For a long time, men’s fashion has been limited to suit and tie. However, things have changed a lot today and the new generation stylish men are no more afraid to experiment with their looks. They break rules proudly and do so with panache.
Here are some tips to break any established menswear style rules and make a personal statement with confident.
Rule #1 Your Belt and Shoes Should Match
The first step to break any rule is to know it thoroughly. This will help you to stay true to the tradition while blowing up everything else.
The belt and the shoe rule is one of the most basic fashion rules. To break it you need to first understand it; what goes with what, the dos and the don’ts and how should it look on you and so on. Once you are aware of what to do and what not to do, you can throw that rule out the window every now and then. The same theory applies to the more conservative match your belt and your shoes rule.
As said, you need to stick to the tradition. This means, wearing a black belt with brown shoes is still a taboo but you can definitely try different tones of brown belts to match with your shoes. Many men often try to pair up their belts with the exact same tone of their shoes without considering the fact that there is enough room for mix and matching.
The only thing to keep in mind is that your belt and shoes should be in the same basic color-wheel and they must complement each other. You can even wear a blue, red, white or even a neon green belt as long as it compliments your outfit. The trick is to wear whatever you want with confidence and take your style persona to the net level.
Rule #2 Mixing Different Patterns
When it comes to demolishing fashion rules, you need to embrace the changes in fashion world. New lines of menswear are coming up almost every week to keep things fresh and unique. Pattern clashing is a great way to spice up your wardrobe without breaking your bank.
Mixing patterns is nothing new and many men are pro in it. One of the simple rules to follow here is keeping the pattern same i.e. stripes on stripes and checks on checks. Pattern clashing, on the other hand, is more dynamic and less common on the street. In fact, this style is readily adorned by runway models and you must have seen examples of mixing different patterns in leading fashion magazines.
Wearing this style (and breaking the norms), however, will definitely turn some heads, provided you pull it off properly. To nail the look you need something in block stripes, check prints, polka-dots, floral and other interesting prints.
Now start the fun part: pattern clashing. Wear check trousers with patterned socks or a patterned tie with a print shirt. You can even team up your print blazers and patterned pocket square together to look more flamboyant. If you are a beginner in pattern clashing, we recommend starting small.
Also, don’t overdo it. Since you are introducing more than one pattern into your attire, opt for something in neutral as a base color. Another rule of thumb you need to follow here is limiting to two patterns at a time. Mix your patterned pants with a printed blazer but keep your t-shirt/shirt plain and in neutral color to nail the look.
There are many rules you can break here such as combining black and navy or wearing trainers with a suit, but do it one at a time.
Rule #3 Wearing Suits Sans Socks!
Suits are formal wear and you need to remain true to dress-codes while adorning them, right? Not necessarily.
For example, there is enough room for you to skip socks when wearing a suit. This rule breaker is an added bonus and life-saver during hot summer months. Ditching your socks is a new, stylish way to stay cool as temperatures rise. However, this look is strictly limited to casual suits.
Steal this look for warm summer events, especially outdoor events. But there are three things to follow here:
First, opt for a narrow, slim-fit suit that compliments your body shape. Tailored casual suits are your best options when ditching socks. In fact, such suits look fantastic without socks.
Now if you think tailoring is too expensive and out of your budget, there are many online tailoring stores offering men’s bespoke suits at affordable rates. But never compromise on the quality of the suit as cheap looking material is noticeable even to the most average person and won’t leave a high impression about you. It must be well-made.
Your suit must be cut closer to the body to create a sleeker silhouette and the pants should have slight or no break.
Second, your choice of footwear is important with bare ankles. A brown suede loafer is a better option when going sock less. Be careful with black shoes as they are the most formal footwear and are likely to create a striking contradiction.
Third and finally, take proper care for your shoes and your feet. Sweaty feet are neither comfortable nor stylish. To remember to use some foot-powder that absorbs moisture and save your shoes from turning into sweat sponge.
Alternatively, you can opt for a low cut, no show socks to wear with your suits.
Breaking fashion rules is nothing new. Men and women have been doing that for ages and there are many other style rules to break. But one thing you should stick steadfast to is your comfortability. Any style looks good as long as it is practical.
Remember rules are meant to learn and then to be broken. But it is equally important to do so with taste, keeping your individual style in mind. And don’t worry about what others are thinking, wildly colorful socks were once considered as fashion faux pas until they became more popular and mainstream.
