Spring Wardrobe memo to all men; Think Pink, Orange, Lilac and cobalt blue. Spring 2009 is the next stage in the evolution of the modern, style conscious man’s wardrobe.
Stores have started filling up with spring fashion and blacks, grays and navys are giving way to a rainbow of crayola colors. Color is one of the key trends this season, even with the more traditional labels like Kiton, Perry Ellis and Bottega Veneta. After all, this is a good time for these cheery, happy colors, considering current economic blues.
Choose colors and hues that complement your skin tone and hair/eye color. You don’t need to wear one solid color - experiment with hues, combine them and create the most unpredictable images! Don’t be afraid to surprise others. If you are a fan of polo shirts, Good news, this spring you will have 24 colors to choose from. Layer different shades of one color for a more fresh and sleek look. Like a Sky blue shirt with a royal blue sweater and navy pants. But at the same time, don’t overdo, especially if you are not ready to be in the center of attention.Iif wearing a bright shirt makes you feel uncomfortable, try to add some color to your wardrobe with a tie or a scarf. Scarves add sophistication to any wardrobe. Also take to consideration; bright colors don’t look good on everyone. Bold shades look best on “high contrast” men with light skin and dark hair or on dark brown skin. If you have pale skin and light color hair go for softer shades. Also limit bright colors to the upper body, close to the face. If you wear a bright color on your lower half, that’s exactly where people are going to look first.
For those of you who are not willing to push the boundaries and add a little brightness to your wardrobe, there is NUDE this spring… Yes shades of nude, Tan and all the flesh tones are another color option for this season for both men and women. From Pants to shirts to even suits. If you like restrained colors this trend is for you, no abundant décor or details, just pure sophistication. It looks very elegant and speaks for itself.
Cropped Cargo pants are another daring trend for this season. However, this look is easier to pull off if you live close to the beach and in an area with a strong California beach culture like Orange County. They are comfortable and lightweight Wear it on the weekends with a loose, relax T-shirt and flip-flops or loafers for a casual look. Nothing could match your fashion sense this spring when you come wearing this cropped cargo along with sports coat and MP3 in your ears but that just might be a far stretch for a low key, mellow California guy.
Once the preserve of grandads in rocking chairs - the men's cardigan is undergoing a fashion resurrection thanks to male fashionistas like David Beckham. The garment is flying off the shelves as men follow the trend set by the footballer and actors like Jude Law and Daniel Craig.Yes 007. Cardigans have also become a replacement for the hoodie - increasingly seen as the uniform of the petty criminal. Try this with a tie and trousers for a little more formal look or just Jeans and sneakers. The young actors in Hollywood are putting a new spin on the traditional grandpa sweater. And these new cardigans definitely don't look like the ones their grandfathers owned. david Beckham looks trendy yet classic in the picture above. His spin on this trend has been done to perfection.
All men should definitely own at least one basic cardigan as you can wear it all year round and it’s good for layering. Forget about browns and grays, they were in fashion in autumn. Now look for something that is much brighter: dark purple, red or indigo blue. Find a perfect shirt of these tints and pair it with black pants, you’ll look both classy and modern.
Gentelemen; Nearly three-quarters of women, found men in cardigans sexy with 87 percent saying that the garment denotes a man who is comfortable and confident with his sexuality.
Every man at some point in his life should own a leather jacket. Motorcycle jackets are a great choice. It has been around for the past couple seasons and its sticking around for this season too. This is an investment piece not a seasonal trend so if you are spending the money, Get one with a cool, lasting style. Invest in those pieces that are memorable and add value to you wardrobe. Long leather jackets are a fashion crime. Fabrics like leather and denim are going to be overwhelming when too much of it is used in a garment.
Guys don’t sweat in the suit you wore all winter long. Get a light- weight cotton suit in a light shade and you can wear it from the first breeze of spring in to fall. They are so great for summer and DKNY make them affordable enough that they aren't the typical investment wool suits you spend so much on. Pair them with a Tee and sneakers for a more casual look or add a cool tie and a bright shirt under it for a more formal occasion or for work. This might look very South Beach or San tropez but look where it has ended up, runways of NewYork, Milan and paris.
Tennis Sweaters. No, you don’t need a wicked backhand to wear this sweater whose is narrow piping and slim fit give it a feel that’s more modern and off-the- court. Not so Wimbledon. If you’re wearing a more muted or neutral color, wear a brighter or more colorful shirt under it. Don’t get it in a very thick fabric; it will make you look bulky. On the runway, we saw the tennis sweater paired with typical whites as well as more surprising combinations like natural linen blends and soft cotton fabrics. This is a more relaxed trend. Whether your style is athletic or slightly downtown you can pull this one off. Tennis sweaters are great for lots of different occasions, which is what makes them such an attractive option for spring. V-necks can be worn with many different items in your closet, so stock up on both plain and more decorative designs to be worn with shorts and trousers. Wear a solid colored tennis sweater underneath a blazer for a slightly more formal event, or choose a striped tennis sweater with cargo pants and jeans to dress it down a touch.
There are many more trends out there for this season, such as graphic polo shirts, golf jackets with a more modern twist, which is a perfect layer for a cool spring night; Stripes, which you will see on shirts and even suits, sports coat, which is a must have, micro patterns, and Navy blazers-without brass buttons which you can wear with a pair of beat up dungarees jeans to dress it down; but the ones I covered are those you will see most in stores and on the streets.
In this economy you have to shop smart.When shopping remember a few rules;
“CPW” which is Cost per wear. How many times are you going to wear a piece? Can you wear it with multiple pieces? Can you work it in your existing wardrobe? Or is it only a trend that will be replaced before you have a chance to take the tag off?
Trends are temporary. So invest in pieces that are going to give you more than a couple uses and spend little cash on the trendy items.
Instead of buying ten pieces that won’t go together and don’t have the best quality, buy fewer pieces that are classic, well made and will work with many other items. Like blazers, sport coats, a pair of jeans that fits you well, and of course a nice watch and good shoes, these will last for a long time and you can always mix them with your existing wardrobe. For new trends go to stores like H&M where you can find fashionable and trendy items that wont leave you broke.
If brand name and designer cloths shopping is a must for you, but you don't wanna go broke, check out my website, www.stylebynaz.com/links I have listed a couple of my favorite websites where you can get designer items for A LOT less.
Ready for that Closet Audit or to get that up dated, put-together look you have always wanted?? Visit my web site and pick a package or the service that suits your needs best and get started on your path on becoming the stylish you.
If you have any comments or questions about any of these trends or how to wear them, you can E-mail me your questions at nazy@stylebynaz.com
Have a fun and colorful spring.
