It would seem that men have it easy when it comes to fashion. Shirt, pants, shoes--done. In some worlds this simplistic approach is sufficient but for the fashion-conscious man, there are trends to watch and designers to fawn over. Since the ladies get more attention, keeping on top of emerging trends in men's fashion requires a little homework.
Louis Terline, who co-owns the hot men's boutique Oak in Brooklyn, New York, the "preppy/punk" look is in right now, meaning Oxford shirts with rocker jeans, hunting plaids with leather. This season, stylish guys are putting together contrasting looks.
One way to update the male wardrobe is with a pair of skinny jeans. While this may seem like a women's fashion trend, tapered legs are showing up under many menÕs denim labels. Not sure the skinny jean look is for you? Nonsense!
Terline's advice is to take it slow. "Skinny can mean a lot of things," he says. "Break it in slow. Start with a straight leg and see how that goes. Slim down the tops as well to keep from exaggerating proportions."
Want a "cool" unassuming look? Yes, it is ironic that one has to try to get a look that appears as if you just rolled out of bed that way, but hey, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do.
"Unassuming cool comes from having fun, not taking any of it too seriously," says Terline. "Try something new, have a sense of humor and adventure about it."
Even if you can't bring yourself to try the skinny jean look, you should always avoid full cut baggy jeans. Choose trimmer models like a straight leg or boot cut. When given the choice, choose a short rise if you want to wear it at the waist, and a low rise if you want to wear it close to the hip. Comfort and attractiveness are inversely related. In most cases, the less comfortable it is, the better your butt probably looks in them. Fit is the most important factor to consider when buying jeans and the jeans should feel good.
Bruce Dempsey, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for The Art Institutes says that the embellished trend has jump-shipped from women's jeans to men's lines. "The trend in men's denim right now is embellished surfaces; painted dragons, paisley prints with studs and jewels, textured designs up and down one leg, frayed hems," Dempsey says. "You can find a great pair of embellished and textured jeans for $100 - $125 with prices going up into the thousands for embellished Gucci jeans."
The rocker look as held strong for a couple of seasons, so now it's time for a cleaner, yet still hard-edged, look for men's denim. "For fall and holiday we will be seeing a return to selvage with rich indigo hues," says designer Pepper Foster of the premium denim label Chip & Pepper. "Raw denim will appear more with clean, rich washes. This season denim is less distressed, perfect to wear from day to night. Pair with a T-shirt for day and a tailored shirt and blazer to wear out at night. Holiday and spring will be big for cargo pants, but not the style you remember. Think more streamlined and tailoed looks, great with woven twill shirts."
