At the end of last year I produced a two-part article that set about dispelling some common fashion myths and rules. Or as I like to refer to it: ‘Sh*t My Dad Says’.
With 2013 quickly coming to a close, I thought now would be the perfect time to release another edition in the series. After all, with the passing of another year comes another wide selection of stupid, weird and off the mark remarks my father continues to drop like bombs.
We’ve already proven that black and navy CAN work together, considered whether pleats are still ‘in fashion’ and dismissed the old adage of never wearing brown in town, amongst others. But before we start on part three, we need to reinforce one simple guideline: learn the rules and then break them.
Of course, men’s style and fashion does have some unwritten rules, and more often than not they are there for good reason. However, with the passing of time some of these rules become less relevant – meaning they can be bent and broken if you so desire.
Yet you need to learn what the rules are before you are able to do any breaking. If you don’t understand the reasoning behind said rule, you will more often than not end up creating a look that is a train wreck of mismatched and clashing colours, or just plain weird. After all, we’re aiming for style here, not avant-garde, right?
So without further ado, let’s explore a few more fashion myths my old man religiously sticks to…
1. “Red & Green Should Never Be Seen”
Ah yes, that old chestnut. Anyone with a casual knowledge of the colour wheel (mine’s saved in my smartphone) will know that these two colours, due to their placement, are contrasting.
This means they are notoriously hard to combine. Especially when you consider how strong and eye-catching each colour is individually; both used at the same time in an outfit would be too much. But if you do get this pairing right, you will reap the rewards.
The secret to pulling off red and green together is to make sure that you vary the hue of each colour as much as possible, ideally in different directions (one lighter, one darker). It also helps to introduce another neutral item in the mix to balance them and anchor the entire look.
For example, why not combine a pair of burgundy chinos with a mint green polo shirt and a navy cardigan? Or perhaps try some olive chinos with a pink Oxford cloth button-down and grey lambswool jumper?
Varying their hues creates enough contrast for the colours to be worn at the same time without them appearing too full-on to the people you pass on the street.
Lookbook Inspiration
Outfit Examples
2. “Black & Brown Will Make You Frown”
Wow, what is it with my dad and making these sayings rhyme? Such a strange man. Anyway, the same principle applies here as well.
Browns at the darker end of the colour spectrum (think chocolate, bistre and taupe) can often be mistaken for black, so pairing the two together can lead to a lack of definition between pieces and the ‘muddying’ of the look as a whole. As we’ve said before, it’s all about contrast.
With this in mind, when you’re pairing black and brown together, make sure you opt for lighter shades of brown. For instance, why not try pairing tobacco brown tweed trousers with a big chunky knit and some even chunkier black brogue boots?
Alternatively, inject some 1970s-inspired chic via a black roll neck jumper and tan brown leather jacket combination – perfect for those brisk Sunday afternoons this winter.Lookbook Inspiration
Outfit Examples
3. “I Just Can’t See Myself In It”
Not so much a rule, more a plague of the modern gentleman. It’s not just my dad whom I’ve caught saying this but my flatmate, friends and passersby as well.
Do you know the best way to see yourself in something? TRY IT ON! After all, that’s why the shop was put there in the first place. I’ve not been in a shop yet that has forced me to buy something I’ve tried on and hated, so where’s the harm in trying?
Experimenting with your own preconceived ideas of how you ‘look’ and what your ‘style’ is – that’s the ultimate method of dispelling fashion myths. Because you don’t know until you’ve given something a chance.
Just remember to keep an open mind, try not to dismiss straight away if it doesn’t fit perfectly (this can often be altered) and, if in doubt, type the item into FashionBeans’ search bar to find a wide selection of articles on said piece, showing you how to wear it and incorporate it into your current style.
Lookbook Inspiration
Is it time you tried something new? Whether it’s a trend print such as camouflage or floral, a slightly bolder colour than you are used to, or an unconventional fabric such as velvet, experimenting with your look and introducing new elements can make a world of difference to your personal style:
IDEAS FOR AW13 INCLUDE QUILTING, GILETS, CAMO PRINT, FLORALS, CHECKED TAILORING, VELVET & FASHION TRAINERS.
Key Pieces
2. “Black & Brown Will Make You Frown”
Wow, what is it with my dad and making these sayings rhyme? Such a strange man. Anyway, the same principle applies here as well.
Browns at the darker end of the colour spectrum (think chocolate, bistre and taupe) can often be mistaken for black, so pairing the two together can lead to a lack of definition between pieces and the ‘muddying’ of the look as a whole. As we’ve said before, it’s all about contrast.
With this in mind, when you’re pairing black and brown together, make sure you opt for lighter shades of brown. For instance, why not try pairing tobacco brown tweed trousers with a big chunky knit and some even chunkier black brogue boots?
Alternatively, inject some 1970s-inspired chic via a black roll neck jumper and tan brown leather jacket combination – perfect for those brisk Sunday afternoons this winter.Lookbook Inspiration
3. “I Just Can’t See Myself In It”
Not so much a rule, more a plague of the modern gentleman. It’s not just my dad whom I’ve caught saying this but my flatmate, friends and passersby as well.
Do you know the best way to see yourself in something? TRY IT ON! After all, that’s why the shop was put there in the first place. I’ve not been in a shop yet that has forced me to buy something I’ve tried on and hated, so where’s the harm in trying?
Experimenting with your own preconceived ideas of how you ‘look’ and what your ‘style’ is – that’s the ultimate method of dispelling fashion myths. Because you don’t know until you’ve given something a chance.
Just remember to keep an open mind, try not to dismiss straight away if it doesn’t fit perfectly (this can often be altered) and, if in doubt, type the item into FashionBeans’ search bar to find a wide selection of articles on said piece, showing you how to wear it and incorporate it into your current style.
Lookbook Inspiration
Is it time you tried something new? Whether it’s a trend print such as camouflage or floral, a slightly bolder colour than you are used to, or an unconventional fabric such as velvet, experimenting with your look and introducing new elements can make a world of difference to your personal style:
IDEAS FOR AW13 INCLUDE QUILTING, GILETS, CAMO PRINT, FLORALS, CHECKED TAILORING, VELVET & FASHION TRAINERS.
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