Ottawa is the World's 8th Most Poorly Dressed City

8th on Our Fashion Challenged City List: Ottawa

It’s no secret that every geographical area in the world has its own specific style. This has been true since the beginning of time, and has become even more apparent over the course of the last century or so. Cities such as Paris and New York, for example, have a long history of being home to some of the most fashion-forward individuals in the world, and are home to famous fashion houses that have done a lot to push men’s fashion and style in the right direction. It should come as no surprise that Canada is not exactly known for fashion, and I couldn't help it but place two Canadian cities on my worst dressed list: Ottawa, and Hamilton. Ottawa may be a beautiful city, but it also happens to be one of the least-fashionable in the country. There are a variety of reasons why Ottawa makes the list of the worst-dressed cities in the world, with the following being just a few examples.

Cold, Drab Colors
One of the most basic problems with fashion in Ottawa is the fact that residents tend to wear colors that are relatively cold and drab. Icy blues and frozen greys, for example, are two of the most common shades of colors found in Ottawa, and are quite typically worn by those who live there. Whether these colors make their way into suits, casual clothing or otherwise, there’s no getting around the fact that they can be relatively depressing in nature. Earthy greens and other, similar tones are also popular. While effective in certain situations and seasons, they tend to be over-worn in Ottawa and are thus depressing, more than anything else. Staying away from cold, drab colors doesn’t have to be difficult, and requires little more than a keen awareness that they aren’t doing anyone any favors.

Suit and Tie Monotony
There’s no getting around the fact that the fashion and style represented in Ottawa tends to be a bit monotonous. I have noticed that in other Canadian cities, and this lack of originality also was one of the convincing elements for me to place Hamilton, Ontario on my top10 list. Just like Hamilton has a large "blue collar" population, people who live in Ottawa work as civil servants, which means the monotonous “suit and tie” look is quite omnipresent. While there’s nothing wrong with wearing a suit and tie, the look that is all too common in Ottawa brings to mind the 1980s, and should be avoided by fashion-forward men at all costs. Washed-out blue and gray suits lacking unique fabric patterns and modern cuts, are the norm, with just about everyone looking as if they’re the same as one another. Consistency is something that can be quite effective when properly pulled-off, but the differences between this and full-blown monotony are ten-fold.

Poor Haircuts
It may be safe to say that men in Ottawa have some of the poorest haircuts in the world. The “combover” happens to be the name of the game in Ottawa, which really doesn’t do any of the city’s residents any favors. Again, this look tends to be a holdover from the 80s, and it something that should be avoided at all costs. In general, professionals should keep their hair on the shorter side whenever possible, avoiding the ear-length combover that is so common amongst Ottawa businessmen.

More Poorly Dressed Cities:
Beijing Fashion: The World's Worst Dressed City

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team