40 Things a Man Should Never Wear

Most style advice tells men what to buy. The more useful advice is what to stop wearing. Getting dressed well is mostly subtraction: remove the mistakes and what's left tends to look good on its own.

In April 2024, John LeFevre posted 40 things a man should never wear. It was viewed more than 17 million times. Every item below is exactly as John wrote it, keeping his original numbers, regrouped by category. The notes in between are ours.

Why a "never" list works

A list of things to buy goes out of date the moment the season changes. A list of things to avoid lasts. Most of these 40 items were mistakes ten years ago and will still be mistakes ten years from now, because they break principles that don't change: clothes should fit, they should be appropriate to the setting, and they should not try too hard.

That's also why a list like this travels so well. Nearly every man reading it will find something he owns. That's the point. You don't need a new wardrobe. You need to stop wearing a few things.

Shoes

1. Flips flops unless you’re near a pool or beach.

12. Sneakers with a suit. It’s a good look for 1% of men, but you’re not David Beckham.

22. Dirty sneakers in the office. Even with a relaxed dress code, you should take care of sneakers in the same manner as dress shoes.

25. Tevas, Crocs, Birkenstocks, or Uggs.

27. Monk straps, tassels, or square-toed shoes.

Shoes are where most men give themselves away. The rule on sneakers in the office is the most practical one on the list. Relaxed dress codes didn't lower the standard; they moved it. A clean pair of sneakers is fine. A dirty pair says you stopped paying attention.

The Beckham line is the right way to think about trends in general. Some looks work on 1% of men. The other 99% should assume they're in the 99%.

Tailoring and shirts

5. Turtlenecks. Circumcise that sweater.

11. Pleated or cuffed pants.

15. Double-breasted suits. The vast majority of men can’t pull it off.

20. Short-sleeve button-down shirts.

23. Oxford collars.

26. Bowties without a tuxedo.

30. Dress shirts with a pocket.

31. Baggy clothes. Get the essentials, even jeans, tailored.

38. Windsor tie knots.

The common thread here is fit and restraint. Pleats, cuffs, double-breasted jackets and big tie knots all add bulk and fuss. A shirt pocket on a dress shirt and a short-sleeve button-down both make a shirt look cheaper than it is.

Rule 31 is the one to act on today. "Get the essentials, even jeans, tailored." Tailoring is one of the easiest ways to make clothes you already own look better.

Casual clothes

4. Cargo shorts.

14. Hoodies after the age of 40, unless the weather requires it.

16. Any shorts longer than the knees.

17. Skinny or ripped jeans.

28. Deep V-neck t-shirts.

36. Graphic t-shirts.

37. Pajama pants in public.

39. A “going out” shirt.

These are the uniform of a man who has given up, or a man who is trying too hard. Cargo shorts and pajama pants are the first kind. The deep V-neck and the "going out" shirt are the second. Neither is a good look.

The hoodie rule has a sensible exception built in. Weather is a reason. Comfort is not, at least not after 40.

Logos and labels

7. A pro sports jersey with another man’s name on the back of it.

13. Fashion watches - Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, and even Cartier.

18. Vineyard Vines.

19. Country club logo golf shirts where you’re not a member. I don’t care if you played Pebble once, it’s a conversation-starter for losers.

21. Identifiably-designer belts.

29. A fake watch.

32. Anything with big logos.

This is the most important section on the list, and it's all one idea: don't let a brand do the talking. A belt buckle with a designer's initials, a logo across the chest, a jersey with another man's name and a golf shirt from a club you don't belong to are all borrowed status.

The country club rule has the best line in the post: "I don't care if you played Pebble once, it's a conversation-starter for losers." And the watch rule is a useful filter. A fashion house making a watch is a fashion house selling its name. A watchmaker making a watch is something else.

Vineyard Vines gets its own entry with no explanation. It doesn't need one.

Accessories and grooming

2. Flamboyant pocket squares. All it says is you pay $1,200 a month for a car you can’t afford.

3. Statement socks. They don’t give you personality or style.

8. Facial hair that doesn’t look intentional.

9. Jewelry (other than watches and wedding rings). The only thing more disappointing for a woman than seeing a desirable man with a wedding band on, is seeing a ring on any other finger.

10. Backwards or flat brim baseball caps. Or any hat inside.

24. A backpack.

34. Sports sunglasses. Quality shades serve an important function; they let women know you appreciate nice things and are responsible enough not to lose them.

35. Noticeable cologne. Men generally have a weak sense of smell and get desensitized to their own scent, so it’s worse than you realize.

The pocket square line is the funniest on the list, and the point is serious. Accessories meant to show personality usually show the opposite. The same goes for statement socks and extra rings.

The sunglasses rule is the opposite case: an accessory worth getting right. And the cologne rule is the most generous one on the list, because it's the one nobody will tell you about. If people can smell you before you reach them, it's too much.

Things that aren't in your closet

6. The guilt of your ancestors’ sins.

33. Your heart on your sleeve.

40. Women’s clothing.

Three of the 40 aren't really about clothes. They're about posture. Don't walk around apologizing for things you didn't do, and don't put your feelings on display for everyone you meet. Number 40 needs no commentary.

The short version

Fit over fashion. Quality over logos. Restraint over statements. If something you own is on this list, the fix is simple: stop wearing it. Nobody will miss it, and you'll look better the next day.

Source: John LeFevre, 40 things a man should never wear, X, April 2024.