8 tips to avoid formal fashion faux pas

By Lorenzo Galicia ’10
Special To The Roundup

We have all heard and dreaded the phrase “Mass dress tomorrow” (some of us have even forgotten), but Mass dress days present the opportunity to look sharp and live smart for a day.

However, throughout the many Mass dress days we’ve had at Brophy, I’ve noticed faults in some students’ outfits ranging from subtle to major errors.

You might be reading this and thinking, “so what?” or “who cares?”

Well, you’re absolutely right that you’re among friends during Mass dress days and that, minus Xavier girls (and teachers), there’s really no one to impress.

But let’s step outside the campus here and go into a business or an interview setting. You wouldn’t wear jeans and a t-shirt to a formal interview would you?

If you don’t know how to button your suit or how long your tie should be, then according to Murphy’s Law, you’re interviewer will definitely know how and more than likely, your outfit’s error will blurt itself out giving it unwanted and unneeded attention.

Now, short of completely reorganizing your wardrobe, I’ve compiled some short tips and general guidelines from sources like GQ (Gentlemen’s Quarterly) and Askmen.com that you should remember anytime you put on a suit or even a dress shirt. It will leave you looking sharp, and living smart:

1. When wearing a one-button suit, you may button the button, but unbutton it when you sit down.

2. When wearing a two-button suit, button the top button only and never all of the buttons or just the bottom one.

3. When wearing a three-button suit, you may only button the middle button or the top and middle button but never all of the buttons, the bottom one, the bottom and middle or the bottom and top.

4. The tip of a tie should slightly touch the top of your belt buckle. It should never completely cover it, go beyond it or be anywhere else above it.

5. Add a dimple to your tie; it gives depth to an otherwise flat surfaced tie.

6. Don’t wear white socks with formal clothes

7. Don’t tie your tie’s knot too tight: it’ll ruin the tie.

8. Bow tie guys: don’t make the bow too big; you’ll look like a clown (By the way bow tie guys, you should never wear a bow tie to an interview; go for a neck tie instead).