Kampala — A lot has been said about the way Ugandan men dress. Whereas some people say they are the best dressed in East Africa, others say their sense of fashion is poor and they need lessons, right from the basics.

Men's fashion is a simple affair; you don't need to be wealthy to look smart. Here are the five fashion mistakes that most Ugandan men make.

Choosing the wrong clothes

The problem is not lack of clothes but making the wrong choices. Many people choose the wrong fabrics, colours or clothes that look bad on them.

There is the case of the award-winning pastor who has a reputation for choosing clothes that could pass for space suits. The fabrics he chooses are wrong for suits, which is why his suits sag.

The colours could also be toned down despite the fact that his suits are made for the stage. The fit of the clothes is another major issue. You could be wearing a $1000 suit but if the jacket rests on your shoulders like a tent, your efforts would have been wasted.

Copycat syndrome

If there is one thing that men's wear dealers in Uganda thrive on, it's the copycat syndrome. If one buys a shirt with a certain print and wears it to the office, workmates are bound to rush to get similar shirts.

I guess many clothes retailers don't even bother to stock a variety of clothes since everyone other customers will demand similar fabrics. I have mentioned the striped shirt over and over again. It's not only trendy but also flexible since you can wear it both casually and formally. Unfortunately it is also the official uniform of Kampala.

The copycat syndrome isn't only limited to clothing items but also accessories. Last year it was the newsboy hat and a certain brand of casual shoes. It is good to stay trendy and get inspired by well-dressed people but it isn't trendy to copy exactly what they are wearing.

Ignoring the dress code

More than 80 percent fall under this category. Many of us ignore dress codes that try to step out of the norm. There are people I know who decided that they would never follow any dress code in Kampala because they were tired of being overdressed at every party.

One such example is the recent Pearl of Africa music awards. Many people in the VIP section decided to dorn what they usually wear to the office or Sunday picnics despite the fact that the dress code was 'dress to impress.'

Hairstyles from another world

There are three types of hairstyles; the safe conservative, trendy and one that is just bizarre.

Under the safe ones are the short and neat haircuts that are common on Kampala streets. Under the trendy ones are neat cornrows, dreadlocks, Afros and texturised hair.

The ones from another world include men's weaves, multi-coloured cornrows, bleached Afros, green dreadlocks and many more. This may sound like an exaggeration but they do actually exist.

Poor grooming.

Some people may think that grooming is not part of fashion but what is a man in an expensive suit with dirty nails? Many people rely on expensive clothes and perfumes at the expense of their appearance.

Remember that clothes, perfumes and expensive jewellery will only cover your bad breath, body odour or dirty socks.

Next week it's the fashion mistakes Ugandan women make.