Our clothes do not determine who we are. But they do add to the impression others get of us and can also make us appear better or worse depending on how we look. Clothes, especially in a formal environment, send a lot of different messages, and when we overlook some important aspects of how we dress, we might be taken less seriously. Here are the seven dressing mistakes to avoid.
1. Wearing too many colors
Nothing is wrong with a little color or a colorful outfit as long as it sticks with one main one. When we mix a lot of colors, it tends to look not only mismatched but make us appear less serious and a little garish. It makes us seem like we are after attention and evokes associations with childishness.
It’s better to stick to one or two main colors that go well with each other with an accent in another color at the most. Too many colors appear a bit clownish and can be tiring to look at for a long time.
2. Wearing clothes that don’t fit
Sure, not everyone can afford a personal tailor or perfect fittings, but it is important to make sure our clothes fit us for the most part. At least, we need to check that the sleeves, the overall size, and the length, as well as how tight our outfit is, is mostly according to our looks.
Clothes that don’t fit make us seem sloppy, plus they can be pretty uncomfortable and distracting. If there is no way to avoid wearing something that doesn’t quite fit, try to conceal it and make sure the sleeves or other details don’t get in your way.
3. Overlooking comfort for style
Looking good is important. But those fancy shoes that squeeze your feet and leave you in pain are really not worth it. Comfort is as important as style in most cases, as comfort is what allows you to do things while wearing your clothes.
When you are uncomfortable, it shows and can significantly limit your movements, while also making you appear, perhaps, a bit uptight or closed off. It can also affect your performance. Clothes should be comfortable and suit what you are doing.
4. Overlooking style for comfort
The opposite is also true. Your comfort is important, but it should not be a good reason to put on a worn t-shirt for an important meeting. Comfort matters more in some cases, like if health is involved, but there are always alternatives that will allow you to move freely and feel good without having to look weird or careless.
5. Not checking to make them look put together
The details matter. An untucked shirt can make you look sloppy, even if the shirt is from a fancy brand. The same goes for other details, like an unzipped fly, wrinkled clothes, stains or holes, and so on. These add to the overall look and can ruin even the most appealing outfit.
Check the details and make sure it all looks put together.
6. Having distracting elements
Some things will draw attention: a bright accessory, a huge piece of jewelry, and so on. If you want people to look more at you, try to avoid things that are too distracting and draw too much attention, like eccentric or unmatched accessories that feel out of place.
Avoid large brooches, flashy pins or details, and other things like that unless you want everyone to focus on these elements rather than on the whole set or you as a person.
7. Caring too much about brands
Good clothes are not always synonymous with branded clothes or expensive clothes. Putting too much emphasis on what brand a shirt or bag are can make them appear tackier and diminish the impact. Good and classy things speak for themselves, so they don’t need to be announced.
Clothes and items that announce their branding are not likely to please everyone, and some feel it is a bit too much. Caring about brand names and trying to make them show in your outfit can have the opposite effect to the one intended, making it all appear cheaper and less interesting. Focus on quality and beauty, on the things that you enjoy.
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