Socks and sandals, streaky fake tan - the fashion faux pas for summer
Socks and sandals, streaky fake tan and swimwear a size too small have been named on a list of the most common fashion faux pas. Researchers who polled 2,000 Brits to uncover the top summer no-no’s for both men and women found beer bellies, union jack shorts and thongs on the beach also on the list.
Muffin tops, panda eyes and peeling sunburn also made it into the top 20.
Additionally, the poll found wearing heavy make-up on the beach was named as a fail for women while dodgy sunburn lines were on both men and women’s ‘What Not to Wear’ list.
Helen Boyle, fashion stylist for Swimwear365 which commissioned the poll, said: “The UK is used to having bad weather, so it’s understandable we want to make the most of the good weather when we do get it.
“So summer time is an excuse for many Brits to strip off and expose as much flesh as possible.
“But many adults find it hard to dress for their body shape which can unfortunately lead to errors such as tight swimwear or muffin tops.
“Both of which can be avoided by buying the correct shape, style and size for your figure.
“So by avoiding fashion disasters on the beach, you can look back on the summer without cringing.”
Other fashion clangers to occur in the hotter months include wearing high heels on a beach – as favoured by the female cast of TOWIE – and men wearing miniscule swimming trunks.
Getting a skirt or dress caught up in knickers and a saggy swimsuit were also named as a sight for sore eyes.
When it comes to blokes – wearing a baseball cap backwards and sporting tattoos on legs were the height of uncool the poll found.
While Brits are quick to point out a summer faux pas on other people, 40% of Brits have admitted to committing a fashion disaster themselves.
Unsightly tan lines, bright red sunburn and swimsuits or bikinis that are too tight are among the most committed of those offences.
But it seems honesty is the best policy, with one in four claiming they would tell a friend straight away if they were to turn up wearing a summer fashion disaster.
And four in five would want their pals to tell them if they were to turn up in something that would leave tongues wagging for the wrong reasons.
A little surprisingly, a whopping 78% of Brits would be embarrassed if their partner or a date turned up to the beach in clothes that are well known to be faux pas.
Even more surprisingly, one in 12 have either ended a relationship or avoided a date after seeing them in something such as sock and sandals or swimwear that is clearly too small.
But when it comes to strangers, we find it funny, but also uncomfortable when we see someone making a summer clothing error.
Only one in ten would approach someone they didn’t know and tell them honestly that they’d made a mistake when getting dressed that morning.
At the moment, British wardrobes hold three clothing items which could cause their owners to commit a fashion faux pas, but hopefully they won’t see the light of day again.
But the majority have said they will always make sure the clothes or swimwear they are wearing fits properly before leaving the house to they can avoid a making a mistake to remember.
Helen Boyle added: “Brits aren’t well known for communicating with strangers, so it’s encouraging to see that some would be happy to warn a stranger if they had the potential to embarrass themselves.”
Top 20 Summer Fashion Faux Pas
1. Socks and sandals
2. Streaky fake tan
3. Swimwear that’s too small
4. Beer belly
5. Union jack shorts
6. Thongs
7. Dodgy tan lines
8. Heavy make-up on the beach
9. Skirt tucked in to knickers
10. Peeling sunburn
11. Sunburn
12. Muffin tops
13. Panda eyes
14. Saggy swimsuit
15. Heels with a bikini
16. Skimpy swimming trunks
17. A cap worn back to front
18. See through cover-ups or swimwear
19. Tattoos on legs
20. Swimwear sitting too low on the waist
