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RSS Feed Of Style Monday, February 08, 2010
SPRING AWAKENING
New men's styles you can expect to see this spring
Winter fashion can become a real drag this time of year when we're so bored of wearing black and grey but pastels still seem a far cry away, seasonally speaking. However, because we tend to avoid following fashion rules - wearing white after Labor Day has never offended our senses - here's a preview of some men's fashion looks for spring that you can break out before the tulips bloom to, at least spiritually, escape winter fashion purgatory:
Dressed-Down Neckwear: Neckwear is playing a bigger role in casual dressing among Gen Ys looking to add a little class to their everyday wardrobes. Once worn ironically, their dads' old silk power ties just don't cut it anymore. Pierrepont Hicks is flipping the neckwear game - literally. Their reversible bow ties and narrow neckties make for two unique looks in one woven piece of Scottish wool and silk that boasts subtle complementary colors. Both the Fergus and Mackers ties would look seriously slick paired with a chambray buttondown. The label also has leaked some samples of its upcoming spring line and, since PH tends to be a trendsetter in the men's accessory category, we're betting cotton is going to be the hot new fabric for neckwear in 2010.
Buttoned Up: For every trend, there's a counter trend. Indeed, some progressive dressers are starting to feel that ties, and even bow ties, are becoming too common and have ditched them altogether. But, even those fashionistos who are saying farewell to the Windsor knot still want to don dapper ensembles. And since men's fashion is all about the details, how you button your shirt makes a statement, no matter how minor it may seem. So it is that the next style trick up their sleeves is buttoning their shirts all the way to the top - a fashion cue, paradoxically, appropriated from LA gangsters. Look how refined Mr. West looks here...guess he's trying to clean up his image after that whole VMAs disaster?
Peekaboo Tees: Women aren't the only ones to which 20-year fashion flashbacks apply. Men, it seems, are making aesthetic nods to the era of grunge and Dylan McKay. Urban men are alreadylayering signature Kurt Cobain flannels over worn-to-perfection T-shirts. It was only a matter of time until ironic tees came back into play, but this time around the trick is to hide them a little under your favorite thrift store buttondown. We're pretty sure Steve Sanders used to rock this layered look, perhaps with some sort of Hawaiian print worn over a neon Vuarnet shirt. Let's just pray that '90s redux doesn't also revive the greasy middle-parted hair look.

* References to products and services in trendcentral do not imply our endorsement, but rather are intended to provide objective insights into emerging trends and examples of those trends. trendcentral is published by The Intelligence Group, a trend research and consumer insights company focusing on youth culture. For more information on our services, or to subscribe to our syndicated Cassandra Report studies, please contact Noelle Weaver at 212-277-5244 or via email at nweaver@intelg.com.