Q. I have a question about ties with short-sleeve shirts. Should they be the same length as ties you wear the rest of the year, because there always seems something odd about having a tie to my belt without sleeves?
A. Whereas the typical length of a necktie with a long-sleeve shirt is to the middle of the belt, there is no acceptable length with a short-sleeve shirt. That is to say, it is not appropriate to wear a tie at all with a short-sleeve shirt. This may seem harsh, but it really is no more strict than that a suit consists of a jacket and trousers, not a jacket and shorts.
So why do you see many men wearing short-sleeve shirts with a tie? You see many men wearing toupees as well, but that does not make them right. This is one of a number of classic no-no's that stays, and has stayed, constant for decades.
I recently made a list of mistakes I see men making in their dressing. Many of them seem even more noticeable in summer than during the rest of the year.
Things not to wear simply because no well-dressed man wears them:
• Short-sleeve shirts with a tie
• Untucked shirts that are long, loose and baggy
• Too short neckties that expose some shirt between the tie and the belt
• Too long neckties that extend down to a man's fly
• Pre-tied bow ties
• Clip-on anything: such as bow ties, suspenders
• Clothes that are too tight -- where the buttons pull and create gaps
• Pants that are too long (a slight break looks good; a puddle of fabric at the ankle looks sloppy)
• Socks that are short enough to show skin when you are seated
One of the most unappealing looks I keep seeing lately is a vast sea of men dressed in unattractive shorts paired with loose/baggy and, of course, untucked T-shirts worn over equally unattractive too-large bellies. They are almost always in some muddy shades of gray and/or olive.
Either of these colors works alone, especially when paired with a white or pastel-colored top, but when combined as a duo, they just look thoughtless and sloppy. I have observed this oft-repeated combination not just on men who are shooting baskets in their driveways or taking the trash out to the curb, but on men accompanying nicely dressed women and children to medium-priced sit-down restaurants.
My strong guess is that these same men would not dress in similarly unappealing and uncoordinated combinations when they wear trousers. Why then do they feel that summer gives them the freedom to dress so badly? "Comfort" is not an acceptable answer. Ugly color combinations are no more comfortable than good-looking ones. Don't they have a mirror at home?
Summer is such a special and beautiful time of year. Why spoil it?
Send fashion queries to Male Call:
lois.fenton@prodigy.net
High Profile on 08/06/2017