Turn the guy in your life into a style magnet. Lisa Haynes looks at this summer’s hottest menswear trends.
"SUMMER is the best time of year to inject a bit of colour into your life and be more playful with your wardrobe,” says Toby Bateman, buying director at mrporter.com. “You can easily introduce colour through tees or light jersey pieces, lose the socks if you’re wearing loafers, and there’s no need to be constricted by heavy outerwear.”
Here’s how to wear this season’s hottest looks.
BLOCK COLOUR
Embrace bold brights for high summer. Up the colour ante as temperatures soar. “I’d suggest chino shorts in a bold primary colour teamed with a shirt or polo shirt as the most simple way to work the trend. Don’t co-ordinate the colours, to show true fashion savvy,” says Bateman.
CHAMBRAY
If you’re one of many guys addicted to denim, beat the heat and lighten up with chambray. “It’s a great alternative to denim for summer,” Bateman says. “As a natural fabric it breathes, so keeps the wearer cool while retaining a distinctly masculine feel.”
Chambray is available in a variety of colours, but stick to pale and mid-blues to achieve a distinctly denim feel minus the heavyweight fabric.
UTILITY
No need to join the services like Prince Harry to work the utilitarian trend. Opt for military-inspired tones of khaki, camel and pale grey for off-duty style. “Most menswear has an element of utility in it,” Bateman says. “The best menswear has to combine form and function, in that fit is always key but it has to serve a purpose otherwise it’s just decoration.” Adopt raw-edged fabrics, workmen-inspired boots and lightweight leather jackets for an ‘undone’ look.
TAILORING
Don’t fret if the term tailoring reminds you of the boardroom. In fashion speak, ‘deconstructed’ is the way to work a suit jacket this summer. “An unstructured blazer can really lighten a look and is very versatile whether worn with a shirt and tie, or just with a T-shirt,” he says. Avoid prints or garish shades and pick a versatile colour that will go with just about anything in your wardrobe. Bateman suggests grey or navy for summer.
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