Though most faux-pas fashion trends seem to focus on females, there are still several male fashion trends that ought to be completely avoided for the upcoming seasons at all costs.
Male fashion can tend to be more complex than women’s clothing due to fewer options and the lack of variety of male celebrity style icons. There isn’t a huge difference between what makes George Clooney a sharp dresser than from what makes Matt Damon look great on the red carpet. Having said that, I have noticed on television and movies that there is slowly becoming more of a range of what men can choose in their daily wardrobe choices. For example, Rufus Humphrey, the father of Dan and Jenny on “Gossip Girl,” has mastered the delicate balance between rock 'n' roll rugged edge and New York sophistication. Television characters like him are providing more options and alternatives for guys.
Though I am not a fashion authority and certainly am not trying to be, since matriculating at Vanderbilt I have been surrounded by smart, fashionable women who have lots of ideas about good and bad in style. What I have discovered from my research is that most women, particularly Vanderbilt women, like their male counterparts to dress and look masculine. This translates into dark tones, nothing too tight and definitely nothing with flowers or chains. One thing that is an absolute horror in male fashion is a T-shirt with obnoxious phrases. Unless your shirt advertises a funny political slogan, a charity you support or a phrase in a different language that is inspiring to you, then use it as a dishrag.
Another recent male trend that is an absolute failure are male cropped pants that are somewhere between capris and full-length pants. They not only look like you own pants that don’t fit you, but there is no occasion or season when this is appropriate (except maybe summer in the south of France if you are a serious European metrosexual). Another fashion mishap that is unacceptable is bad shoes. Shoes, whether sneakers, dress shoes, boat shoes or sandals, should be clean, good quality and not falling apart. Women notice shoes on a man almost as fast as they notice their face — so take notice.
