Fashion Mistakes Men Make

The experts weigh in on the worst blunders in men's fashion.

Kris Van Assche, Dior Homme: “Dressing to show what one has rather than who one is.”

Giorgio Armani: “Jackets are the backbone of men’s wear, so when you buy one, make sure it fits properly. Just because it is a piece of tailoring doesn’t mean it is a magic wand. A badly fitting jacket—however expensive—will look awkward.”

Dean and Dan Caten, Dsquared: “Buying a suit—and thinking it is a tracksuit! A suit is to be tailored, sharp and smart, not big enough to do cartwheels in.”

Tom Ford: “Button your jacket. It takes 20 pounds off your silhouette.”

John Varvatos: “Square-toed shoes. They are an outdated style that can instantly make any man look bad.…I can’t tell you the number of women who have told me that a man wearing square-toed shoes may have just lost himself a second date. Shallow? Maybe. True? Definitely.”

Dolce & Gabbana: “A man who wears something that does not ‘belong’ to him makes a mistake and he comes to be ridiculous.”—Stefano Gabbana “Be yourself and wear something that is suitable for the situation.” —Domenico Dolce

Roberto Cavalli: “Not taking enough risk. There is nothing I admire more than when a man adds a little personality into his look, whether it be color or mixing the right prints.”

Angela Missoni: “Gray leather shoes.”

Brunello Cucinelli: “I prefer a man not to wear bracelets or rings. As a general rule, simplicity is always best.”

Viktor & Rolf: “Men traveling with matching designer luggage—that just ain’t right.”

Patrick Grant of Norton & Sons and E. Tautz: “Overbuttoning. A man should never fasten more than one button on a singlebreasted jacket.”

Michael Bastian: “A really pressed, oversize oxford shirt, pressed pleated chinos, bad dress shoes—the invisible corporate potato.”

Scott Sternberg, Band of Outsiders: “The high-groom factor. Dudes shouldn’t shine or shimmer. It’s just wrong.”

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