Men’s Fashion Trends

One of the great things about men’s fashion is that while trends come and go, such as the polyester suit of the 70s and the punk look of the 80s, it always seems to gravitate back towards a clean and masculine look. 2011 has definitely brought a major resurgence of this classic appearance. In both high fashion and catalog spreads, you’ll see men dressed in flattering styles and natural fabrics. The grunge look of the 90s is out, and the well-groomed clean cut appearance of an earlier era has made a comeback. Along these lines, here are 3 of my favorite trends in men’s fashion coming up for fall of 2011.

Colored denim- We have a tendency to always think of denim as meaning “blue jeans.” But colored denim is a great trend for fall, and a nice way to dress up your normal denim look. Now it’s accepted that you can wear white jeans, even after Labor Day. Just anchor them with darker pieces, such as gray or brown shoes and belt, and a navy sport jacket. Gray jeans are a terrific look for fall. You can pair them with other cool tones, such as a blue and white striped shirt, camel suede shoes, and a blue denim jacket for a nice, calming look. Or for something a little bolder, try yellow-gold denim pants. Just remember that this is a bright color, and the rest of your outfit should remain in neutral shades, such as tans or navy blues.

“Mad Men” inspired fashion- Since the television show “Mad Men” became raucously popular, several different clothing companies have introduced tailored and form-fitting lines inspired by the pre-hippie era of the early 1960s. I am personally looking forward to Banana Republic’s “Mad Men” inspired men’s line that will be introduced this fall. The reason this particular line works so well is that it offers a bit of an updated twist on classic, retro looks. This is the very key to looking appropriate, not like you are wearing a costume, when emulating vintage fashion. Key pieces to pulling off the “Mad Men” inspired look are slim cut suits, shawl-collared sweaters, slim cut pin stripe trousers, vests, and waist coats. If you are attending a formal event, a classic black silk bow tie is key, and for everyday wear, a nice silk tie with necktie accessoriesis appropriate.

Casual dressy looks- What do I mean by “causal dressy”? Well, it differs from what you think of as straight-up dressy. For a casual dressy look, start with a casual foundation. This could be a pair of relaxed fit chinos and a polo shirt or silk screened cotton tee shirt. Then, add an element that you would normally only think of as dressy, such as a well fitted sport jacket. For another casual dressy look, try a pair of dark wash jeans and a button down shirt with the vest from your three piece suit. Or, black denim pants with a plain white tee shirt and a tuxedo jacket. You can also make any casual outfit more dressy with an interesting accessory such as an antique pocket watch or a nice pair of leather oxford shoes. Celebrities who regularly and successfully pull off the casual dressy look are Kanye West, Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake, and Pharell Williams. Just don’t ever mix a blazer or sport jacket with shorts when going for the casual dressy look.