Six No-no’s for a Suited Man

You're finally at a place in life where you need to wear a suit somewhere other than a relative's wedding, so wear it right and avoid these six fashion faux pas that turn you from stylish to childish.

Okay, gents, I'll make this quick. Here are six things that men should not be doing while wearing a suit. I see these violations WAY too often as I walk the streets of this city. I'm going to identify these things, as well as some alternatives in an attempt to save these men from themselves.

1. White athletic socks with dress shoes

This is a no-brainer. It may have been acceptable when you were five years old going to a Sunday morning church service, but even that was pushing it. Figure out if you're a solid or a stripe/pattern type guy, buy a couple decent pairs of dress socks, and call it a day.

Calvin klein socksRalph Lauren socks

2. White T-shirts or A-shirts (“wife beaters”) under light-colored dress shirts

Let's assume you're a sweaty dude who wears undershirts because you worry about sweating through your button-up. Your best bet is a heather gray v-neck shirt. A close runner-up would be a heather gray a-shirt. Why? Both options are closer to your natural skin tone, and won't show as clearly through a white or light-colored dress shirt… Basically, gray blends better with your skin, whereas white stands out, even underneath.

V-necks are better than the standard crewneck in case you plan on loosening your tie and unbuttoning that top button. You don't want the ribbed collar of your crewneck poking through; that just screams “sloppy”.

Make sure to buy undershirts that are fitted and form to your body so you don't have excess fabric bunching and billowing when you tuck in your dress shirt.

White undershirt under a white dress shirt

Western belt vs a dress belt3. Silver-tipped, western-themed belts

Do I even have to explain why this is a no no? Unless you're in a rodeo runway show on a cattle ranch in Montana (…what?), stick with a simple, unadorned belt with a basic buckle for suiting and trousers. Keep it classic and you won't run the risk of looking hokey, costumey, or dated.

4. Sporty sunglasses

Stop it! Oakley and Arnette sunglasses are designed for participation in an active sport, not for going to work. Sticking with aviators or a pair of Wayfarers are your best choices. You may have to try on a couple pairs to find the best fit for your face, and if you're absolutely lost, ask for assistance from a (knowledgeable) salesperson to find out which frame fits your face.

Alternatively, read up and figure it out yourself.

Suited man wearing a backpack

5. Backpacks

Gents, I understand you have things to carry during your daily commute. Do yourself a favor and rethink what you use to tote your stuff. Nothing looks sillier than a man in a suit schlepping around a Jansport with 12 pockets. You're not a schoolboy, nor are you on a weekend hike.

Fossil messenger bagIf you must sling something over your shoulders, at least get a decent messenger bag. It's more professional, with the same amount of functionality as your old backpack. Many models have multiple compartments to store your laptop, notebooks, pens, and everything else you'll need… but unlike a backpack, a leather messenger does so in a grown-up way.

6. Riding a Razor

It is NOT okay to be “commuting” on your Razor scooters. I don't care if the bus stop is twelve blocks away from your office. You are an adult, and you look like you just conned a 5-year-old at the local playground. WALK.

Gents, please do everything you can to avoid the aforementioned violations, and instead, explore the more adult alternatives I've suggested. Attention to detail matters, and staying away from these no-no's is a step in the right direction.

Suited man on a scooter

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Barron Cuadro

Barron Cuadro runs The Effortless Gent, a site dedicated to better equipping the everyday man by helping him find his own personal style. You can find him on Twitter @effortlessgent, Facebook, and at http://effortlessgent.com. He lives in San Francisco.