40 Style Myths Explained

Menswear is full of rules. Wear this with that. Don't ever wear these things. Chill out from bowties for a little bit. Some of them have a social history, and some of them are total hogwash. From old-school urban legends (did Tommy Hilfiger say he didn't want black people wearing his clothes?) to so-called "rules" (you can't wear white after Labor Day), we took a magnifying glass to some of the murky beliefs and rumors surrounding menswear. Here are 40 Style Myths Explained.

RELATED: 10 Men's Grooming Myths Exposed

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While it's true that Levi's moved away from old-school shuttle looms (the type of machine that produces selvedge fabric) to ones that could produce jeans at a faster clip, it's not true that all selvedge denim is inherently better than non-selvedge jeans. There are plenty of modern shuttle looms that put out selvedge denim that isn't necessarily the best money can buy. That means companies like Gap and Uniqlo can sell selvedge jeans for under a hundred bucks, but this new denim isn't necessarily better than vintage, American-made, non-selvedge Levi's from the '70s.

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A tuxedo is required to events that aren't "black tie optional," so you usually can't get away with just rocking a dark suit. It doesn't, however, mean "black." DInner jackets come in a variety of colors, from white and ivory to more modern midnight blues and navys. So push the envelope a little, and besides, every guy should own a tux anyway.

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Monk shoes trace their lineage to the 15th century. European monks in the Alps wore this type of shoe, and companies like John Lobb popularized it in the 19th Century when they made them for Prince Edward, who had wide feet.

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Too many guys worry about "matching," when really they should just be concerned about colors complementing each other. Remember when dudes got in a tizzy because their shirts and kicks didn't match 100%? Forget that. Yes, you can wear black and brown together. Just look at this Hérmes model.

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Generally, a good tie length should touch just the top of your waistband. Longer than that, it's too long, shorter than that, it's too short.

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Waaaay false. "Slim" technically means a garment actually fits you, and no guy, size be damned, looks bad in perfectly tailored gear. Go too tight, and yes it'll look bad, but most people make the mistake of wearing things a few sizes too large. If you can comfortably walk around without feeling squeezed in your clothes—and don't look like you're swimming in them either, you're good.

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Daily shampooing can rob hair of sebum, an essential oil that keeps our tresses looking moisturized.

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Washing your jeans in the sea might be fun and make for a good story, but it's definitely not necessary. You can get awesome results just by washing your jeans inside out with a light detergent.

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Here's some hair-raising news: Wearing a hat frequently doesn't affect balding. However, if your trusty cap is dirty, it can lead to a scalp infection, which isn't just gross, but accelerates hair loss. So make sure you switch up your bucket hat or snapback every now and then (we've got a couple of ideas for you).

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Bad news, bros: Flip-flops can lead to long-term ankle and hip problems. Researchers at Auburn University videotaped 39 volunteers and noticed they had to clench their toes to keep them on, which lead to foot fatigue, an altered gait, and sore calves. Life ain't a beach when you have to walk like a duck.

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Here's what most people get wrong: It's unclear that Gable's shirtless appearance in the film directly affected undershirt sales. If so, that would probably make him the first #influencer. What is true is that there were plenty of other economic factors going on at the time (uh hello, The Great Depression) that also had a negative impact on the economy. Coincidence? Art imitating life? Whatever the connection, if there is one, it's just been widely accepted that one begat the other.

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This urban legend saw quick proliferation thanks to the Internet, and while the cookie recipe sounds good, it actually didn't exist until after the rumor was started. Since then, the retailer has happily offered the recipe for free on their website.

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During light to moderate rainfalls (in the day, duh) polarized sunglasses can actually help drivers see a little more clearly. The same goes for light to moderate fog. If it's raining at night, obviously don't wear your sunglasses. That's just dumb.

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According to Stephen Craig Cary, an expert on frozen microbes at the University of Delaware: "One might think that if the temperature drops well below the human body temperature they will not survive, but actually many will. Many are preadapted to survive low temperatures.” Many of these bacterium probably started on your body in the first place, and once they get back on it's only a matter of time before they multiply.

The only way to get rid of bacteria for good? Cary offers this: “I would suggest that you either raise the temperature to 121 degrees Celsius [250 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature used for sterilization] for at least 10 minutes... or just wash them!"

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In the early 20th century, brogued shoes and boots were considered straight-up casual wear. No man was dressing these up with a suit, rather, he was using them to muck around the country, and in places like Ireland and Scotland you'd usually find yourself stuck in some muddy bog water. The holes on the shoes were meant to allow that crud to easily drain out.

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This bogus poem is the fodder you'd find in e-mail forwards from your gullible Aunt Barbara or grandparents. It's not true at all, and the poem isn't even by Maya Angelou, who went as a far as to disclaim the poem on her website.

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When lint is clogging up your filter, moist air can't be vented from the dryer as easily, resulting in more electricity being used up to dry garments. It's the same science that goes into cleaning dirty A/C filters. It really works and saves you some green in the long run.

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Defunct brand Troop Clothing was probably best known for endorsing LL Cool J. Rumors started spreading that they were actually owned by the KKK and gloated at the profits they made over minorities buying their goods. In truth, Troop co-founders Teddy and Harvey Held are Jewish, and other co-founder William Kim is Korean. When Troop eventually folded, they blamed bad business decisions and shifting trends rather than this malicious rumor, but it's kind of weird that it even existed in the first place.

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Vans' signature sole is a skate-friendly design that's been around for a while. The "Star of David" shape that appears on the bottom is pure coincidence, and not, as rumors have tried to say, an indirect way of the company saying it wants its customers to "stomp on the Jews."

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A&F is certainly no stranger to controversy, whether it's advising employees on how to dress or claiming that they only cater to "cool kids." Their A&F Quarterly magazine also regularly features nudity and sexually suggestive imagery. The 2003 Christmas Field Guide was shot by fashion photographer Bruce Weber, who is known for imagery that often portrays youth sexuality in a stark, albeit controversial light. This particular issue featured a spread talking about things like "group sex" and lots of boobs and butts. Kids these days...

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Although the Gap was founded in San Francisco in 1969, husband and wife Donald and Doris Fisher meant to pay homage to the term "generation gap," referring to the progressive spirit of the time. While Gap has never actively distanced itself from gay culture or gone through great strides to "prove" it caters to straight people, it just focused on being a spot where people of all sexual orientations could find khakis, jeans, and other basics. No acronym needed: It's clear that the Gap has managed to cross all sorts of boundaries regardless.

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In April 2002, Abercrombie & Fitch released a bunch of shirts playing on Asian stereotypes, like the "Wong Bros. Laundry Service" which claimed that "Two Wongs Can Make It White," and a "Pizza Dojo" where you could "Eat In or Wok Out." Needless to say, Asian-Americans didn't take kindly to this type of humor, and the shirts saw themselves out of the stores after much backlash.

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The Harris Tweed authority doesn't manufacture or sell Harris Tweed at all. Rather, its main duty is to preserve the tradition of producing Harris Tweed in the Outer Hebrides, ensuring that all cloth that is certified as "Harris Tweed" is actually manufactured there. The Harris Tweed Act was passed by Parliament in 1993 and declares that all "Harris Tweed" must be purely made and manufactured in the Outer Hebrides in order to be classified as such. Other companies then use and sell that fabric to make everything from sportcoats to Supreme coaches jackets, to Nike sneakers.

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In one of the ballsiest hip-hop moments in pop culture history, LL Cool J freestyled in front of the camera for a Gap commercial, visibly wearing a FUBU "fb" hat, who he was also endorsing at the time. He snuck in a reference saying "For Us By Us, on the low," and when the commercial hit national airwaves FUBU was pushed into the subconscious of people everywhere, courtesy of the Gap.

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While it's true sagging pants was borne out of prison culture, there was no sexual connotation behind the practice. People claimed that men sagging their pants were open to intercourse, but really, the oversized fit was a result of overcrowded prisons and not enough sizes to go around. So some people had to settle with what they were given.

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While the "Super S" every kid drew in elementary school was sometimes called a "Stussy," it actually had nothing to do with the streetwear brand. Known for its graffiti handstyle-inspired aesthetic, the company never uses this graphic on any of its garments.

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Gross. Around 2007, rumors that hairbands manufactured in China were being made from used condoms. This actually proved to be true, except for they weren't well "used" in the sense that you probably think. Rather, they were recycled from unused condoms that were for some reason or another rejected from going to market. It's still pretty unsettling though.

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Mixing silver and gold was considered a faux pas—among the super rich who could afford both. With the prices of precious metals at an all-time high, there's nothing wrong with flaunting both if you got 'em. Gold chain and silver watch? Sure! Layering a gold chain over a silver one? Go for it.

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In 1975, part of Nordstrom's aggressive expansion in America, they took over three stores in Alaska owned by the Northern Commercial Company, which did sell tires. When a customer brought back tires he had previously bought at Northern Commercial Company, the now-Nordstrom gave him a refund. Today, the story serves as a perfect example of good customer service.

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On May 2, 2007, Tommy Hilfiger appeared on Oprah to officially denounce this malicious rumor. Hilfiger says of the rumor: "I didn't believe it... I would never say that. And all my friends and family who know me and people who work with me and people who have grown up with me said that's crazy."

He admits he even tried to find its source: "We hired FBI agents, I did an investigation, I paid investigators lots of money to go out and investigate, and they traced it back to a college campus but couldn't put their finger on it."

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In the 1800-1900s, wearing white was a symbol of status. Thus, certain social clubs adopted the "no white after Labor Day" practice as an inside joke—a way to weed out the old money aristocrats from the nouveau riche leisure class. As such, anyone who was spotted in white pants after Labor Day would be committing a huge faux pas. But come on, we're better than that now. Wear what you want, when you want. Although, it's practical to consider the weather when it comes to things like shorts.

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They don't have to match perfectly, just be in similar hues. Tan and brown go together just fine. Got navy blue shoes? That's fine, a black (gasp!) or dark brown belt go just as well.

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A "hanky code" once was used by gay communities to signify sexual preferences, although it differed from community to community. The practice is thought to have gotten its origins from San Francisco gold miners, who took part in square dances with a vast shortage of women. Thus, the man with a red bandana would dance the female part and the blue bandana would dance the male part. It's purported the "mdoern" hanky code was started in the '70s in New York City.

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This fallacy stems back to 19th-Century scientist Hermann Von Helmholtz, who drew two identically-sized squares with horizontal and vertical stripes on them. However, on the human body, the opposite is actually true. Peter Thompson of the University of York did an experiment where people compared 200 pictures of women in horizontally and vertically-striped dresses, and asked them to pick which of the two were thinner. To actually make the women appear to be the same size, the women in horizontal stripes had to be six percent wider than the woman in vertical stripes. How's that for an optical illusion?

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"For Us By Us" referred to fans of the clothing and hip-hop culture, not necessarily black people. Founder Daymond John wanted to make a company that was supported by its customers and understood the lifestyle that they lived.

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Darker colors go with other dark colors. "Rules" be damned. When people say that the two colors "clash" they mean that they look so similar, that it looks like it's mismatched. Which sounds pretty preposterous right? They look so close together that they can't possibly go together? In what world does that make sense? It's a classic menswear move no one should bat an eye at.

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Here's the skinny: Leave the boys some room to breathe. According to UK TV personality Dr. Hilary Jones, super-skinny jeans "are causing twisted testicles, bladder weakness, and even urinary tract infections." They can also cause low sperm count and fungal infections. The obvious solution? Slim jeans that fit. You don't have to wear your jeans super-tight for them to look good. A slim-straight fit like A.P.C. New Standards strikes the balance between classic straight leg and modern slim cut. Just because you can feel the fabric on your skin doesn't automatically mean it's "tight." Can you squat without any problem? Then you're good.