Summer Style Sins

Socks with sandals are named as the top summer turn off.

Men hoping to impress the ladies this summer should take note, a survey of 3000 people has named socks and sandals, Speedos and football shirts as top summer turn offs.

The survey which was specially commissioned by UKTV Style to celebrate the return of The Clothes Show, identifies the cringe worthy fashion mistakes millions of Brits make, as soon as the sun starts shining and the temperatures rise.

The thing that really turns women off, is men sporting the dreaded socks and sandals combo, whilst at number two in the chart of hideous man made offences, is the Speedos look typified by nightclub entrepreneur Peter Stringfellow. Third place in the league of turn offs are football shirts.

Leaving its mark at number five is the string vest meanwhile glaring in at number six is the overly colourful Hawaiian shirt. Claiming its spot at number seven is the muscle bulging or even muscle missing tank top while a sad sight on many a beach is the Union Jack towel, in at number eight. Stretching in at number nine are the grotesque extra tight running shorts (budgie smugglers) and naff beads and stringy white bands rounded off the rundown, propping up the poll at number ten.

The survey also asked what were the biggest turn offs on ladies and the British public resoundingly declared the dreaded streaky fake tan the number one faux pas. Be it patchy elbows, smudgy hands or pasty knees, it seems non cautious tanning really does have its consequences. Hot on the heels of streaky tan on the women's sin list were unflattering crop tops, complete with bulging flesh and an un-toned midriff, also known as the 'muffin top'. In at number three are oversized sunglasses, last summer's look which seems to be more cringe than couture. The ill fitting bikini clings on in fourth place.

Results also reveal how a little class never goes a miss - grubby bra straps, a lazy and lacklustre approach to cleavage enhancement, wangles a place on the list at number five. The signature style of many a fashionably challenged chav, Burberry Check is declared sixth most disastrous wardrobe woe, with Hair Braiding, a great idea in foreign climes which quickly turns into a holiday horror once the plane has landed back on home soil. G-strings and anything tie-dyed also got a resounding guilty verdict from our scrutinising fashion jury. And the only place a cowboy hat should be seen this summer is at the Rodeo as this faux pas claims the number ten spot.

Men
1. Socks with Sandals
2. Speedos
3. Football Shirts
4. Bum Bags
5. String Vests (wife beaters)
6. Hawaiian Shirts
7. Tank tops
8. Union Jack Towels
9. Tight running shorts
10. Bling (Gold Jewellery)

Women
1. Streaky fake tan
2. Crop tops - with bulging fat
3. Oversized sunglasses
4. Ill fitting bikinis
5. Grubby Bra Straps
6. Fake Burberry Check
7. Hair braiding
8. G-strings bikinis
9. Anything Tie-Dyed
10. Cowboy Hats

It's not just the general public who need to buck up their ideas when it comes to socks with sandals - a whole host of celebrities also seem to have fallen foul of the nation's biggest summer turn-offs. Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, Guy Ritchie and Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline have all found themselves in front of the photographers' lense in their less than fancy footwear. Even Hollywood beauty Gwyneth Paltrow committed the ultimate summer fashion sin back in 2003, donning a pair of the uncool socks and sandals combo.

The look of the streaky tango tan is revered as the number one summer turn-off for women and likewise even celebrities have no hiding place. The likes of Paris Hilton, Donatella Versace, Jodie Marsh, Bianca Gascoigne, Christina Aguilera and Victoria Beckham are all infamous for baring their overzealous tan applications and uneven skin complexions to the world.

Louise Roe, who presents a strand on The Clothes Show, says, "It's truly shocking that as soon as the sun starts shining, fashion credibility takes a serious nose-dive. The Clothes Show is back just in time to help put all these mistakes firmly to the back of wardrobes. It's crammed full of top fashion tips and accessible advice."

The Clothes Show, every Sunday at 6pm on UKTV Style.

Log onto www.uktvstyle.co.uk for the latest fashion tips.

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