12/10/2025

ON SUNDAY October 12, 2025 VI theSunday Special Dear men, stop wearing socks with sandals BY HANNEF ESQUANDER N OT everyone has to be a fashion expert or keep up with the latest trends. What matters is knowing what looks good on you and what should be avoided to appear polished and well-groomed. There is no penalty for not pronouncing a designer label correctly or being unaware of seasonal styles. Oversized logos on clothes Large logos, especially on tops, overwhelm WKH RXW¿W /RJR PDQLD PD\ UHWXUQ DV D trend, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow it. Avoid bold logos on polo shirts, T-shirts or jackets. Instead, opt for subtle branding or none at all. Quiet luxury may be overexposed, but it is still preferable to wearing a billboard on your chest.

Classic pieces work on everyone. Men’s wear is simpler than women’s wear and it is hard to go wrong unless you try too hard. Fashion often comes down to instinct. Icons such as Marlon Brando, James Dean and P. Ramlee were sharp dressers by nature. You do not have to copy them, but you should aim to look your best, appropriately dressed for the occasion in FORWKHV WKDW ÀDWWHU \RX Yet many men remain clueless about fashion, repeating the same faux pas . This often stems from the environment or reluctance to step out of a comfort zone. Every man deserves to look his best and WKH ¿UVW VWHS LV DYRLGLQJ WKHVH FRPPRQ fashion missteps. Not getting the trousers hemmed Trousers that are too long create an untidy pool of fabric around the ankles. A no EUHDN KHP R̆ HUV WKH FOHDQHVW ORRN DQG LV suitable for shorter men. A quarter break gives a sharp appearance with only a slight fold. Medium breaks feature a single fold, R̆ HULQJ D FODVVLF VW\OH &RPSOHWH EUHDNV wrap around the leg but are harder to pull R̆ DQG FDQ DSSHDU VORSS\ WKRXJK WKH\ VXLW taller men better. T KH VLPSOHVW ¿[ LV D WULS WR WKH WDLORU Hemming costs little but makes a big GL̆ HUHQFH LQ KRZ WURXVHUV IDOO :HOO ¿WWHG trousers give structure to your silhouette DQG LQVWDQWO\ PDNH \RX ORRN PRUH UH¿QHG

Minimal branding lets the cut and ¿W RI WKH FORWKLQJ VWDQG RXW &ORWKHV should highlight the person wearing them, not the label stitched on the front.

Not buttoning the jacket properly The rules are straightforward. With a two-button jacket, fasten only the top button. With a three-button jacket, the top is optional, but the middle must always be fastened. Never button the bottom one. A poorly buttoned jacket makes even an expensive suit look sloppy. A properly fastened one signals polish and awareness of basic style rules. Wearing socks with sandals This is one of the most common mistakes committed by both men and women – understandable in colder countries where socks are a necessity, but not in the tropics. Slipping into sandals over socks for a quick errand at home is forgivable. But wearing them to the mall or a restaurant is not. 6DQGDOV ZLWK VKRUWV DQG D VKLUW ZRUN ¿QH socks are unnecessary. The rule is simple: Sandals are meant for bare feet. Treat them as a casual, breathable option, not an extension of your bedroom slippers. Wearing sports jerseys everywhere you go B HLQJ D VSRUWV IDQ LV ¿QH EXW LW VKRXOG QRW GH¿QH \RXU HQWLUH ZDUGUREH -HUVH\V ZLWK their bold colours and oversized numbers, FDQ ORRN PHVV\ R̆ WKH ¿HOG $ SODLQ 7 VKLUW with jeans or shorts creates a sharper, more versatile look. Save the jersey for match day or when you are at the stadium. For everyday wear, invest in basics like neutral-coloured T shirts or polos. They will carry you from a casual lunch to a night out without looking like you forgot to change after the game.

Wearing clothes not suited to the climate A leather jacket may give James Dean ÀDLU EXW LQ WKLV FOLPDWH LW PHDQV RQO\ discomfort. Hoodies can be a risk under the blazing sun, leading to heat exhaus tion. Dress for the weather: Opt for cotton or linen on hot days and consider light cardigans or jackets when the temperature cools. Fabrics matter. Breathable options such as linen or seersucker keep you cool while still looking smart. Dressing for the weather shows practicality and respect for your surroundings. Not investing in good-quality footwear Malaysian men’s wear designer Bon Zainal, sharing his expertise, noted that footwear deserves equal attention. A good pair of leather shoes or simple sneakers can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion and poor-quality footwear, he warned, can ruin the entire look. S KRHV DUH RIWHQ WKH ¿UVW WKLQJ SHRSOH QRWLFH &KHDS ÀLPV\ VKRHV XQGHUPLQH an otherwise well-coordinated outfit. Invest in a few versatile pairs – such as leather oxfords, loafers or clean white sneakers and keep them polished. Good footwear is an investment in both style DQG FRQ¿GHQFH Looking good doesn’t require a degree LQ IDVKLRQ RQO\ DZDUHQHVV DQG FDUH DUH needed. Taking pride in how you dress shows respect for yourself and makes a lasting impression. The goal is not to impress everyone, but to present yourself ZLWK FRQ¿GHQFH DQG HDVH

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