There are style rules to live by – black is slimming, a crisp white dress shirt is fail-safe – and then there are so-called “rules” that are begging to be broken. You officially have our permission to ignore the following:
Tie Width, Lapel Width, Collar Spread, and Knot Size Must All Match
Sure, it looks balanced when you pair a slim lapel with a skinny tie (ditto for the wide lapel and wide tie combo), but feel free to spice it up. No one’s going to call you out for wearing a two-inch tie with three-inch lapels.
You Must Show Between a Quarter and a Half Inch of Shirt Cuff When Wearing a Jacket
Yes, you want some cuff to peek out, but don’t go overboard. Tailor jacket sleeves too short, and you’ll show way more shirt than intended when shaking hands or simply moving your arms. Play it safe by exposing just a sliver.
Avoid the “Northern Lights”
Back in the day, it was taboo for a sport coat (up north) to be lighter than your pants (down south). Take one look at any dark trouser and light jacket combo, and it’ll be all the proof you need that this rule is a relic.
For more style rules worth ignoring, head over to Dappered.
By Chrissy Waters, Associate Content Editor
