It’s that time again, when we look back on the past year in preparation for closing the final chapter of 2016 and ask ourselves: “What the hell was I thinking?” Like the blooper video at the end of a movie, taking stock of your style mistakes from the past 12 months is a great way to make sure you don’t make mistakes in 2017. After all, they say People who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and you probably don’t want to do it. So pay attention, here, according to men’s fashion experts, are the biggest mistakes you could have made in 2016. #NeverForget. Nick Passmore, Creative Director, Whistles “We have seen a big trend in terms of wearing pajamas this year. Girls have managed to wear theirs out of the house with a heel or sneakers, but a guy on the subway in his pajamas is just weird. “Save them for home, guys.” Tony Cook, Menswear Editor, FarFetch “The brand returned, in a big way. But we pay for it. From Kappa to Fila to Ellesse, 1990s sports brands teamed up with high-fashion design houses resulting in the most hyped trend of the year. In the end, the price increase got a little out of hand.” Thom Scherdel, buyer, The Idle Man “I’m sick of seeing super tight jeans and oversized Yeezy coloured tops on animated boys shuffling to house music. Surely people must be prepared to move on to having a skinny or straight leg now? 30-year-olds and 13-year-olds dressing the same is not right, and it’s not teenagers who are in the wrong.”
James Jee, menswear director, Jaeger “This year should have taught many men the importance of understanding how their skin tone can play a role in their wardrobe. We saw a lot of light peach and pink colors, but, for example, pale skin tones should stay away from these because they wash out your color (especially in photos).” Nish de Gruiter, Vice President of SuitSupply “As relaxed tailoring became an increasingly important part of the men’s wardrobe in 2016, we noticed that the overall fit has been slightly affected. Refresh yourself: Sleeve length should always show an inch of the shirt cuff, while pants should sit above the hips; Don’t compare them to the fit of your jeans.” Giles Farnham, Director of River Island Style Studio “This year, many men have gone all out with their fancy accessories. A tie clip looks super smart, as do cufflinks, collar pins, etc., but don’t wear them all together. When in doubt, follow the old rule of losing one thing before leaving the house.”
Karen Mason, stylist and collaborator, Jocks and nerds “To be honest, I think everything has its place in fashion somewhere, but if you push me, these 2016 trends didn’t really work for me: head-to-toe plaid or plaid; Crushed velvet, anything oversized, but especially oversized handbags – useless and impractical.” Jenna Riddle, stylist,
Tahmid Akthar, stylist, Thread “Poor layering has been a big problem in 2016. A single day can bring an entire season of bad weather, so it makes sense to pile on layers. However, this needs to be done smartly to avoid ending up with a sweaty mess. Wear cotton or other lighter fabrics, such as merino wool, closer to your skin as they will allow your skin to breathe. “Then build on this with warmer layers, like chunky knits and a coat.” Erica Redgrave, Buyer, The Watch Gallery “I’ve seen a lot of men this year wearing extra jewelry around their watch. The watch is your jewel and does not need accompaniment, especially if you opt for a precious metal. However, if you must opt for more bracelets, use simple cuffs that do not clash with your watch, without diamonds or wooden beads.” Valérie Bungener Relmy, standards director, Moss Bros. “A common mistake we still see is the length of the tie: often too long or too short. The length of a tie should float above the belt buckle, so practice tying your tie at the suggested length.”
