Most style rules are subject to change. They are simply judgments influenced by trends coming down from the runway. Have you noticed some style rules fade and others maintain staying power?
Only one or two have been around for centuries. For example, the slim silhouettes, the default for a decade, now challenged by wider legs and loose fits.Those that are no longer trending, time and enterprising designers can bring about their rehabilitation. Here are 5 style rules you never take for granted:
1. Never use the bottom button on your blazer
It’s understandable that, when presented with buttons, men do them up. However, the modern suit jacket is designed to flare out at the hips to create the appearance of a slimmer waist. Button every fastener and the fabric pulls and puckers, disrupting the silhouette and destroying the seams. You run the same risk if you stay buttoned up when sat down. A suit should fit close to your upright body. When you sit, your posture shifts and puts tension on the fastening, which tests your tailor’s stitching.
2. Wash your clothes less frequently
It’s a misconception that clothes need washing after every wear. Underwear aside, unless you’ve got the table manners of a farm animal, most pieces can stand up to a few outings. This is especially true of tailoring. The chemicals used when dry cleaning a suit damage the fabric and weaken the stitching. If possible, only subject them to it twice a year. Denim should be washed even less frequently. Normal jeans should be washed every few months, whereas dry denim you ideally wouldn’t wash at all.
3. Tucking the wrong shirt does not make you smarter
We have mums to blame for thinking that tucked-in shirts are a prerequisite for looking smart. But this isn’t always the case – it all depends on the style of shirt and, most importantly, the hem. Dress shirts and tailored shirts are designed to be tucked in, as they’re worn in a more formal context. Try the same with a shirt designed to be worn untucked (particularly anything made from a thick denim or flannel), and you’ll spend all day stuffing it back into your trousers.
4. Polish is more than shine
Good shoes are an investment. But you can’t pass them to your kids if you don’t treat them right. A good polish is leather food. It soaks into the pores and keeps it supple. When your shoes are clean and dry, apply a generous amount of polish to your shoe brush and buff your shoes thoroughly until only a thin film of polish is visible on each shoe. For the heels you’ll need to recruit a slightly damp cotton wool pad with polish on it and then use circular motions to get rid of dirt that’s outstayed its welcome.
5. Tucking the wrong shirt does not make it smarter
We have mums to blame for thinking that tucked-in shirts are a prerequisite for looking smart. But this isn’t always the case – it all depends on the style of shirt and, most importantly, the hem. Dress shirts and tailored shirts are designed to be tucked in, as they’re worn in a more formal context. Try the same with a shirt designed to be worn untucked (particularly anything made from a thick denim or flannel), and you’ll spend all day stuffing it back into your trousers. If you’re the kind of guy that favours a tucked T-shirt or polo, prioritize longer-line styles and wear with a belt if possible – it will keep the look sharp, negate the need to keep re-tucking throughout the day.