2012 Spring Color Guide – Go BOLD This Season
A lot of men find the idea of wearing bold colors to be somewhat terrifying. After all, colors that are exceptionally loud and bright are not always easy to pull off, and the chances that clashing might occur are higher than a lot of people realize. This being said, however, there’s no better time of year to consider wearing attention-grabbing colors than the spring. In order to get the most out of head-turning colors, you’ve got to learn how to wear them in as effective a manner as possible. This can be easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be impossible so long as you take the right path towards doing so. The following tips can help steer you in the right direction:
Popular Bold Colors for Spring 2012
Pastels of any shade are once again hip this spring season. Men’s designers particularly opted for bright oranges, loud yellows, and lime-green. One must-have color for your wardrobe is Tangerine-orange – which was also named Pantone’s color of the year. The best clothing pieces for this bold color: neckties and pocket squares for your office wardrobe, cashmere V-neck sweaters for casual-sleek wear, and cotton shorts for day-time fun. Here are some tips on how to best add these bold spring colors to your look.
Complementary Colors are Key
When setting out to wear colors that are exceptionally bold, one of the most important things that you can do is to choose complementary colors. Contrast is everything in this scenario; a bold yellow, for example, will look fantastic next to a sleek, streamlined black, but will fall apart when paired with grey. Finding the right complement for a certain color typically comes down to trial and error, and it is best to use your judgment whenever possible. If something feels as if it doesn’t work, there’s a good chance that it simply does not, and the combination should be avoided.
One Bold at a Time
Bold colors can be truly attractive when they are worn correctly, but their potential for clashing is much higher than many people realize. If this is a concern for you, you’ll want to avoid pairing multiple bolds whenever possible. The more bold colors you incorporate into a single ensemble, the greater the chance that things are going to clash. For best results, strive to wear a single bold color in an ensemble, pairing it with neutrals in order to create contrast and keep clashing at bay.
Layering can be Very Effective
You can get quite a bit out of layering when wearing bolds. For example, a bold dress shirt can look fantastic when layered underneath a blazer; think goldenrod dress shirt and navy blue blazer. This will not only create contrast, but will add depth to your ensemble as well. The same concept applies to wearing bold socks underneath a pair of neutral trousers, which will draw attention to your feet without looking as if you’re trying too hard. The more you can layer, the easier it’ll be to make bolds work in your favor.
Start Small
The trick to wearing bold colors in an attractive manner is to start small and take it from there. Pocket squares and neckties, for example, are perfect entry-points for those who aren’t used to wearing bolds yet would like to try something new. As you become more comfortable with bold colors, you’ll be able to incorporate them more fully into your ensemble. That said, don’t be afraid to experiment, as this is the key to learning what works and what does not. Other clothing pieces you may want to experiment with: slim fitted, high rise cotton pants, sweater vests, and loud colored socks.
Other Suggested Spring Fashion Articles:
10-Part Men’s Spring Fashion Guide 2012
Re-Invent Your Style This Spring Season
Your Mens-Ties.com Team