Ed. Note: This is Part One of a two-part article.Most of us have a certain rule that we follow when it comes to what not to wear in public in a certain season. Most of those rules indeed have good reasoning behind them. Some of them, however, are just fashion myths that we can prove to be untrue. Here are the following fashion myths and rules that we can bend:Myth #1. You cannot mix plaid and stripe patterns.
In fact, you absolutely can, and you should mix these patterns. One thing that you have to remember, though, for it not to become a pattern faux pas, is that one pattern should be more dominant than the other. An example is that you can wear your favorite shirt with bold stripes and mix it with a pant, a sweater, or a blazer with a more subtle plaid pattern, where its most dominant color matches the color of your stripes. This mix of patterns balances your outfit and creates a taller, sleeker silhouette that we all love to have.
Myth #2. You cannot wear brown shoes with a black top.
Yes, you can. A great way to pass through this myth is by separating the brown shoes and black top with a neutral element. The best item that separates your black shirt, sweater, or t-shirt is your dark shade, solid washed jeans. Your jeans neutralize the color of your black top and make the color of your brown shoes pop, making it a part of your ensemble. Another way of mixing your black and your brown element is by matching it with brown pants. A rule of thumb is that your pants should go along with your footwear, so if you wear black pants, the best way to pair them is with a black shoe. Don’t forget about another important item: your belt should definitely match your shoes.
Myth #3. No white after Labor day.
Yes, you can wear white after labor day. You can wear your white buttoned down shirt with a dark blazer with a pair of jeans and you end up looking more sophisticated and breaking the myth at the same time. Be very selective though when deciding on wearing white pants this season. You absolutely can, but you have to pay attention to the material. No white jeans, absolutely. Instead, you can wear a white tweed or a light colored wool mixed pant. Mix it with a rich earth colored top and dark shoes and you’re good to go as well.
Myth #4. Always have all parts of your outfit match each other.
No, you don’t have to. The key to dressing sharply is to have your personality come out. Avoid matching all items in your outfit, because you will form just one shape and shade, which in some cases, is very unflattering to a person. Instead, separate your outfits. Mix your colors and patterns for a more defined, casual, and fun look. You can do this by having different patterns and colors that go along with each other. These colors should be within the same color palette and also balance each other. It might sound very complicated, so here’s an example: You can have a green T-shirt with colored prints. With this season, you can layer it with another t-shirt that has the same color as one of the prints on your green t-shirt. Pair it with jeans and your favorite sneakers for a more casual and youthful look.
Myth #5. The tie should always match your shirt.
No. Your necktie should instead have a different shade that goes along with your shirt or the color pattern of your suit if you’re wearing one. When dressing up, choosing the right neck tie could be a hassle to us men, but it shouldn’t be. An example is if you choose to wear a blue dress shirt and a gray pant, choose a tie that has a darker or lighter shade of your dress shirt with a dark pattern so it goes along with your pants or you can choose a tie with a completely different color that goes along with the color of your shirt. Another tip on wearing a necktie is that the tip of it should touch your belt buckle. If it passes it, your tie is too long, and if it doesn’t reach your belt buckle, your tie is too short, creating an unbalanced look.
We’ll continue our look at fashion myths in the next issue