| Survival Training for Wives: Part III - Man in the House |
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Just when you thought you had all the bases covered and were sure you would never take a wrong fashion step again after reading Part II of my fashion blunders article, I am publishing more on the common style mistakes men make. No, I’m not trying to turn you into a nervous wreck when it comes to a man’s wardrobe, it’s just that there are many style disasters that I witness all too often and we need to address them because, quite frankly, sometimes they hurt our eyes. Men, you want others to be impressed with your perceptive style so that they will take the time to get to know your fabulous personality, but that is hard to do if part of your look makes people want to cringe. Even if you are decked out in head-to-toe designer wear, you will be somewhat laughable if you fail to follow a few crucial fashion rules. To help you make the most of your appearance, ensure you are not committing any of the fashion sins below. From cell phone clips to short pant hems, here are more ways men make themselves look more presentable. Pants without a Belt If you are working a casual look and you are wearing your shirt over your pants so that no one can see your waist, go ahead and forgo a belt -- provided your pants will not be too slouchy. Wearing your shirt tucked into your pants, however, necessitates wearing a belt. Not wearing a belt does not make you look heavier or dumber, but it does make you look odd. A belt literally ties your outfit together and it is an accessory that men can splash a little cash on to create a tasteful, elegant look. Don’t cinch your belt so tight that you have gut overhang, but do wear one even if your pants don’t need help staying put just to add an extra dimension of style to your ensemble. Classless Clipping This fashion atrocity refers to clipping cell phones, Blackberry’s and other devices to your waist. Not only does it look cheesy and tasteless, strapping electronics to yourself makes you look wider and shorter. You will also draw attention to your middle if you decide to join your PDA to your hip, and you probably do not want the first thing others notice about you to be your waistline -- particularly if you have a burgeoning beer belly. In addition, piling on gadgets makes you seem ridiculously busy, but you run the risk of being perceived as self-important if others notice that you are not actually as pressed for time as you appear. Cell phones and organizational tools are nice, however, and even a must for those frequently on the go, so try wearing coats or blazers instead with sufficient interior pocket space. A coat or blazer will smarten up your look as well as provide you with enough places to store your can’t-live-without items. In addition, the most important rule of them all… Chunky Shoes, Wrong Pants Shoes with a significant chunky heel certainly have their place in fashion, though teaming them with slim-fit dress pants or a fitted suit results in what can only be described as a serious fashion transgression. Unfortunately, if the bottoms of your pants are very narrow, you will end up looking like a clown, which is never a look most men strive to emulate. It is easy to understand how this blunder happens since most commercial shoe stores are filled with thick-soled shoes, but you must avoid purchasing this footwear with the intention of wearing it with everything in your wardrobe. With clothes that are more fitted to your body -- and many labels cut their clothes this way these days -- your shoes will be clunky and incongruous with the rest of your outfit. Opt instead for sleek loafers or Italian-style dress shoes. The dress shoes in particular may cost you a little more, but you will gain fashion points for them for years to come. Improper Pant Length Of the four listed here, this lamentable error in fashion is probably the one you will see most frequently when you walk down the street. Make sure you are not including yourself in this group of fashion misfits by paying attention to the length of your pants. As well, different kinds of pants look best at different lengths. The bottom hem of your jeans, for example, can extend all the way to the bottom of your shoe, and will actually make your legs appear longer and leaner if you follow this piece of advice. Dress pants, on the other hand, should cut off at the top of your heel, but be careful that your socks do not show when you walk and that no more than two inches of your socks are visible when you sit down. When you buy new pants, if the length is not quite right but you love them, ask the store to alter them for you since many provide this service free of charge. For clothes you already own, particularly dress pants, try them on and take any that have an improper length directly to your tailor. Since most dress pants have extra fabric on the bottom, it is a breeze for anyone with sewing machine expertise to take them up or down a few inches. Fashion Foibles My fashion grievances may be many, but they are really not outlandish. I know that those of you who are guilty of these fashion crimes had no idea you were committing them. After all, until adolescence or early adulthood, most males are taught to not emphasize what they wear. Now that you actually care about what you look like, you need to learn a few basics to make sure you are well dressed for the rest of your life. So follow these tricks and you will not be offending anyone’s fashion sensibilities any time soon.
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