With so many people offering advice on fashion and style, both off and online, it is only natural that there are many misconceptions in the world of men’s fashion and style.

Some of the information that is going around in the men’s fashion world is simply not true, while other “rules” come from older times and have been passed on generation from generation. Now, this doesn’t mean that our great-great grandfathers were so wrong about fashion, but many of the outdated fashion rules we hear today are simply based on what was thought a while ago to look well. Since then, we have broken new barriers and discovered that other things actually look better that that what was the norm back then. Again, this does not mean that our grandfathers could not have a timeless style; it simply means that we have discovered ways to create better aesthetics.

Let’s take a look at some men’s fashion misconceptions and what the reality surrounding them is.

 

 

1.Pants should fold at the bottom

Back a while ago, the norm was for pants to fold twice at the bottom. This was a rule that does no longer apply. For a more conservative look, you can opt for one fold, but no fold is great too. Not only do shorter pants look better, but they also showcase some (colorful) sock or ankle, which gives you more elements to play with. Many men still wear pants with two pleats, but we believe that these pants should get a trip to a tailor.

 

 

2. Only poor quality leather creases

It is often said that if a pair of leather shoes or a bag creases, it is of poor quality. This is not true at all. In fact, leather is supposed to crease. Being a natural fabric, in time it will change. This is why you should keep shoe trees in your shoes and newspapers or a pillow in your bag. Even though leather does crease, this does not mean that it is not a strong and durable fabric, as leather tends to become stronger, more flexible and more resistant in time.

 

 

3. Boot cut pants make your legs look bigger

Many thin guys and especially guys who have thin ankles, believe that wearing boot cut pants (pants that are wider at the bottom) will make them look bigger. This is not true at all. Wearing boot cut pants will only add a lot of fabric to a thin ankle. That’s all it does. For a better result, go for a classic cut and make sure that the pants are tailored to your size. In fact, this rule applies to any over- or undersized garment. Which brings us to our next point…

 

 

4. You cannot look good and be comfortable at the same time

Many people believe that comfort and style are antagonists and that they have to choose one over the other. This is not true. The key to having both is fit.

Fitting clothes are clothes that look great on you and for your body type and that feel comfortable at the same time.

Wearing clothes that are bigger or smaller than your size will not look very good. A small guy who wears clothes that are too big for his size will look as if he is drowning in the garments he’s wearing. If you are a small guy, and want to appear bigger by wearing smaller clothes, that won’t work either: you will look even smaller and strangled by the pieces you wear. On the other hand, if you are a bigger guy, wearing clothes that are bigger than your size will make you look even bigger and wearing clothes that are too tight will make you look as if you are hurt by your clothes.

 

 

5. Any button down shirt is a dress shirt

A dress shirt is a shirt that features no pockets, 6-8 buttons and that can be properly tucked in. Shirts that feature one pocket are considered casual and should be worn only in casual environments. Shirts that have two pockets (or more) are either utilitarian shirts (for police officers, airport employees, engineers on sites, etc.) or hiking / work shirts.

 

 

6. Quality clothes are expensive