DRESSING You, DAD - The Top 5 Mistakes Men Make With Their Clothes & What To Do Instead

1. Wearing Dad jeans
Please don't! Mom jeans may be making a come-back but sorry, it's not happening with Dad jeans.  That's not to say you should adopt a Jonas brother style skinny jean or a rock-a-billy rhinestone studded jean.  Like dogs, well fitting jeans are a dad's best friend.  Here's what to look for.

• Choose jeans with a slight taper from the knees down without being too tight or showing the calve muscle.  You also don't want the fabric in the calve to bag out beyond the knee.
• Get a close fit in the bootie.  If it's a stretch fabric, it may loosen up during the day, so err on the side of a close fit.  The soggy bottom boys will not be performing today.  
• If the jeans fit in the calve, thighs and bootie but are big in the waist, have them taken in. This is an easy fix any tailor will be happy to do for you.    

2.  Color doesn't matter
WRONG. There's power in knowing your best colors.

• Repeat your eye, hair, skin, blush or lip color in your clothes.  It's that simple.  You want people to notice your eyes for better visual authority?  Repeat your eye color with a solid colored shirt, add the color to a pattern in the shirt, tie or scarf, or look for your eye color in the buttons of the shirt or jacket.  The same principle applies to your skin, natural deep rose blush or lip color and hair. Whatever color you repeat from those colors near your face, are the colors others will notice.  
• What if you're handsomely without hair?  If you have light skin, wear medium to dark colors for needed value contrast? If you have dark skin, thank your lucky stars and wear light to dark colors as well as medium to bright colors.  (In general, avoid anything pale.)
• Get color swatches of your best colors for easy reference HERE.  

3.  Wearing dress shirts with khakis
Can your say visual confusion? Your shirt and pants should send a consistent message.  Wearing dressy shirts with casual pants sends mixed signals about your purpose and maybe even your attention to detail.  

• Wear refined dress shirts with equally refined trousers and maybe even a tie.  Not sure if it's a dress or sports shirt?  Dress shirts will generally have some sheen to the fabric. 
• Check the collar of your shirt.  Button down tabs often indicate a more relaxed, sports shirt.  Wear this with more relaxed style pants.  This includes jeans, corduroys, and yes khakis.

4.  Shoes don't relate to the clothes  
Oof! They may have cool yellow shoe laces or be super expensive Air Jordans, but if they don't relate to the rest of your outfit, you risk looking like a fashion victim.

• If you go with the bright colored shoes, keep everything else sporty and neutral.  Take one of the colors from the shoes and repeat it somewhere else in the outfit.  It can be as small as a watch or dot in the shirt pattern, a little repetition will help you to own this stand out style.  
• Try matching your shoes to your hair color for instant coordination with the colors you're wearing every day.
• Brown or cinnamon works great with most colors including grey, blue, green, and black.  Black is great with camel, grey, green, and black of course.  As a general rule, I avoid black with navy.  
• When in doubt, the old rule of thumb still works.  Match shoes to pants or belt.  

5.  The wrong belt
Swing and a miss. Ever noticed the belts pro golfers wear?  They're usually as sporty as the rest of their outfit.  Your belt should also repeat the mood of your look that day.

• More formal, serious occasions call for a 1" refined leather belt.  
• More relaxed?  Go with a wider, distressed leather belt with jeans.  Or opt for a belt with stretch and a fun color with jeans or golf pants.  
• When in doubt, match your belt to the color and/or mood of your shoes.  Wear a stretch or scout style belt with sneakers.  Wear a leather belt with leather shoes.   

Looking for an easy gift for you or the dad in your life?  Find the perfect gift HERE.    

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