formal ensemble. Luckily, understanding the common mistakes above should help you to avoid such a tragedy.
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