The colors of spring are everywhere and that doesn't just refer to the flowers anymore. It also refers to the colors of the clothes that today's men are wearing.
"Rest assured that all the vibrant colors of last spring, all the pinks, greens and purples are staying strong among the designers this spring and on into the summer," said Brian Boye, fashion director for Men's Health magazine.
All of those guys who rushed out and bought what was in style last spring have nothing to worry about this spring. This spring, guys don't have to lighten wallets to look good.
"We still have guys coming in and looking for the brighter colored polos and layering them with bright colored T-shirts," said Jase Bryant, assistant manager at American Eagle in the Oak Court Mall.
As far as shirts go, striped button downs will be the hot thing this spring -- that's worn with or without an undershirt, Boye said. These shirts are going to be bright and some will have different striped patterns -- the stripes are the key point.
This spring is going to be all about what the individual likes to wear. There are going to be a lot of guys taking the styles that are out there and choosing one to fit each person. "The country club look is making a big comeback," said Monte Stewart, executive vice president of James Davis in Laurelwood.
The preppy look is one that truly never died but has just now begun to climb back into the spotlight over the past two years. Layering two or more polo shirts or wearing a polo shirt and two different color undershirts is the typical look of this trend, he said. These shirts can be worn with jeans, shorts or khakis. It's the versatility of this fashion trend that has made it so popular among men today.
Flat front khakis are also going to be a major contributor to this spring's fashion trends. The pleated khaki is starting to go out of style, and the flat front khaki will begin to be the new khaki for today's man. But be sure to keep some of the older ones in the closet, because a classic will never die out completely, Stewart said.
When it comes to jeans for the spring, the light-wash jeans will still be a big seller, said Stewart. All of those ragged looking and light colored jeans are still going to be a hot look for this spring and summer. But you may want to stock up on some darker, cleaner looking jeans for the fall, he said.
"When buying jeans, remember it's all in the wash of the denim -- the wash is very important," said Stewart.
Guys are starting to dress up a lot more than they did in the past. When it comes time to dress up and go out, today's man has begun to look toward favorite musicians and movie stars for tips and inspiration on what to wear, Stewart said. People are going to see a resurgence of older styles mixed with today's youthfulness, bringing in an all-new look for the spring.
"There is a blurring between casual and dressy in today's society," said Boye.
More and more guys are beginning to wear their sport coats with denim and sneakers. Men have begun to mix styles and make their own kind of dress. It's more of a casual, comfortable look, he said. Wearing sport coats and jeans together is going to be really big this spring, and it is going to be an even bigger look this fall.
When it comes to accessories, this spring is going to see a lot of guys wearing older-style sunglasses and colorful watches. The aviator-style sunglasses are going to be a must-have for any guy this summer, Boye said. And the big bright-face watches are going to be seen on a lot of men's wrists this spring and on into the summer.
And for those guys who like to keep in style by looking ahead to the fall, Stewart said you will be seeing a lot of corduroy pants, as well as jackets being worn in the fall. Next fall more casual jackets will also be coming into play. Also, brown will replace black as the basic color next fall, the experts say.
"You are going to see a lot more brown being worn this fall," Stewart said.
Another big item for the fall is going to be denim. The darker denim without the tears and fading is going to be very big this fall.
"Europeans set the fashion trends for the rest of the world," Stewart said. "They are already starting to wear the clean-cut denim, so it's just a matter of time before it hits the states."
But as far as spring clothes go, don't be afraid of bright colors or torn jeans. It worked so well last spring that it carried over into this spring. This spring is all about taking the current styles and making them fit each guy's particular personality.
"You are going to see guys dressing more like individuals, not so much trying to look like everyone else," said Boye.
