StyleMounties

This post is dedicated to de-bunking often-cited rules of men's fashion that just ain't so.

1. "Shoes must Match your Belt"

Nope; simply not true.
This is especially the case when it comes to shoes and belts in non-conventional colours.

If this rule truly governed, then a guy could never wear say, a red or green belt unless he accompanied it with red or green shoes, which is totally preposterous.

I suppose the rule might have a bit more gravity when dealing with brown or black shoes/belts. But considering the universe of possibilities out there, the rule just isn't all that helpful.

2. "No White before Memorial Day or after Labour Day"

First off, as a Canadian, I don't really even know when Memorial Days falls (OK, I do-- it's in late May). Second, as my loyal readers in Fiji and the Falklands Islands will point out, this rule has a clear Northern Hemisphere bias.

Image copyrighted to the theSartorialist.com

But all kidding aside, while the rule may have some application in most locations with four seasons, it bears less relevance to cities with warmer climates, like L.A. or Tel Aviv.

Bottom line: if it's warm outside, you can wear white (or other light tones), whether it be a warm March day in Miami, or a sweltering September day in Toronto.

3. "Clothes must Match"

I have previously devoted an entire blog post to this misconception. If you're too lazy too check it out, I'll summarize it by saying that other than maybe a pair of socks, clothes do not need to match. Instead, colour tones on individual pieces clothing and accessories in an outfit should complement one another. Excess matching is considered tacky, whereas even boldly distinct tones, if assembled properly, can be crafted in a whimsical and tasteful manner.

4. "You must dress According to your Body Type"

There are a bunch of rules that regulate specific styles of clothing for particular body types. These rules were were never really that intuitive to me. I even came across a website that has an entire page devoted to prescribing the ideal collar types for faces that are diamond, oblong, round, square and oval shaped.

Who knew that craniometrics was an integral part of mens style?

Some other rules people like to trot out:

-"If you're on the shorter side, cuffs can visualy shorten your legs, while a clean non-cuff finish has a lengthening effect."

-"Double-breasted suits flatter heavy set men"

Photo copyrighted to GQ.com

My take on most of these body-type rules is that their exponents often over-think the issue. If you're short, go ahead and get your pants cuffed; if you've got a diamond shaped face, you really needn't worry about the collar type you choose; and if you're overweight, you're not restricted to double-breasted jackets.

Virtually any of these styles can flatter any body type so long as the clothes fit well and are properly tailored.

5. "Dressing Professionally means dressing Conservatively"

Of all the myths cited, I think this one is arguably the most controversial. In my opinion, the rules for professional dress were radically re-written when dress-down Fridays were introduced. If casual-wear such as khakis and a polo shirt can be considered professional, then why not something that is lot more stylish but somewhat daring?

After working for nearly 10 years in the business district of a large metropolis, my sense is that men are increasingly cluing into this double-standard, and really taking ownership of dress-down Fridays by actually dressing them up, in style.

Surely there are days when you wouldn't want your clothes to make too big of statement, but for the vast majority of professionals, such days are the exception, not the norm, and on those days there is nothing unprofessional in dressing with a bit of flair.