I heard someone once say, “Fashion is never finished.” It was on a movie and someone laughed at the guy saying it, but it’s true. There never will be a time when fashion stops evolving, revolutionizing, circulating, or even being cyclical. Hell, look at what your parents used to wear and chances are it has comeback in your time on this earth. I definitely got my fashion sense from my dad. We’ve never really worn the same thing, just the odd sense of what to wear. I will say, though, that since I’ve started wearing plaid and flannel over the last few years, my dad’s love for flannel and plaid has resurfaced. I have seen pictures of him wearing this stuff before he had me, but let’s be honest – everyone wore flannel back in the day. With that said, I wanted to share some of my fashion do’s, don’ts, and pet peeves. I’ve included some for guys and girls, cause fashion holds no prejudices. There are a few sites that I love to frequent, which I’ll post, and I even blog about it, which I’ll post as well. If you are a perpetrator of the don’ts and pet peeves, consider yourself warned. Nah, I’m only joking. Kind of.
1) If you tuck a shirt into your pants, you have to wear a belt.
Some people might not even think about it, but it truly bothers me. It looks sloppy, like you just forgot to get fully dressed. Also, what happens if the button on your pants hits the road? What will you do then? Yup, the belt is sitting at home, laughing at you.
2) The black and navy blue rule is over.
If worn correctly, these can and will look smashing together. Ellen DeGeneres is a consummate pro at pulling this off. It really comes down to who wears it and how it’s worn. Not everyone can pull this off, so plan accordingly. The lesser known black and brown rule also follows current black and navy blue protocol.
3) Don’t sag your pants.
I don’t care if you’re a skateboarder, rapper, or you accidentally soiled your pants, just don’t do it. It looks ridiculous and it was only the hip thing to do for a brief time in the 90’s. Even then, it looked ridiculous, like you didn’t know how to properly measure your waistline. Note: Kids that do this with skinny jeans are the worst offenders. They should be jailed.
4) They’re called v-necks not v-stomachs.
Seems this is a fancy fad with emos and kids who never eat anything. Those two aren’t mutually exclusive, mind you. A good v-neck is a righteous thing, but eventually we’ll have t-shirt cardigans if the V gets any bigger.
5) An appropriate hat can make almost any outfit better.
When planned appropriately, hats make any outfit that much more dapper. I personally love fedoras and pork pie hats. I also love a good fitted baseball cap. Choose wisely or you’ll end up the guy who’s trying to look like Boy II Men on Cooleyhighharmony but failing miserably.
6) Always wear a watch.
Unless you’re scooping manure that’s chest high, I feel like you should always wear a watch. Even so, wearing a watch is the perfect chance to look down at it and say, “Oh, it’s time to get the hell outta here.” It’s more than a thing that tells time. It’s a conversation piece. I love to admire other nice watches and find out where they were purchased. I’ve met some cool people just asking about their watch. Note: Always wear your watch on the hand you do NOT write with. It’s an old school rule that should be a new school rule, too.
7) Jeans do go with everything, if worn correctly.
I’m a fan of dark jeans because they generally go better with a wider array of shirts, jackets, etc. There are cases where a lighter pair of jeans would work better, but it’s rare. For example, try a nice pair of dark jeans, a cool t-shirt, a matching blazer, and some dress shoes. You’ll be surprised how good it can look even if they don’t all look good separately.
8 ) NEVER wear white socks with dress shoes.
As a general rule, I never wear white socks unless I’m shluffing around the house. In certain cases, white below-the-ankle socks look better with Chuck Taylors. With respect to dress shoes, it’s never okay to wear white socks. This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. Even if your pants are long/baggy enough to where you think no one will see the white socks (the bagginess is a whole other issue), just don’t do it. When I see someone wearing dress shoes, I always look to see if they were sloppy enough to wear white socks. If they were, I automatically disregard them and whatever profession they represent. I guarantee I’m not the only person who thinks this. I’m sure others are judging your choice to wear white socks.
9) Never have an unorganized purse or wallet.
Just like white socks with dress shoes, when I see a dude pull out a wallet with papers, cards, and anything else popping out of it, I just shake my head in complete disappoint. It’s a little different for women, but for me to look at a purse full of receipts, pens, hair things, your lunch, I just think about how dirty your car and bedroom would be. I’m married, but if I were single, I’d almost certainly not think about dating you. Note: My wife’s purse is clean. I’m sure that’s part of the reason we’re still married now. I’m not lying.
10) Dirty shoes ruin outfits.
No matter how nice or expensive an outfit may be, having dirty shoes – specifically sneakers – will ruin your outfit worse than a sleeve of baby vomit. As a general rule, and as a male, I prefer to match my belt to my shoes. Geometrically speaking it ties the clothes together on at least two specific height levels. For example, a nice pair of brown boots should be worn with a nice brown leather belt of same shade. The only exception to the dirty shoes rule is some scuffed Chuck Taylors (though, mine are clean and I prefer it that way) and scuffed boots that complement an ensemble. People will judge your outfit based on shoe selection and shoe cleanliness. Just as @kattapulous, she’ll tell you.
11) Look in the mirror at an outfit. If you’re not immediately happy with it, you won’t like it when you get to dinner, the club, or your soon-to-be in-laws.
I’ve almost never put something on, either at the store or at home, didn’t really like it wholly, bought it, then like it when I went to wear it later. I don’t know how many things I’ve returned after convincing myself that I like it in the dressing room. You have to like it if you’re gonna wear it.
Here are some places where I get my clothes and cool fashion sites (including my blog that I haven’t updated in awhile).
www.thrillist.com (kinda pricey)
www.jackthreads.com (kinda pricey)
www.dudsandthreads.weebly.com – my fashion blog
There are many others that I’ve left off, but these were the first ones that came to mind. Feel free to chat with me about things you love and hate when it comes to fashion. I’m on Twitter (@JasDunham).
