15 common fashion mistakes that men make - and how to fix them

Shirts aren't supposed to be baggy. They're supposed to fit! A good rule of thumb is to get a shirt that fits as close to your body as you can while you retain free range of movement in your arms.

A common misconception is that dressing up is the equivalent to dressing better. In fact, the two are completely unrelated, and a man in sharp casual wear will look better than a man in a sloppy suit every time.

Additionally, you should always be mindful to dress appropriately for the situation at hand

Many "prestigious" mall brands are perceived as "quality," while they actually sell completely overpriced, poor-quality garments covered with gaudy branding. Labels like Abercrombie and Fitch and Armani Exchange are two of the biggest offenders.

Learning which brands to avoid and which brands are worth their price is a crucial step on the road to dressing better.

Most men are now aware that shorts are perfectly fine to wear in the warmer months, and even acceptable in some more casual office environments.

Just avoid the dreaded cargo short.

Again, cargo shorts are generally looked upon today as extremely passé and dated. Avoid these at all costs.

Instead, try a slim chino for a more modern look.

There's a wide variety of boots available, from brouged dress boots to vintage reproduction work books. There's a boot for every kind of man: not just black Dr. Martens and Timberlands.

Boat shoes are still a great choice for summer footwear, but they are far from being the most fashionable shoe out there.

There are however, plenty of other choices available.

Square-toed shoes haven't been acceptable for a while now, and men are urged to stay away from them. They are clunky, awkward, and distracting, with a completely unflattering profile.

Stick with your classic wing tips and Oxfords.

While it can be a strategic style decision to make your shoes and shirt match, it is pretty much completely unnecessary.

In fact, for most outfits, this would look pretty ridiculous. It can work well for some street style outfits based around specific kinds of sneakers, however, but maybe wait to try this look until you get your fashion sea legs.

Matching your belt and shoes is a good rule of thumb for the dressiest of occasions, but that's really the only time. It's not necessary for business suits or any level of dress lower than that.

Black shoes don't go with everything. For many colors of suits and other outfits, it would be very "fashion forward" to opt for black footwear.

If you want a shoe that goes with everything, buy a nice medium brown brogue.

Contrary to what you see news and sports anchors wearing on TV, pocket squares do not have to match your tie. In fact, they probably shouldn't.

If anything, your pocket square can match the color of your shirt, but even then it's not necessary. Feel free to branch out with your pocket square.

Actually, the most versatile color of suit is navy or charcoal. These are the first two colors men should buy suits in when they're starting to build their wardrobe.

Black suits are only suitable on occasions like weddings and funerals, and sometimes for the office. Use your black suit sparingly.

Argyle sweaters, while not super egregious mistake, have been securely out of fashion for a while now. The pattern just looks too old-school to fit into today's styles.

Other patterned sweaters, however, are certainly in style — so don't be afraid of them altogether. We recommend them as part of our winter essentials guide.

Have a burning men's style question? Ask me and I may answer you in a future post. Email me at dgreen@businessinsider.com with the subject line "Men's style question."