It honestly doesn't take much to revamp your look. Most of the things holding us back from looking our Dandy best are a few minor tweaks which are easily corrected.
During my 5+ years of writing as Buffalo Dandy, I've noticed five common fashion mistakes the men in Buffalo make. What makes these mistakes so frustrating is that the majority really have simple fixes. While many of my fellow Buffalonians have done a splendid job of dressing better over the years, there are still many of us who are sadly oblivious to these faux pas.
So in an effort to save some time, below are the top 5 most common fashion mistakes I've noticed around town. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section below.
#1. Wearing A Crewneck Instead of a V-neck.
This is by far the most common mistake I see men doing. Wearing a crewneck under your button down is such a glaring oversight it often completely ruins an outfit. The worst part is, this is the easiest mistake to fix! Simply go out and pick up a multipack of v-neck undershirts and you're done. It instantly makes you look more polished and sophisticated.
#2. Pants Are Too Long.
Another common mistake you see (and one most are probably unaware of until they start to look) is that a majority of men's pants, particularly dress pants, are far too long. The pants bunch at the ankle or drag behind the heel, causing them to fray. A simple cuff or a trip to the tailor easily fixes this problem.
#3. Suits Fit Incorrectly
One of the biggest mistakes a man can make is buying a suit off the rack and not having it tailored. Even worse, if the fit of the suit is all wrong you end up with an awkward, boxy-looking mess which even the most skilled tailor will have a hard time fixing. While Made to Measure or Bespoke suits offer superior fit, knowing the correct fit for your body type and having it properly tailored will completely transform your look.
#4. Shirt Sleeves Rolled Incorrectly
This is a common mistake among men who think that just because they bought an expensive shirt (their "going out shirt" as it's commonly called) they will instantly look good. Often these gaudy shirts come with some kind of contrasting cuff and men think one roll to show it off is all they need. Actually, many of us have been rolling our shirt sleeves the wrong way for years. By following this simple tutorial, even your "going out shirt" will manage to look halfway decent.
#5. Going Out Underdressed
This final mistake is a broad generalization and the primary reason I began Buffalo Dandy in the first place. While men's fashion (for a time) enjoyed a resurgence of Dandy style, with bow ties and wingtips suddenly coming back into fashion a few years back, it suddenly seemed as though we were going to have a renaissance of men's fashion. People would begin caring about what they looked like when they left the house. However, like so many things in life, it didn't last. Fashion trends come and go, and sadly soon the trend of dressing more comfortably became mainstream and was dubbed "alt-leisure." That's fine. I admit some of the slouchy styles are cool and I have certainly dabbled in these looks myself. However, when you're going out say for a show at Shea's or to a nice dinner at one of the countless high end restaurants in Buffalo, make a little effort to dress up. Even during the summer heat, wear an unbuttoned collared shirt, some lightweight pants and ditch the socks. Don't show up in a t-shirt, cargo shorts and flip flops. I once saw Russ Salvatore turn away a party of ten at his restaurant because they were not properly dressed, as he put it, but wearing hoodies and shorts. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever experienced. As the saying goes, 90% of life is showing up well dressed.
