Fashion Etiquettes for Men

Fashion is defined as the prevailing mode or style, especially of dress; custom or conventional usage in respect of dress, behavior, etiquette, etc.; particularly, the mode or style usual among persons of good breeding (Courtesy : Google, what else!!!).  

Im a fashionista and for me, fashion is an expression...a means to communicate , therefore its sad to see that few men take fashion seriously. In my opinion,  it's a shame, because clothes do really maketh a man.

Its a misnomer that fashion is exclusively for fairer sex and therefore, men dont have much of a reckoner to follow. In my view, having a good fashion sense always comes in handy, especially at the workplace and during social events and being fashionable means to be able to mix up the fashion math on different days instead of packaging the same look every day.

Fashion doesnt necessarily means spending a fortune on designer labels and pricey, flamboyant accessories. It neither means following fashion trends blindly. There is something funny about trends, they come, they go and then come back again. Fashion means knowing your body shape, your best features, your skin tone and choosing appropriate clothes and accessories that flatter the wearer.

 Fashion Etiquettes for men:

1. Wrong tie: Its surprising to see how many men get this wrong, when its actually quite easy. A tie should match your eye colour. To make the fashion mathematics fun, incorporate hair or skin color to blend tastefully. And textures do matter. Its advisable to invest in silk-blend ties as they look elegant and reflect light with sophistication without  putting you out a ton of money. They are low maintainence  also, as they are easier to clean, more unlikely to stain easily and last longer.

2. Oversized/undersized clothes: Clothes should emphasize your best points. It really doesnt matters what build you are : tall or short, thick or thin, stocky or lean, what matters is you understand what types of clothes accent your most desirable features best... along with which clothes best hide your undesirable features.

3. Being a copycat: Get inspired, dont copy. Dont opt for the same fashions you see on your best friend or your favorite actor!!!!  Develop your own signature style. Identify  the color combination that works for you. Also, experiment with different fabrics like Linen, Khadi etc. Yes, they can crease easily but are extremely comfortable and look rich. The trick is to go for linen and Khadi shirts, instead of trousers. Come on, give cotton a break.  In winters, silk blended shirts are a good choice.

4. Wrong shoes: Choosing the right shoes can be tricky as wrong shoes can ruin a perfectly good outfit. Trust me, we, women notice the shoes that men are wearing almost immediately. All fashionable men should own a pair of black and brown leather shoes. A safe bet is to match shoes with your belt. A black belt means black shoes. Even if you're in a t-shirt and jeans, the rule still applies.  If you dont wear belts, try to pick a shoe that matches, or is darker than your pants.

In case you are wearing jeans, almost any color or style of shoes can be worn with it but its advisable to let the style of your shirt guide you, for ex : a sporty, polo shirt might work with a loafer; t-shirts go well with sneakers or retro-style shoes; long, artsy button-downs work well with sandals or contemporary styles.

5. Wrong Socks: If you want to know what color socks to wear, remember to match your socks to your pants, not your shoe. However, when you're wearing jeans, you should match the sock to the shoe. It's also important to match shoe style to sock choice. Dress socks for dress shoes. Athletic socks for athletic shoes.

6. Socks with sandals : Sandals with socks are the worst fashion crimes. Really, I just don't get it. If it's warm enough to wear sandals, just let your toes breathe. Otherwise, wear real shoes!

7. Skinny jeans: An absolute no-no. Wearing jeans that are too tight and/or with women's cuts is an unforgivable fashion offense. Steer clear.

8. Too much jewellery: No bling please, unless you are Bappi Lahiri. The thumb rule is to wear less than your lady. If you absolutely have to, then  keep it down to a simple gold chain, a ring (in case you are married or engaged) and a nice watch. Too many rings, earrings, and piercings are an absolute turn off.

9. Too much or too little of aftershave: An aftershave brand says a lot about your persona. Too much can make you look sleazy. Too little can make your odour the dominant one. Wearing aftershave is art of being subtle. The trick is to be aware of your own natural smell as scents tend to become a part of you and therefore its advisable to pick up a fragnance which blends well with your natural smell. Some of the options with which you can never go wrong are Armani Code, Hugo Boss etc.

10. Little or no attention to personal hygeine : Cuticles with tears, bitten nails, and calloused hands looks not only out of fashion but also careless. Exfoliation and beard trimming are a must to present a finished effect with new clothes and expensive fabrics. Bad breath is an absolute turn off and conversation killer, therefore its advisable to use mouth wash on a regular basis.  Also invest in some branded night repair creams and moisturizers to keep your skin soft and blemish free.

11. Fanny packs: Also known as hip-packs,  fanny packs are the worst accessory ever. Avoid them, at all costs.

12. Accessories Ignorance: Men's accessories have come a long way. A shiny dress belt and shirt studs can dress up a simple suit and casual loafers can take a suit down to a date level appearance. Invest in new kinds of laptop cases, in case you carry one. Coats, scarves, even hats can change a fussy look to simply well-finished. Also, investing in good quality eye shades is highly recommended.

13. Beau Gestes: Lastly, dont forget to polish your manners. Rudeness and arrogance, talking loudly etc are not good fashion accessories and are an absolute turn off. Keeping a close watch on your manners is highly recommended.  Rule of the thumb: If you wouldn't do something in front of a manager two levels up in your company of the opposite sex, don't do it at all.