Back to the Basics: A Man's Guide to Ornamentation

Ornamentation is any item you wear or carry that does not serve a functional purpose but is purely aesthetic. Nowadays, there are many options for ornamentation, which makes choosing what to wear even more complicated.

Men have a reputation for being simple and efficient dressers. They want comfort, are easy to clean, and don't require a lot of time spent on maintenance. However, there is more to dressing up nicely than just wearing jeans and a t-shirt. This article will show you how to mix some ornamental elements into your wardrobe without going overboard or spending too much money.

Hats

Hats are the oldest form of ornamentation. They're practical, lightweight, and easy to store in a pocket or bag if you don't want them for whatever reason. Unlike other forms of ornamentation that can be seen as flashy or attention-grabbing, headgear is always accepted because it serves an actual purpose beyond making you look good. It shields your eyes from sun glare and protects your face from windburn at any time of year.

Baseball caps are not just worn by athletes anymore but also many casual dressers who like their style and brim-blocking abilities during sunny days. A man with his hands stuffed into his pockets will probably have one nearby.

Hat etiquette rules are pretty straightforward. You should take off your hat when you enter a building, especially if it's someone else's home or place of business, to show respect.

Scarves & Neck Warmers

Scarves are an underrated piece that many men neglect in favor of more visible items like watches, jewelry, and glasses. They're a great way to add color or pattern to your outfit without being too showy.

Neck warmers are similar items worn around the neck instead of on your head, covering both ears and mouth if necessary. These can also act as good substitutes for hats.

Scarf etiquette is pretty simple as well. In general, you should loop the scarf around your neck so that one end hangs down farther than the other. You then use this longer part of fabric hanging over both shoulders by crossing it behind your back and pulling it through again until it ends up being tied at about mid-chest level on either side under your suit coat lapels.

Watches

Watches are the most common type of ornamentation for men, but they are also one of the least versatile. Watches with analog faces look best in formal situations when you want to dress up a bit more than usual. Digital watches have digital displays, making them inappropriate to wear with many outfits depending on their design and color schemes. Nevertheless, a nice azimuth watch can easily up the class on your appearance.

Rings & Bracelets

Rings and bracelets are the least functional type of ornamentation on this list. They serve no purpose beyond looking nice or showing off a bit, depending on their design, size, and material used. As long as you don't wear too many at once, these can be great for spicing up an outfit without going overboard with something more flashy like hats or sunglasses.

Rings and bracelets should be worn on your dominant hand if you're right-handed, which means a watch can go on either wrist with a ring or bracelet going on the other one.

Chains

Chains are a great way to add another dimension of adornment with pendants. The right chain can provide some extra color or patterns in an outfit without drawing attention from the rest of your clothing and accessory choices.

Neck chains attach to a pendant worn around the neck. These have been popular with men for decades now and look good if they're not too flashy or ostentatious in their design.

Chokers & Dog Tags

Chokers and dog tags work best when paired with other items from this list, such as hats, sunglasses, jewelry, and scarves. They are less versatile than other forms of ornamentation but can look great if worn with the right outfit or accessories to draw attention away from them instead of towards them.

If you're right-handed, these should be worn on your dominant hand, which means a watch will go on either wrist with this type of chain going around the other one.

Belt Loops & Suspenders

Belt loops are another form of ornamentation that some might not even realize they're wearing. Most modern pants have these to help them stay up on the waist without relying too much on a belt which can cause some outfits to look more casual or less polished in certain situations.

Suspenders serve the same purpose and give men that stylish retro flair while adding an extra dimension of adornment by being visible under your suit coat instead of hidden away inside it like standard belts and loops without braces do.

Belt Buckles & Chains

Belt buckles provide another way for men to adorn their outfits without having too many accessories competing against each other at once. While there isn't much etiquette surrounding these beyond using them sparingly compared to the rest of your outfits like rings or bracelets, they can look great if done right, especially with western-style clothing with things like cowboy hats, leather boots, spurs, bolo ties, etc.