The most rules about men’s fashion apply to formal attire. This seems more than appropriate I think because faux pas in formal attire stand out the most and have the biggest impact on the polished, put together look that is required by formal wear. With these rules understood, it become easy for a man to look his best in his formal clothing.

Shirts – White is the safest colour, albeit the most boring as well. However, for job interviews and black-tie events, a white shirt is still the best option. Make sure the shirt is of high quality and is not “translucent” – an absolute no-no for formal settings.

Fit – If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this – the most important thing in formal attire is a proper fit. You may be able to squeeze into a variety of sizes, but without a proper fitting shirt the sleeves won’t sit right, the shirt will bag around the waist and a collar too tight or too loose is either uncomfortable or ridiculous looking. Also, in order to get your tie’s knot to sit just right, a collar must fit properly around your neck.

Pants also need to fit proper. Too small a waist will not only cause discomfort, but will cause a poor drape of the pant leg and possibly leave your shirt looking sloppy.

Details – On a shirt, make sure all the buttons are fastened, including the small ones on the side of the sleeve. Make sure your socks are conservative, match your trousers and are long enough that when you cross your legs no skin is exposed.

No Cuffs or Pleats – Formal wear trousers NEVER have cuffs. The trend is to forget cuffs on most trousers anyways, but it bears reminder as some less reputable tailors rely on the cuff to ensure enough weight to create good drape of the leg. Pleats have no place in formal wear either. The pleat should be avoided in all pants as well – it’s rarely flattering.

Shoes/Belts – Firstly, these need to match. Secondly, these need to be formal looking. For black tie events, only ultra formal footwear is acceptable. Most footwear worn in corporate settings is not dressy enough to pull off in formal settings. It is actually okay to invest in a good looking pair of such footwear since it will last a very long time (how often are you going to wear it?).

Accessorize – Formal occasions demand formal accessories. Don’t wear your sports watch or sunglasses. A fine timepiece is one of the few high-end pieces of jewelry that modern fashion allows a man to wear, so you need one. Also, match the tones of your jewelry (all silver, gold or two-tone). It is not really a mistake to blend, but it does look more polished.

The well-dressed man follows certain rules in order to achieve that head-turning formal look. Making even one of these mistakes could ruin an otherwise great-looking formal ensemble. Luckily, understanding the most common mistakes will help you avoid such a fate.