How to Easily Ruin a Good Outfit

Image via Complex Original

Sneakerheads are guilty of this too often. It doesn't matter if your clothes are the same exact colors as the ones on your kicks. Focus more on whether or not they look good together or not rather than coordinating shades perfectly.

Nothing screams "menswear herb" quite like the dude wearing a backpack with a suit. If you're gonna dress up, find some luggage that's equally distinguished. The same goes for the affected cool guy who wants to carry all his shit in a designer banker's portfolio, that can come off as corny, and looks totally inconvenient.

There are many cases when an outfit is otherwise dope, then you get a look at someone's feet and it's a dealbreaker. Sneakers that are too technical or gross dress shoes can instantly kill an otherwise-decent kit. If you're wearing a tailored suit, make sure your kicks have equally clean lines. Likewise, if you're in sweats, there's no reason to be wearing double-monk straps.

The perfect jacket or ideal pair of pants can be easily marred by sleeves that are just a tad too long, or a drop from the shoulders to the waist that just doesn't suit your body type. Rather than just copping it anyway and pretending like it fits, take it to the tailor for some necessary adjustments. You're more likely to keep wearing something that fits perfectly than something that's juuuust a bit off.

Polka dots, plaids, camo, and animal prints are all great—just not at the same time. Exercise a bit of moderation in your wardrobe and you'll look like you know what you're doing.

When it's cold as hell outside, it makes sense to wear a scarf, gloves, and a beanie. But as the weather gets warmer, less is much, much more. There's no reason to be wearing a pocket square (in a denim jacket no less), a lightweight scarf, multiple bracelets, and a belt. Pick and choose two and go with it. You don't want to be the dude carrying his scarf around when it gets too hot.

Something could fit perfect, the color is ideal, and there's nothing else in your closet like it. Except the ugly logos on the front totally ruin it. The dearly departed Ralph Lauren Rugby brand was infamous for this sort of thing, and there are plenty of streetwear brands that are guilty of this too.

There's nothing wrong with bright clothes, but they're best seen in moderation. Going all-out with neons and brilliant hues can be assaulting on the eyes—especially to the people that have to see you out in public. Menswear, at its best, shines because of nuances: the perfect collar roll, just the right amount of roll to a cuffed jean, and just enough bright colors in an outfit. If you turn up the volume too much, an outfit can get way too loud.

The whole shorts with a suit thing might work for street style icons, but it's a look that won't work for most guys. Taking two elements from opposite ends of the spectrum and mashing them together works sometimes, like a T-shirt under an unstructured sportcoat, but it usually ends up looking ridiculous. Wingtips with hoodies? No thanks.

Yup, "over-designing" is a thing, and it mostly has to do with function and innovation trumping form. Jackets with a ridiculous number of pockets and hoodies that can turn into vests that pack into themselves—all of these take an otherwise simple and clean piece of clothing and take it over the top.