Top 5 Fashion Faux Pas of 2008
A Few of the Years Worst Style Mistakes and Fashion Dont's for Men
Oct 24, 2008
This year marked not only the return of several classic fashion mistakes, but it also offered a few up from the younger set – the college crowd! While good taste may be hard to find, exceptionally bad taste seems to be a lot easier to spot – and is a great deal more humourous!
#5 – The Tuxedo T-Shirt
Returning for a brief stint of reinvented fame from it's original run in the 1980s is the infamous tuxedo t-shirt. While it may have been debatably ingenious in its original incarnation – the attempt at wearing it ironically in the 21st century is a little redundant. Attempting to be trendy is a difficult thing; push too hard and chic becomes sloppy.
#4 – The Barefoot Leather Loafer
The only time a man's foot should be bare in their footwear is within slippers, sandals, moccasins, deck shoes, or a hybrid sandal such as the Sanuk brand of surfwear. As often promoted by fashion icon Carson Kressley on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the barefoot look in a loafer (commonly worn with chinos) is not only detrimental to your image, but downright devastating to a quality pair of leather loafers.
While one might agree with Kressley's style and flair, this particular idea is most definitely a fashion don't. Not only is it extremely feminine, it also promotes odour and bacteria. If you cannot be dissuaded from the barefoot look, at least invest in a quality sock (such as Smartwool socks) or foot covers from Activskin to help wick away moisture.
#3 – The Multiple Popped Collar
The craze of the popped collar polo, especially in pink, can be taken to the next level with disastrous results. The multiple popped collar look screams for attention, and makes one look like an amatueurish frat-boy rather than a true connoisseur of style and fashion. Not only is it extremely tacky, the multiple layering of polo shirts also makes for a completely baggy and disjointed fit, and colour clashing galore – not to mention the heat.
#2 – The Baggy Wardrobe, “Urban Wear”
There is puzzlement abound at the recent resurgence of “urban wear” – a term too often synonymous with poor quality garments with gaudy prints in oversized construction, commonly marketed to younger men in urban centers.
True urban style is chic, tailored, and bespeaks quality and professionalism, or else is somewhat avant-garde and experimental. Mall outlets such as Randy River and Urban Planet and other stores marketing fashion to the younger crowd really have been pushing oversized, fake bling-encrusted or poorly screen printed hoodies and ill-fit jeans to their consumers – promoting a sloppy, puffy look.
Tip for younger men who prefer a casual look? Lose the sloppy look and find something that fits your body correctly – wearing enormous clothes simply makes one look ridiculous.
#1 – The Dreaded “Mandals”
Socks with sandals. A perennial favourite – and the absolute epitome of men's fashion faux pas. Both terrible aesthetically as well as tending to be very pungent and malodourous, the socks with sandals combination should be disavowed by all men seeking to be style experts. As noted above, sandals should be worn barefoot, the way they were intended to be worn.
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