When it comes to fashion, we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt: you know better than to wear white socks with black pants. But that was an easy one. What about things like tie bars, sleeve length and accessorizing? Here are style “must-don’ts” to keep you looking fresh.
- Don’t wear your jacket sleeves too long.
It’s not likely that the jacket you want will fit you perfectly right off the rack, so plan to pay a tailor to help you adjust the sleeves. Ideally, with your arms hanging at your sides, the sleeve should hit just above the wrist bone, allow about half an inch of shirt cuff to show.
- Don’t wear your tie too long (or too short).
The bottom of your tie should fall between the top and bottom of your belt buckle. If you go too high or too low the first time, re-tie it until you get it right.
- Don’t place your tie bar too high or low.
A tie bar will help keep your tie in place on a windy day. Placed too high, it won’t be effective. Placed too low, your tie will balloon out when you bend over. Your sweet spot? Between the third and fourth buttons on your shirt.
- Don’t overdo the accessories.
Counting everything from jewelry and patterned shirts to colorful ties, pocket squares and funky sucks, you’ll need to limit your choices to three in one outfit (or maybe four if you count a watch or plain-colored pocket square).
- Don’t let your undershirt show.
You don’t need to wear an undershirt, but if you do, it shouldn’t show at all. If you want to keep a couple of your dress shirt’s buttons undone, go with a v-neck undershirt to keep it hidden.
- Don’t untuck shirts with suit pants.
Suit pants require that you always tuck in your shirt. If you purchase a shorter, casual cut shirt made to worn untucked, opt for dark jeans, khakis or corduroys.
