Dressed Down Mens Fashion for Spring 2011
Formal is normal in men’s fashion; a lot of experts and gurus say that it’s safer (and easier, even) to show up overdressed than being clothed to casual. Spring 2011, however, is a time for dressing down your look. Layering and dressing things up was a breeze back when there was snow on the ground and it was chilly outside. Now that beach season is here, you’ll have to take a different tack to your clothes.
Layers and Lines
Just because the days are warmer doesn’t mean layering is no longer an option. In fact, layers are still viable for most men in most cities; you’re simply changing the pieces you use to build your layered outfit into more spring-appropriate ones.
Instead of a jacket or a coat, a cardigan is the prime candidate for a spring layering piece. Spring cardigans are usually much thinner and lighter than their chunky winter brothers. A cardigan is a quick and fuss-free way to add personality to even the most blah tee and jeans combination you own. It looks refined without being stuck-up, which is the best kind of casual you could hope for.
Geometric and striped cardigans are a key piece for the season because they add a fun and colorful little twist to an outfit without losing any of the sophistication. You can use it to give color to a monochrome, or to complement a shirt or a striped necktie. As is common practice in the world of fashion, spring is all about vivid colors and patterns.
Suited Up Casual
It looks like an oxymoron, we know, but the trend is gaining ground in men’s style. The ladies have always been able to add a suit over an outfit to create something casual. For men, however, the suit still retains its formal vibe and officious image. Expect all that to change by the time spring turns into summer.
Believe it or not, it doesn’t take much to convert a suit into a casual piece. By removing the necktie, leaving out the shirt and then replacing that with a tee, you come up with a combination that’s unquestionably casual with just a touch of formal elegance courtesy of the tailoring and structure of the suit. A solid contrast color v-neck tee (and maybe a bit of man jewelry) is all you need to add your daily office suit to your casual repertoire.
If you’re up for a style splurge, though, you could opt to invest in an unstructured jacket, which is a blazer without the lining, padding and very rigid lines of a typical tailored jacket. This was something of a practical spring trend a while back, and it’ll most likely take the spotlight again soon.
To take the casual conversion one step further, you could also choose to pair your jacket with shorts. It’s an extremely sartorial step, and needs a lot of moxie to do. Pulled off right, though, the combination makes for an outfit that’s comfortable and memorable. It’s also very friendly for mixing and matching high and low pieces; you could simply have a tee underneath, or a shirt and slim necktie for a quirkier effect.
Other Suggested Articles:
Mens Fashion Accessory Guide
Guide to Mens Jeans
Mens Business Casual Attire
Your Mens-Ties.com Team