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Style for Men...

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Menswear Spring/Summer 2010 Made Simple. It can be quite daunting for the everyday male to make the transition in to wearing new season trends when they have just become accustomed to the previous.

It should however not be met with fear over getting it wrong or worry that it will result in you looking unfashionable. It is important to remember that the key to being stylish is through implementing your own personal style with the subtle addition of the latest trends to keep it updated and your look refreshed. With the help of male fashion magazines, GQ, and 10, keeping on top of the latest fashions can easily be achieved; however, key trends can be even further simplified.

Throughout Spring/Summer 2010 trends continue to look back to the 80’s whilst also beginning to look towards the early 90s for inspiration. It is also important to remember when wearing these trends to sample pieces rather than to imitate the time period. The key trend of the season is denim, this is a big player on the high street at the moment and is best worn when layered denim on denim. For past seasons even the thought of wearing just denim would have sent a cold shiver down my spine, but not any longer, fickle, yes, but that’s fashion! Denim can be worn however you wish this season, from a more youthful bleached to a rugged, and faded darker denim. The key piece witch every man should not be without is that of the denim shirt, whether it be sleeveless, western inspired or just a regular shirt, it is the piece needed to bring your wardrobe up to date.

The other major trend this spring is the preppy style, originating from east coast America, inspired by the classic Tommy Hilfiger and Gant look. The re-emergence of the trend brings preppy fashion right back to the forefront of must-have male fashion and can be worn for any occasion. For the daytime, polo sweaters and the evening a seersucker blazer and shirt. This can also be worn with chinos, which are the most important trouser of the season and can be worn with virtually anything. Another important trend which has been trickling through for quite a few seasons, also reminiscent of the 80’s business man is the contrasting collar and cuff shirt. Zara does an excellent array of shirts, especially incorporating this trend, and in my opinion is one of the best high street retailers to buy tailored garments from. They also offer an alteration service for an additional cost so that you can have that perfect fitting shirt.

Another spring/ summer trend is knitwear, although this may be viewed as strange to wear for the warmer months of the year it still an important trend to incorporate in to your spring wardrobe. Through keeping knitwear both short sleeved, and of a loose weave or sheer gauge it helps to keep the garment breathable and allows you to remain looking fashionable and up to date. (£50 – French Connection) Continuing through in to this season is the nautical trend, remember not to do over do this, otherwise you will look more like a sailor than fashionably dressed, the key is to wear one bold piece, such as a stripped t-shirt or jumper and remember that vertical stripes are slimming.

Also starting to make reappearance is a slight grunge feel, paying tribute to the grunge movement developed in Seattle within the early 90s. For this look keep everything dark, think rugged, use only indigos, dark greens, whites and greys if wanting to add a splash of colour. Remember baggy jeans are key to this look and are best worn with a flannel shirt and large chunky boots.(£60 -Topman) Colours of the season are anything bright and crisp, but luckily for the more classic male, pastels are also in fashion. Pastels are perfect when adding colour underneath a dark tailored suit or even just a baggy pastel coloured t-shirt in the day time with a pair of chinos. Shoe wise, the most important are brogues, again working well with chinos; chunky boots are also important and for a laid back youthful look, pale pastel coloured converse or even nautical inspired pumps. Also not to be forgotten, for colder days, utility jackets are perfect and in my opinion a Burberry (or inspired) pale biscuit coloured trench coat is perfect.

What to Wear? Officewear

Taking inspiration from the preppy trend, a bold, rich coloured blazer, such as a deep navy blue or ruby red, with a contrasting handkerchief, stripy tie and contrasting coloured cardigan. Add a pale blue or crisp white shirt, collar up, of course and beige chinos with casual white converse. This creates a perfect fashion-centric approach to officewear. However if you would rather something more understated, yet subtly fashionable, then once again a navy blue blazer, with beige chinos but instead teamed with a pastel coloured shirt and brogues. (£32 – Next)

Casualwear

A perfect relaxed day look using the denim trend, would be through combining a western inspired denim shirt (£85 – All Saints) with denim jeans and remember, however pale, dark, stressed or torn, it does not matter to make this trend work. Wearing a chunky watch and buckled brown belt will also compliment this look. For a more dressed up approach to casualwear, a pale blue denim shirt, with grey blazer and contrasting beige chinos (£29.50 – Gap) and brogues. For those of you wanting to go all out fashion-forward, contrasting coloured trouser shorts are in fashion at the moment, with a slight roll up they would work well with this approach. They are however centred more towards the youth but they can be worn throughout all age ranges.

Eveningwear

For a relaxed take on eveningwear, wear a thin navy t-shirt under a fine grey knit sweater, with a navy blazer, (£135 - Universal Works at Mywardrobe.com) pale grey chinos and matching brown boots and belt. For those of you wanting to take a more classic approach to evening wear, try to keep it subtle through combining a formal floral Paul Smith shirt (£125) with grey tailored fitted trousers and brown brogues.