As strict formals for men take a back seat this season, ‘relaxed’ formals come to the fore. Although suiting up never goes out of style, adding a casual element to formal wear is bang-on trend.
Go ahead and wear your double-breasted suit, but with a tee. And leave a button or two open as you unveil your nonchalant approach to fashion.
If your work environment doesn’t require a corporate look, trade in the blazer or suit jacket for a bomber jacket and printed pants. Yes, these iconic fashion trends reminiscent of our high-school years have made a comeback.
Here are the top five must-have pieces for men this fall, as compiled from the Business Insider.
Double-breasted blazers: These can be hard to pull off and if the cut is too baggy, they can look like the fade-worthy fad from the ’80s. Make sure you get them fitted well around the waist.
Patterned jackets: From plaid to monochrome, expect to see a lot of different printed jackets this year. Pair a patterned jacket with solid-colored shorts or pants. If you’re style-savvy, throw a contrasting print in the mix with a button-down shirt.
Printed pants: These have been a topper in women’s fashion for the last few years and now, they’re making their way into the men’s market. Use the same rules as with printed jackets and keep things minimal. Also, make sure your pants are well-tailored, so that it doesn’t look like you have worn your PJs to the office.
Colour-blocked shirts: Whether horizontal, vertical or diagonal, colour-blocked patterns are a casual and preppy look this year. Treat these like your classic black t-shirt and wear them with your favourite pants, shorts or jeans.
Bomber jacket: Perhaps the biggest trend for men at New York Fashion Week this year was bomber jackets. Whether they’re in leather, wool or are colour-blocked, these jackets go with everything. Make sure the sleeves don’t hang past your upper wrist and the coat has a slim silhouette to keep it from looking too bulky.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2014.
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