We are hot on the heels of Fashion Week, which recently wrapped up in Milan, and there were tons of great designers (as usual, Lagerfeld showed them all how it was done!) and great looks. So I thought I’d put together an on-trend look for Fall 2009 in honor of Fashion Week.
Now, generally, I despise trends. I go with some – I was a fan of the tunic trend, and I like the platform trend now in shoes – but I like to stick with timeless basics that I can mix and match forever.
I fill in the holes with a few on-trend pieces, of course, but I’m not a slave to that by any means because I find it wasteful. I like to buy durable clothing in clean cuts and timeless style so that I can wear it for a long while and then give it away or throw it away, rather than having to re-do my wardrobe every time a trend dies.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to examine trends in an area I don’t really pay that much attention to: men’s fashion.
Now, sure, I like menswear-inspired pieces. But all that means is that I own button-downs, argyle sweater vests, sporty blazers, oxford shoes, and motorcycle boots. I don’t keep up with actual men’s fashion by any means.
So what’s big in Fall 2009 for you guys? I’m hearing basic, neutral colors – but more than that, I’m hearing brown and gray. So let’s take a look at a spot-on trendy look for you guys that exhibits casual All-American flair while bringing some edge to the sometimes-boring basics that seem to be dominating right now.
Slim-Fit Graduate Chinos ………. $49.50
1MX Shirt in Grey ………. $49.50
Metal Stripe Tie ………. $38
Okay, does anyone do All-American flair better than Tommy Hilfiger? I don’t think so. Although I’ve always liked a lot of the classic Nautica stuff on guys. Anyway. Check out those chinos. What you need for this look, since it’s pretty stark – just the shirt, pants, and a tie – is a pair of well-cut khakis. And those khakis are well-cut. Seriously.
Next, the shirt. Few things look better on a guy than a shirt that fits him really, really well. Trust me. Not that I sit around and ogle guys all day; I just love people-watching. And when I people-watch, sure, normally I’m looking at nervous tics, how they walk, how they hold their mouths, their hair, etc.
But when a guy walks by wearing a shirt that just fits, it’s hard not to notice. You’re looking for a shirt with clean lines that really brings out the wide, straight line of your shoulders, a straight point collar (this flatters most faces), the right weave for the occasion (oxford provides a rougher texture, while a tightly woven fabric gives off a lustrous finish), and the right cut, obviously. An athletic cut is trim and tailored, the narrowest of men’s shirt, and after that, regular and full.
I happen to be in love, personally, with these 1MX shirts from Express. Honestly? It’s hard to go wrong with these. It’s a slim, tailored fit with a nice, sharp, straight-point collar, and there are so many colors available. There are the ones on the linked page, and if you search the site, you’ll find them in brighter colors like red and green and blue that really stand out nicely.
So with the darky grey shirt that goes nicely with the warm chinos, we have this black and grey striped tie. Any grey striped wool tie would work nicely, really. You’re keeping the monochromatic tones on top, wearing it with nicely cut, warm khakis or chinos like these, and brown shoes.
This look is less harsh than the grey-on-grey look that was popular before, and you’re mixing these preppy colors but giving it an edge.
I don’t know, I’d certainly look twice if a guy walked past me wearing this.
Again, not that I sit around and ogle guys all day long. I’d never get anything done.
