The 5 Biggest Style Mistakes I Used to Make (And How I Fixed Them)
Photo by Mister Mister
For years, I thought I was dressing fine. I had clothes. I put them on. Mission accomplished, right? Turns out, I was making mistakes that I didn’t even realize were ruining my outfits—until I saw photos of myself and had to ask, “Did I really leave the house looking like that?”
Here’s the thing—style isn’t about buying designer brands or following every trend. It’s about avoiding the mistakes that instantly downgrade your look—the baggy fits, the bad shoe choices, the outfits that don’t match the occasion. I made all of them. But once I figured out what was wrong and made small adjustments, my wardrobe (and confidence) completely changed.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt like something was off but couldn’t figure out what, this guide is for you. Here are the five biggest style mistakes I used to make—and how I fixed them.
The 5 Biggest Style Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Photo by emre keshavarz
A bad outfit doesn’t always come from bad clothes—sometimes, it’s just a simple mistake that throws everything off. I’ve made all of these, and once I started fixing them, my wardrobe immediately looked better without spending a fortune. If you’ve ever wondered how to dress better as a man or felt like something was off but couldn’t figure it out, these fixes will change everything.
Mistake #1: Wearing Clothes That Don’t Fit Right
Photo by . 7ehsa
What I Used to Do: Baggy T-shirts that looked like I was drowning in fabric, jeans that suffocated my legs, and jackets that fit like I was wearing my dad’s hand-me-downs.
The Fix: Understanding proper fit. A well-fitting T-shirt, slim (not skinny) jeans, and a jacket that actually hits your shoulders will instantly upgrade your look.
A bad fit is the #1 thing ruining most guys' outfits. Fix this first.
Mistake #2: Ignoring the Importance of Shoes
Photo by mahdi chaghari
What I Used to Do: Wearing busted sneakers, square-toe dress shoes from 2003, and gym shoes outside of the gym like it was no big deal.
The Fix: Owning at least one pair of shoes that actually make an outfit look better, not worse.
Mistake #3: Thinking "Trendy" Equals Stylish
Photo by Gaith Reo
What I Used to Do: Buying into whatever trend was hot that season—loud logos, ripped jeans that barely counted as pants, and shirts so oversized they could double as blankets.
The Fix: Sticking to timeless basics. Trends fade, but a well-fitted T-shirt, a clean pair of jeans, and a sharp jacket will always look good.
Trends That Die Fast:
Overly distressed clothing (one rip? Cool. Looking like you got attacked by a bear? Not so much.)
Giant designer logos everywhere (you’re not a walking advertisement).
Mistake #4: Wearing Clothes That Weren’t Right for the Occasion
Photo by Alan Garzón
What I Used to Do: Showing up under or overdressed—hoodies to weddings, gym sneakers with dress pants, or dressing way too formal when business casual would’ve worked.
The Fix: Knowing how to dress for different occasions—because the guy who shows up appropriately dressed always looks the best.
Mistake #5: Not Caring About Grooming and Details
Photo by Drew Williams
What I Used to Do: Wearing wrinkled clothes, mismatched accessories, bad haircuts, and thinking “eh, whatever” was an acceptable skincare routine.
The Fix: Realizing that details matter. A good haircut, clean nails, wrinkle-free clothes, and shoes that aren’t falling apart go a long way.
Easy Fixes for Instantly Looking Better:
Steam or iron your clothes – Wrinkles make even expensive clothes look cheap.
Get a good haircut – The right cut frames your face and pulls your whole look together.
Match your belt & shoes – A tiny thing, but it makes a huge difference.
Basic skincare – A face wash + moisturizer = instant glow-up.
If your outfit is good but you still don’t feel put together, check the details.
