Summer Style Mistakes Guys Make, And How To Fix Them

Image via Complex Original

Accessory Overload

The Problem: Men's accessories — especially bracelets — are at an all-time high. While we think lightweight scarves are dope on breezy days, it's real easy to go overboard with these additional pieces.

The Fix: You've heard the old saying; before you leave the house, take off one accessory (and for some of y'all, maybe two) and you'll be straight. Choose one or two bolder pieces, like the BNDS bracelets. Wearing a hat, shades, and a lightweight scarf? Lose one, or look like a loser.

Fear The Beard

The Problem: The "Movember" movement was a good deal for you. People laughed, they marveled, and now they're over it, why aren't you? Plus, the hair is  likely to cause more sweat and more sweat causes unwanted blemishes.  

The Fix: We know it's hard to let go of the homeless Jesus look, but clean your facial hair up a bit for the upcoming warmer months. Get some quality grooming tips from local pros, if you're in New York or Los Angeles, the dudes at Blind Barber will have you looking suave in no time. You don't have to have a face as smooth as a baby's bottom either, just learn how to maintain a light layer of facial hair. Then when September hits, start going grizzly again.

Summer Selvedge

The Problem: Denim is a year round necessity in menswear, but anything weighing 15 ounces and up will give you two things: swamp ass and a sweaty taint. Both are detrimental to all types of relationships you're trying to establish or keep.

The Fix: Switch to some lightweight distressed denim (if you've worn your winter jeans correctly, they should be super faded and really light by this point). Alternately, consider indigo-dyed canvas for the denim effect with half the weight, like these from Left Field NYC.

Mo' Socks, Mo' Problems

The Problem: Patterned socks are boss. We love them and so should you, but they can also cause some fatal stank after a long day of walking. Whether you know it or not, sometimes your shoes are worse off in the summer with certain types of socks on.

The Fix: Many summer footwear choices are made unlined or are ventilated enough that you can rock them sockless, especially boat shoes. Just be sure to have a steady rotation of footwear, as rocking the same pair of kicks sockless for weeks can make them rank as hell. Think going sockless is absolutely gross? Look for no-show dress socks that give you that breathability you need, like these Urban Outfitters dandies. 

Who Wears Short Shorts?

The Problem: Listen here, John Stockton. We know short shorts have made their way back to menswear, but there are a few factors that should play into your short length: your shirt length, your leg length, and your leg hair length. If one of these is questionably long, you need to rethink them mooty shorts (men's booty shorts).

The Fix: A good gauge of how short you should go? We prefer just an inch or two above the knee. Short enough that it's classically manly, not so short that you can see the pockets hanging out. It doesn't hurt to rock a little pattern either, and you can't go wrong with these lightweight hand-woven goodies from Jed & Marne.

All Black Nothing

The Problem: Yes, we know the all-black-everything look is soooo easy to pull off, and Jay-Z said it was cool. Not in the summer though, unless you wanna look like a goth.

The Fix: Step away from your safe neutral palette and throw in some funky colors and patterns to show your bold style. Ain't nothing wrong with the boldness of the Spackman for Patta shirts or Maiden Noir camo pants, but beware of going overboard. Consider one statement piece and let it do all the talking — meaning everything else should be relatively solid.

Patterns On Patterns On Patterns

The Problem: We applaud you for wanting to go out on a limb to rock your leopard kicks, camo pants, and floral shirt, but AT THE SAME DAMN TIME? We love the bold attempt, but you're better than that. Too much is just too much.

The Fix: If you're gonna mix and match, try not having them sit on top of each other. It should go something like this: solid kicks, camo shorts, solid tee, floral five-panel. The patterns will pop on their own, so don't get greedy. Start off with these shirts and work your way from there.

Sweat The Technique

The Problem: You can be rocking the sweetest looking gear around, but if you're sweating like Lebron in the 4th (jk, you da man King!), you just come off as a fuckin' pig. Perspiration will definitely be tough to avoid on some of these warmer summer days, but when there's a will, there's a way. 

The Fix: Plan accordingly by rocking some lightweight fabrics like linen. Nix the heavy undershirts and carry a dope handkerchief to dab at the sweat, you'll be doing yourself a favor. Oh, and wear some damn deodorant, man. C'mon.

No More Backpacks

The Problem: Backpacks are still dope, but when the heat is on, accumulating all that back sweat from the backpack is not. When it's time to drop the pack and go about your day, this could prove to be extremely costly to your reputation.

The Fix: Take the bag off your body and look into some new forms of carry: totes, carryalls, and weekenders let your back breathe. This Mismo collection is a perfect transition towards back sweat freedom.

Getting Too Casual

The Problem: Some situations (summer music festivals, amusement parks, the beach) definitely call for a tank top, shorts, and lowtop canvas kicks, but you can't rock that everywhere.

The Fix: You can get that same "casual" look with a layered top and lightweight pants, like the big homie Usher. No one at the club or bar is gonna let you in with jorts and a cut-off T-shirt.

Summer Beanies

The Problem: This should go without saying, but the beanie-in-the-summer look is very loose butthole. It's way too hot to be wearing that shit, and well, it makes you look like an ass hat.

The Fix: We shouldn't have to help you with everything, but if you insist on hiding that receding hairline, pick up some lightweight camp caps or five-panels in cool patterns. They look cool and ventilate your head, we especially dig these new swagtastic caps from FairEnds.