Jacket courtesy NeimanMarcus.com
The male and female species approach the concept of a trend with two very different mindsets. For the fashion-minded woman, trends move at a rapid-fire pace; fashionistas used to have an insatiable urge to have the “it” bag of the season or YSL’s latest footwear creation. For fashion-minded men, the urge is notably less rampant. They raise their eyebrows at the dapper “it” item of the season, marinate on it, and then warm up to it as if it has always been in style.
And that all makes sense; there is a challenge when it comes to trends for men. Let’s be honest, men’s clothing has limitations. Sure, at the Paris shows uber-luxe labels such as Number (N)ine, Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Rick Owens showcased skirts (yes, skirts) on the runway, but will the average fashionable man actually traipse around the city in a flouncy skirt? The chances are very slim unless you are someone like Marc Jacobs or William Wallace from Braveheart. Reality: the best of men’s fashion works with traditional garments and tweaks them to make them contemporary and cool for a male of any age.
It’s summer! The warmer season has eclipsed the days of heavy peacoats, wool scarves, and boots. The summer doors have opened and revealed trends that build an appropriate casual look for gentlemen to look dapper, but remain comfortable.
The softer side of jackets—From Neiman Marcus to Saks Fifth Avenue to Macy’s, stores in Union Square are at a consensus: relaxed jackets are an essential for men this season. Doing away with the broad and structured shoulders of fall, men’s blazers have more of a no-fuss look. Soft jackets are more deconstructed, made with lightweight fabrics, and rest on a man’s shoulders with a non-pretentious swagger. Men should opt for a versatile jacket in navy or a neutral shade that can effortlessly go from the office to a night on the town. It should go well with a pair of dark denim jeans and look just as good with a pair of slacks. A word to the wise: avoid using a suit jacket with a pair of jeans. That’s just fashion schizophrenia.
Dressing up with fashion sneakers—Unless you’re going for the whole Ellen Degeneres look, sneakers with suits have always been hit or miss. However, if you have the right fashion sneaker, it can do wonders to an outfit. From Gucci to Prada, fashion labels are creating very chic sneakers that can balance out a summer look. The trick with fashion kicks is to make it versatile. The less busy a sneaker is, the more resourceful it will be to your fashion arsenal. Make it simple: choose a white or black sneaker with minimal décolletage. These shoes should be able to go with a tailored khaki suit just as well as they go with a pair of khaki shorts. Texture is also a feature to consider when choosing a pair. Barneys New York has some drool-worthy patent leather Lanvin sneakers that could very well be the perfect pair for the season.
Electrifying colors—It’s time for men to come out of the dark and embrace color. From vibrant reds and yellows to Crayola-box blues and oranges, it is the season to make the colors pop. With a neutral colored backdrop of a black vest or gray cardigan, bright colors should enrich an outfit with life. Wearing all black is chic, but wearing black from head to toe can be a little morose. No, it can be a lot morose. Summer fashion should be a celebratory ritual, not a funeral march. If you’re still hesitant with color, take baby steps with a paprika Prada tie, and then work your way up to a lemony cardigan. But be wary when using too many lively colors. They should pop, not bombard.
Denim goes straight to the point—Denim has seen many permutations over the years. It’s been boot-cut, wide-legged, relaxed, and even bottomed out with bells. But in the end, the classic straight leg will always be a failsafe. Please, however, don’t get straight leg confused with skinny jeans. Straight leg denims are tailored, refined, and sleek. Skinny jeans look like leggings and can potentially make a man sterile. Straight leg denims should flatter your shape, not cling to it. When choosing a pair of straight leg jeans, the denim should fall straight down from your waist to the cuff; hence the term, “straight leg.”
Retro sunglasses—Fashion always samples from different eras. The 21st century is a variable melding of the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and the ‘90s. For eyewear, hipsters are donning wayfarers with the flair of a John Hughes film. Ray Ban and Tom Ford have even jumped on this throwback style which incorporates modern sensibility with bygone times appeal. Then there are the ever-so-popular aviators. Depending on how you look at it, aviator sunglasses can be seen as modern and retro. They are modern because they have never gone out of style. They are retro because they pay a snazzy homage to Maverick and Goose in Top Gun.
Shorter swimwear—Here’s a little bit of info that many people may not know: men fret swimsuit season just as much, if not more, than women. Otherwise, men wouldn’t flock to the gym every day and stare at their abs in the mirror in hopes that they will magically turn into a six pack. But the focus on swim trunks shouldn’t be all about the belly. This season, don’t be afraid to show some leg. Board shorts are good for the beach—if you are a surfer. Opt for a swim trunk that ends mid-thigh and is a less baggy. If you are really bold, go for the square cut trunks (the ones that look like boxer briefs) that are a summery sartorial throwback to the beach blanket bingo days of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Hey, if Daniel Craig can do it in Casino Royale, then you can do it, too.
Trends are a fluid concept for men. They are more like guidelines than tyrannical rules of style. But as ever so subtle as the contemporary twists on men’s basics might be, they are noticeable. Take your finger off the pulse a moment too soon and you may run the risk of ending up in a butterfly collar shirt with a pair of tapered-leg jeans and Speedo underneath.
Dino-Ray Ramos is a freelance fashion and entertainment writer. When he isn’t enlightening young artistic minds at the Academy of Art University as a journalism instructor, you can enjoy his playfully disgruntled discourse on his personal blog, "the finer dandy" (blog.dinoray.com).
