What Not To Wear
When a man walks into a room, his style speaks before he does. Unfortunately, what it says isn’t always flattering. Some looks suggest effort, others hint at indifference, and women tend to notice the difference right away. While taste is subjective, these 20 fashion habits are widely seen as misses. Though they’re not deal-breakers, they definitely won't win you any points either.
1. Baggy Cargo Shorts
Oversized cargo shorts are rarely seen in current menswear campaigns. The excess fabric and bulky silhouette scream 1990s and give off a juvenile vibe. You don’t want a woman to think you’re tacky, right? So, go for slimmer cuts that look far more appealing.
2. Socks With Sandals
This style contradiction remains a widely mocked fashion faux pas. It undermines the breathable purpose of sandals while highlighting a careless attitude toward coordination. Even brands like Birkenstock focus their marketing on barefoot wear. Additionally, this pairing, though comfortable to some, may suggest poor taste.
3. Overly Distressed Jeans
When jeans look more shredded than stitched, they stop being stylish. Excessively torn denim was overexposed in the 2010s and is now viewed as dated. High-end designers like Levi’s and Diesel have scaled back on extreme distressing in recent collections, favoring cleaner cuts.
4. Flashy Designer Logos
Head-to-toe logos don’t suggest wealth—they often signal insecurity or a lack of personal style. Subtle branding has become the luxury norm, and many labels intentionally omit logos. Fashion editors frequently criticize loud monogramming, noting that understated pieces age better and convey more confidence.
marrinson palacios cosme on Pexels
5. Deep V-Neck Shirts
The deep V-neck had a brief moment in the early 2010s, but it’s since become a red flag for dated styling. Most major brands phased them out by the late 2010s, and they haven’t returned. Women often associate them with over-the-top vanity rather than fashion sensibility.
Eugen. D. that approved on Wikimedia
6. Oversized Logo Caps
Baseball caps can add charm when styled right, but oversized caps with giant logos or flashy branding often overwhelm the face. These hats tend to signal trend-chasing rather than timeless taste. A lot of ladies also think it’s about a lack of personal grooming or an attempt to hide unstyled hair.
7. Skinny Jeans That Are Too Tight
Overly tight jeans restrict movement and can draw attention to areas most men would rather not highlight. At some point, she would probably wonder, “Is he uncomfortable or just trying too hard?” Moreover, health experts also caution that tight pants may cause meralgia paresthetica—nerve compression in the thighs.
8. Fedoras Worn Casually
Though originally a symbol of classic menswear, the fedora’s misuse in casual fashion has damaged its reputation. Today, it’s considered an outdated internet stereotype and a try-hard fashion choice. Without proper tailoring and context, like a suit, the hat tends to stand out for the wrong reasons.
9. Graphic Tees With Immature Slogans
Shirts featuring crude jokes or outdated memes sometimes send the wrong message. What might have seemed funny in college tends to come off as attention-seeking in adulthood. So, wearing something like “I Paused My Game to Be Here” will make her question your maturity—or your laundry situation.
10. Muscle Tanks With Oversized Armholes
These cut-off tanks often reveal too much skin and undergarments and look more like undershirts than public attire. While functional during workouts, they’re jarring in social settings. The exaggerated armholes give off a sloppy, hyper-masculine vibe that a lot of ladies find unappealing outside the gym.
11. Jeans With Embellished Back Pockets
Heavy stitching, rhinestones, or flashy designs on the back pockets draw attention in an outdated and often gaudy way. Originally popularized by brands like True Religion and Affliction, this trend has long faded. Today, these jeans give more of a “2006 club bro” vibe for women.
12. Sunglasses Worn Indoors Or At Night
Wearing sunglasses when there’s no sun? It makes a man appear self-conscious or pretentious. She’d probably think you’re hiding doped eyes or trying too hard to stand out. This habit rarely goes unnoticed and hints more at theatrics than functional fashion.
13. Long Wallet Chains
Most women view long wallet chains as relics of a bygone era, especially if worn with oversized jeans. They were hit in punk scenes, but now, the chains feel more like a costume than something cool. Their clinking sound tends to draw the wrong kind of attention.
14. Ill-Fitting Suits
A suit should flatter, not swamp or tighten. If it's too tight in the shoulders or puddles at the ankles, it’s a poor fit that kills the intent of dressing sharply. To put it out straight, it looks like a borrowed piece.
15. Flip-Flops In Public Settings
Unless you're chilling at the beach, flip-flops often appear lazy and overly casual. They expose unkempt feet and offer zero structure, undermining an otherwise decent outfit. Many women find them a turnoff, not because of the toes, but because it looks like the man gave up completely.
16. Ed Hardy Or Loud Tattoo-Inspired Prints
Loud, tattoo-style graphics covered in glittering script scream 2008—and not in a nostalgic way. These pieces clash with modern minimalist trends and are widely considered overly aggressive. Brands like Ed Hardy saw a rapid rise and fall because they looked like over-the-top club fashion.
17. Mismatched Gym Wear In Public
Clashing athletic pieces, like neon shorts and stained cut-off tees, suggest a disinterest in self-presentation. Women often describe it as looking rushed or careless, particularly in social or casual-professional settings. While practical in the gym, these outfits feel out of place elsewhere.
18. Dress Shoes With Athletic Socks
The contrast between formal footwear and sporty socks disrupts the outfit’s cohesion. Athletic socks bunch, peek, and clash with otherwise polished looks. She wouldn’t find it appealing—it either looks like you got dressed in the dark or you don’t have a decent pair.
19. Overly Flashy Belt Buckles
Supersized buckles with logos, skulls, or Western motifs? They draw attention to the waistline in the worst way. This look, popularized by certain niche fashion circles, has little appeal in broader style contexts. Plenty of ladies find it tacky, especially when paired with leather vests.
Oosoom at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia
20. Formalwear Paired With Untamed Facial Hair
A sharp blazer loses its charm with a scruffy, unkempt beard. When the grooming doesn’t keep up with the outfit, it drags everything down. In this situation, it’s not about having a beard—it’s about looking like someone actually meant to dress up.
