Single colour Lookbook

Single colour Lookbook

Inspired by Fendi’s spring/summer 2012 collection below, I must note that this isn’t about colour matching or simply wearing black. We’re in fact talking about using variations of one colour; combining tones to create a simplistic but well-constructed look.

We tend to see the use of the same popular colours through the transition of spring/summer and autumn/winter, but with a variation in tones. For example, in the summer yellow can be utilised in your look, and in the autumn season, this transcends to camel or beige. A dash of bright red is well suited when summer arrives, but in the colder seasons it gets toned down to a deeper burgundy colour.

All Blue

Blue is a pretty common colour with a lot of variations to play with, such as electric blue, light blue, aqua, turquoise and navy. The majority of men reading this will already have a wardrobe full of navy, indigo and the like – as it is a colour many default to when purchasing new clothing.

All Grey

We stick with another timeless neutral and colour trend for spring/summer. On the whole, monochromes are making a big comeback in men’s fashion this year after the influx of colour we saw throughout 2011 – with grey being no exception.The grey shirt is becoming an increasingly popular colour choice for those looking for an alternative that will set them apart from the crowd, whilst grey jeans are also set to take off this season. The great thing about grey is that it varies widely; from light (almost off-white) tones right through to dark charcoal hues. Throw in textures such as wool, tweed and mottled fabrics, and you are looking at a plethora of options when it comes to constructing an all grey outfit.

All Red

Another common colour that is used heavily throughout the season – due to the underlying nautical trend colour palette – is red. Burgundy was one of the key colours during the autumn/winter 2011 season, and now you can put these pieces to good use by contrasting them against bright red or pink tones.

Earth Tones

I have combined the Earth tones because they all work so beautifully well together – it would be redundant to separate them. In this case, we refer to Earth tones as beiges, creams and browns. Khaki green also works very well within this colour palette, but green is definitely a colour you could utilise on its own independently. The great thing about Earth tones is that they can be combined with white and the contrast isn’t as stark as when you pair it with other colours. It means that beginners can easily pull together a 3 piece outfit combination that includes white, cream/beige and brown without much thought. These are all interchangeable and can be utilised for a variety of shorts/chinos, shirt/tee and blazer/jacket/jumper combinations.

AW12 Fashion Trend Preview: Parka Jackets

AW12 Trend Preview: Parka Jackets

Fast forward to today, and it seems as thought the popularity of the parka is set to continue, with high fashion designers jumping on the bandwagon and featuring their own individual takes during AW12 Fashion Weeks. Design houses such as Nicholas K and Viktor & Rolf prominently featured the parka jacket, but one of the most notable collections that featuring parka-inspired outerwear came from Calvin Klein. This collection featured a grey/blue parka with a micro-flock print (only noticeable when looked at up close), alongside a puffa-style parka in calm, camel tones. Calvin Klein also featured oversized, over-the-head capes with wide hoods – again nodding to the parka influence. One other collection worth mentioning was DSquared2′s, which featured several parkas. One of the central showpieces was an olive green parka with sleeves fully decorated in metal shards, and at the more wearable end of the collection a duffel-toggle parka in officer’s green. However, my personal favourite came in the form of an oversized fur-lined hooded parka, which was contrastingly paired with sleek, smart tailoring – a nod towards the Mods who stereotypically paired parkas with sharp suits:

Current Parka Jackets

Looking to the high street, it is clear to see that parkas are already popular and prevalent amongst affordable brands. ASOS are currently featuring a range of parkas at affordable prices, from the traditional khaki fishtail versions to heavy duty down-filled styles with traditional fur-lined hoods. Urban Outfitters are offering a khaki camouflage print hooded parka, demonstrating that these jackets can also adhere to the current trend for print.

Parka Lookbook:

Three Returning AW12 Fashion Trends

AW12 Fashion Trends: Returning Three

Returning Trend #1: Military

The military influence in fashion refuses to surrender. It has been on our radar for countless years and 2012 is no different. This season, military inspired attire makes a stronger statement than ever, grabbing our attention with on-trend camouflage prints and style staples like the parka and peacoat. With the likes of Dior Homme championing the influence heavily within their Fall 2012 collection, entitled “A Solider on My Own”, it’s no wonder compiling a lookbook was easy.

Returning Trend #2: Polo Necks

Top of the list is one of last year’s biggest dividers; the polo neck. After years of style seclusion, the polo neck came back as a key autumn/winter piece thanks to the likes of Jil Sander and Lanvin sending it down the runway.This year the trend is set to take off in a much bigger way, with more high street retailers getting on board and even more men shaking off preconceived notions. Prada were the major fashion house that presented the polo neck as the standout piece in their show for AW12, pairing one with every single look sent down the runway.

Returning Trend #3: Double Breasted Tailoring

The double-breasted blazer was another of last year’s well-welcomed comeback pieces that had many crying to the high heavens. Men the world over falsely assumed the DB was finished, left to rot in the past or at least left solely to the Italians. This was certainly not the case.The double-breasted jacket appeared throughout the season previews, complete with a slimmed down shape and tapered waist; boxy cuts were, however, left out of the equation this time around. Thankfully.Double-breasted tailoring is another trend – like the polo neck before it – that is set to be much bigger this year, as it becomes more accessible via high-street alternatives.