Three Alternative Colours For High Summer 2013

Three Alternative Colours For High Summer 2013

Introduction

Spring/summer is renowned for being the time of year where men become much more experimental with their colour choices. Free from the shackles of dreary weather and dark, long nights, the warm weather and beating sun provide the platform for us to demonstrate a wider and more vibrant palette.

Current industry influences back up this new, confident approach, with striking shades oforange and pink trending alongside neon and fluorescent hues. Even an old menswear favourite, blue, has been given a contemporary makeover for SS13, with the go-to shades coming in the form of vivid cobalt and aqua.

However, these colours are not suitable for every personal style or taste, and often alternative hues build a cult following under the radar; typically after appearing in multiple brand campaigns and on street style blogs around the world – such is the power of the internet these days.

With this in mind, we have identified three alternative colours you may want to consider as we transition into the high summer months this year…

1. Mint Green

Pastel hues are a perennial favourite during spring/summer. Subtler than their bold orange/pink/red/cobalt counterparts, light and dusty shades are, arguably, slightly more refined and wearable.

Mint green has built a strong presence within the industry for SS13, appearing in campaigns from high street giants like H&M and Next as well as designer brands such as HE By Mango and Ted Baker. Perfect for those men in search of a summer-appropriate colour that retains a sense of masculinity (thanks to its green base tone), it complements other classic neutral shades like navy, khaki and brown wonderfully.

Lookbook Inspiration

2. Lilac

Another pastel hue, lilac has violet base tones – although many men would just describe it as a shade of purple. A manlier take on this season’s big pink colour trend, the majority would probably be more comfortable wearing lilac.

It is a colour that shows great confidence in both your style and your masculinity; a powerful combination, especially to the opposite sex. Seen in lookbooks from the likes of Pal Zieri, Ramsey and Ami, lilac is slowly building a cult following for 2013.

Lookbook Inspiration

3. Yellow

Does any other colour represent the high summer season better than yellow? We say no. Yellow is an undeniably striking, statement hue that many wouldn’t even consider outside of the spring/summer season.

Coming in everything from mustard shades to pale, pastel variations, retailers often turn to yellow when looking to differentiate their spring collections from high summer lines.

Seen in recent campaigns from Jaeger and Massimo Dutti to Mango and Zara, yellow looks set to stamp its mark on SS13.

Lookbook Inspiration

Final Word

So there you have a quick guide to three alternative colours you should be considering for high summer 2013.

Although they weren’t directly advocated by high fashion houses during the global SS13 fashion weeks, retailers and the streets have pushed these hues into the limelight and made them a legitimate option for those men looking to separate themselves from the crowd.

Now we want to hear what you think:

• Would you ever consider any of these colours?
• What key pieces do you already own?
• Will you be adding any of these colours to your wardrobe this year?
• What is your alternative colour suggestion for high summer 2013?

Let us know in the comments section below…

Men’s Prom/Ball Outfit Inspiration

Men’s Prom/Ball Outfit Inspiration

Introduction

Formal affairs, particularly those during our formative years, are often riddled with ill-fitting rented suits, hefty tie knots and square-toed shoes. In reality, the dress code isn’t all that difficult to navigate – not the essentials anyway.

What it whittles down to is the wearing of an appropriate suit with a shirt, tie and smart shoes.Hardly rocket science. Getting the details right is what really counts, especially when looking to make yourself stand out among a sea of penguin suits.

With the basic structure of formal (black tie even more so) already set in stone, it’s important not to attempt to deviate. While some say it’s OK to break the menswear rules when you understand them, this is one instance you should not be testing the water under any circumstance.

Sneakers or a t-shirt don’t make black tie young, cool or different – just juvenile. It is the fit, colour, accessories, shoe style and shirt collar etc. that will be the defining points of your look, not your insubordinate Converse or rebellious band tee.

With all that in mind, today we’re going to take you through a selection of looks, from timeless classics to some more unorthodox takes on event dress that bend the codes without breaking them.

Traditional Outfit Inspiration
Traditional Lookbook Inspiration

Instead of boring you with endless images of a black tux with black shoes and a white shirt, we have decided to instead try to inspire with the lookbook images below.

Whether you choose to wear a classic tux with precision or simply utilise your black suit with a contrasting bow tie, pocket square or tie, it is up to you to decipher the dress code, dress appropriately and put your own stamp on your outfit:

Look One: Timeless Tuxedo

Rental tuxes often get a bad name – and for good reason, if the large number of ill-fitting examples is anything to go by. That said, spending time sourcing a flattering suit is a great solution to the black tie issue, rather than spending a fortune on a ‘non-essential’.

Pair a well fitting tuxedo with a freshly pressed white shirt and polished black shoes for the shell of a timeless look. A black tux offers a traditional option whilst a midnight blue or navy variation presents an opportunity to remove some of the penguin tag.

In this case we’ve opted for navy tailoring to complement a burgundy bow tie effectively. Finish by accessorising with a simple white-bordered handkerchief and rakish lapel pin to bring individuality and a touch of flair to your look:

Look Two: Spruced Up Suit

The tuxedo is traditionally considered quite a stiff piece of tailoring. More often than not, its only use is at a black tie party, where the bar frequently becomes your best ally in the fight to survive the monotony. Therefore, it may be worth splashing out on a slightly more versatile black suit, rather than a tuxedo rental, and simply sprucing it up a bit.

The other advantage of investing in a classic black suit is that you will get extended wear out of it well after your event. As you are likely to be moving into the world of professional employment, a black suit is versatile enough to be worn to job interviews, special occasions and everything in between.

Stick with a smart white shirt and accessorise with a printed silk bow tie to really differentiate it from customary office wear. A printed pocket square can offer a similar amount of panache as the bow tie; keep the colour similarly monochrome. Patent shoes are non-negotiable when seeking to bring the look to a sleek, sophisticated finish:

Spring/Summer Essential Fabrics – Part 3: Madras & Tropical Wools

Spring/Summer Essential Fabrics – Part 3: Madras & Tropical Wools

Introduction

With the sun finally looking to make good on its promise to make an appearance this summer, it’s time for me to finish off our ‘Spring/Summer Essential Fabrics’ series with a double-header: madras and tropical wools.

In the warmer months of the year I feel that it’s important to embrace one of menswear’s innermost beliefs: be comfortable in what you wear. Because, as we all know, with comfort comes confidence – the one thing that all great looks require. Part of being comfortable during the summer months is staying cool and sweat-free.

If you are to stand a chance of beating the sweat this summer, then you need to start thinking about seasonal dressing. Once the sun puts his hat on, it means thinking not only smarter but lighter too. Do away with those thick, heavy weaves such as tweed, corduroy and wool and start looking into pieces that feature open weaves and are lightweight in nature.

In part one we discussed the benefits of linen, and in part two we detailed why you should be looking to get in on the emerging seersucker trend. Finally, we’re going to talk about madras and, a new personal favourite of mine, tropical wools.

Why Madras & Tropical Wools?

Madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with typically patterned texture and plaid design, used primarily for summer clothing such as trousers, shorts, dresses, and jackets. It is particularly popular with our American cousins and takes pride of place in many preppy wardrobes once the weather starts to pick up. It comes available in plaids, stripes and patchwork and can be a great way of introducing a statement piece into your wardrobe whilst helping you stay light and breezy in the summer sun.

Tropical wool performs a similar job to madras but in a slightly different way. Although it keeps you cool, because it is made from the sturdy fabric that is wool it doesn’t crease and fold as easily as madras and linen do. Madras and linen are susceptible to creasing due to their thin fabric, whereas tropical wool (ideally a wool that is less than 10oz) has an open weave that allows ventilation whilst maintaining its drape and structure. Menswear is all about silhouettes after all.

But what sort of items should you be looking for when it comes to these two summer fabrics?

Madras: Key Pieces

The Masters: GANT

GANT, along with their GANT Rugger and GANT By Michael Bastian sub-lines, are a brand that utilises madras within each and every spring/summer collection. Whether in the form of a preppy madras shirt, statement madras shorts or that Michael Bastian designed sports coat, no one does it better:

The Shorts

Think of these as the new neutral – they will go with absolutely everything. I agree that they can be a bold statement but I believe that summer is all about experimenting with brighter colours, patterns and prints anyway.

If in doubt you can always go for a subtler madras in a navy or olive – but where’s the fun in that? Either let the shorts do all the talking by pairing with simple monochromatic colours (like a navy polo or a grey chambray shirt) or pick out one of the colours in the weave and wear something in the same hue..