10 Ways You’re Killing Your Style | Men’s Style Mistakes

Once you’ve got the basics of style down, it’s important to focus on those little things that can make or break your personal style and everyday look. Something as simple as a little mistake can totally throw off your look or ruin otherwise good style choices. Oftentimes its something as simple as how you present a particular choice. No matter what it is, focusing on the proper details and nailing those can save you from potential disaster. Some of these mistakes might be obvious but some you may not even know you are doing!

So, here are 10 ways you may be killing your style!

Being Overly Self-Conscious

Trying too hard can be as bad as not trying at all. Wearing trendy items that aren’t you or not wearing things that make you feel comfortable and confident are quick ways to ruin your overall style. People notice how you feel and if you’re feeling good about what you’re wearing and looking good, it will stand out.

Wearing Clothing That Doesn’t Work for your body type

Working with your body type is a huge part of getting well-fitting clothing. Choosing items that will flatter and fit well is crucial. Some easy items to avoid are henley shirts if you’re not fit or muscular, Chelsea boots if you’re a bigger guy, and classic straight-legged jeans if you’re a thinner guy. Check out all of our Fit Guides for tips about different body types and how things should fit.

Over-accessorizing

Yikes, this can go wrong so easily, over-accessorizing can be a huge problem. Johnny Depp, you are not. Go easy on rings, bracelets, and other flashy items and go for more subtle, refined accessories to show some personality or flair. Stick with 1 or 2 items max, like a pocket square and a watch.

Wearing too much cologne

A little goes a long way, and there’s nothing worse than smelling someone from 5 feet away. Nobody (especially women) wants that. If you can smell yourself, it’s too much.

Not paying attention to the details

Again, the little things matter, so take care to focus on them. Things like not lint rolling your clothing (especially dark shirts, suits, and jackets), wearing wrinkled clothing (just get our recommended steamer), and not tucking in your shoelaces really matter with your overall look.

Speaking of tucking in shoelaces (something Ashley is always super focused on as a stylist), our friends at Straight Laces have an ingenious shoelace set up that creates a clean, tucked look and basically turns all your shoes into slip on’s. It’s such a smart, useful product and we’re using them on all our shoes personally and with Ashley’s clients. Seriously, they’re that good. Just for our readers and viewers, we’ve got a deal for 40% off 3 or more laces! Shop here and use code AshWeston40.

Not dressing your age

We’ve discussed how to dress well in your 40’s before and a big part of it is embracing your age and wearing items that are classy and age-appropriate.

Wearing dirty, old shoes

Hopefully, this goes without saying, but a bad pair of shoes can absolutely ruin your entire look. Keep them in good condition and shined up.

Not Grooming Regularly

Overgrown hair, beards, and fingernails are no bueno. Make sure you’re taking proper care of your grooming and putting your best foot forward. Especially important in professional environments. We’ve got a ton of tips in all of our grooming guides.

Not taking care of your skin

Just like your grooming, proper skin care is an important part of your overall routine. It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated but you should find a morning routine and an evening routine that works for you. Focus on moisturizing, good shaving techniques, and using the right products.

Wearing faded, ripped or pilled items

When items are faded (especially shirts, pants and sweaters), it’s time to send them off to the donation bin and get some replacements. If your sweaters are pilled, you just need to get a sweater shaver (we like this one best) to remove the little balls and get it back in good shape.

6 Ways You’re Wearing Your Jeans Wrong

Jeans are a staple in your wardrobe, and despite being a casual item, they’re probably the most important pair of pants in your closet, outside of chinos. So obviously it’s critical that you’re wearing them the right way and giving them the consideration they deserve. Because they’re so important, if you’re wearing them incorrectly you can be doing yourself a huge disservice, especially in the eyes of the opposite sex. After you read this and check out the video, make sure you take a look at our Jeans Fit Guide and our Dark Wash Jeans primer for how to do it right!

\We see all kinds of bad jeans-wearing these days and the worst part is these mistakes are easy to fix! So, here are 6 ways you’re wearing your jeans wrong!

Too Baggy

Obviously, it goes without saying that baggy jeans look awful. They aren’t flattering and just look sloppy. Baggy jeans only make slim guys look more skinny and bigger guys look more chubby. The right fit will be comfortable, so don’t think that you can get away with it because of comfort. Getting the right size and fit is a huge key, so make sure you’ve checked out our Jeans Fit Guide.

Too tight

The right taper is important but overly tight is definitely really bad. It can be super unflattering especially if you don’t have a butt which most men don’t have. It also makes you look very juvenile if your jeans are way too tight and it’s definitely not professional, regardless of how casual your work environment may be.

Bad washes

Washes that are too light (very light blue or grey/white) or acid-washes are neither timeless nor versatile. They just make you look like you’re trying too hard to be trendy. We recommend keeping your jeans in a clean, dark wash or check out a few of our other recommendations for jean colors.

Distressed or Ripped Jeans

It’s a fine line between good and bad but for 95% of men over the age of 25, this just isn’t a good look. Like some of the lighter washes, it makes you look like a teenager/fuccboi who is trying hard to be trendy. Sometimes a little bit of distressing is fine, but again only if you’re under the age of 25.

Too Long

Such a bad look and such an easy fit. Find the right length or got to a tailor, it’s a simple $5-10 fix. It just looks sloppy and can ruin an otherwise good fit. Also, it can make you look really short; not flattering at all.

Saggy Butt

Yikes, this is super unattractive. Find the right fit in the seat – proper rise (the length from the bottom of the crotch to the top of the waistband) is crucial. Here’s a handy reference image for what the “rise” is. The key is to not have a ton of excess fabric in the booty area. You want a trim fit but not overly tight.

How To Dress For Your Body Type: Thin/Slim

For those thin men out there (like Dorian!), you can probably just walk into most stores and find something that generally fits your frame. But, understanding how to properly dress for your body type when you’re thin is more than just wearing the right size. And, since a great fit is probably the biggest factor in making you look your best, we’re going to dive in on some specific tips for those of you who have thin or slim builds.

For item-specific fit tips, be sure to check out all the different Fit Guides we have available!

General Tips

Thin men can struggle to find things that fit trim enough and often just settle for wearing oversized clothes; don’t do it! It can be tempting to wear clothes a bit big to feel like you’re adding mass to your frame but actually, it’s the opposite. You want clothes that fit properly and highlight your shape.

Since a “slim fit” can vary widely across brands, it’s really important to try lots of brands and find the one with the right slim fit for you. Then, it’s important and to find a good tailor to make the tweaks you need to your wardrobe.

Shirts

Say no to v-necks, they’ll only make your neck look overly long and this isn’t flattering. Focus on crew neck t-shirts, polo shirts, oxfords, and dress shirts. You can wear all patterns, stripes, and prints. Vertical stripes are fine but horizontal stripes will add some visual width. Make sure shirts and tops are tapered in the waist to give your body some shape. You don’t want things to hang off your frame in any area as baggy fits will just enhance your slim frame.

Fit Guides: T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Dress and Oxford Shirts

Jackets/Suits

Bomber jackets and blazers are best for a thinner man’s frame. Just make sure you have them tailored if necessary to fit you in the sleeves and body. Any suit style will work for you but just make sure you have the proper size and a slim fit. Try a double-breasted suit or blazer to add a bit of size to your torso.

Fit Guides: Suits, Blazers, Jackets

Sweaters & Cardigans

Shawl collar sweaters and cardigans can add some size to your shoulders so we highly recommend them as a good option for your frame, but stay away from standard cardigans, they can hang off you too much. Crewneck sweaters will also look great and can be layered with a t-shirt or a collared shirt. But, if you’re going to wear a v-neck sweater, make sure you only wear it with a colled dress shirt or oxford underneath. Like a v-neck t-shirt, it’s going to accentuate the length of your neck in a bad way without a collared shirt underneath.

Fit Guides: Sweaters, Cardigans

Pants/Jeans/Trousers

For jeans, trousers, and chinos, a slim fit with a tapered leg will look the best. Stay away from straight or relaxed fits and avoid super skinny or tight pants, they will only enhance your slim legs. Pants should be fitted at the waist and in the seat. Tailor if there’s too much fabric in the seat. From there you can focus on tapered fit from the knee down – straight leg or no taper will give your leg the incorrect proportions. Again, try on a bunch of different brands to find one that works best for you.

Fit Guides: Jeans, Chinos, Trousers

How To Take Care Of Your Jeans

Knowing how to take proper care of your jeans is not only going to keep your go-to jeans looking sharp and clean for a long time, but save you money in the long run. So, in this video, we’re showing you all the tips and tricks on how to take care of your jeans!

Don’t forget to check our deep dive on all things jeans and our Fit Guide.

Jean Picks

7 Ways You’re Killing Your Style

As you’re on the road to developing your personal style it’s easy to make mistakes along the way. Whether it’s neglecting the small details that can make a big impact or just trying to do too much with the goal of being “stylish”, there are many common mistakes I see men make along the way.

Don’t forget to check out our Clothing Fit Guide for more tips!

Ashley Weston

Men's Style Advice & More – from a Celebrity Menswear Stylist