…the Berlin boy, that is. I went to Berlin recently for their Spring/Summer ’11 fashion week and it was great to see how the men over there spruced up for the event; in some cases beating the women in the race to the ‘Most Stylish’ post. No matter how fashion stylists, editors and writers try to persuade us into believing the hype of particular trends, the fact of the matter is- it’s the public that have the final say. The people on the streets are the ones that show us how the looks from the catwalks are filtered and are more reliable indicators to show the public what is ‘now and happening’ in the world of fashion.
Here are the top 10 Spring/Summer trends I sniffed out-
1. Bold Colour
There is so much I love about this outfit- the ’artful rips’ of the vest top, the fit of the neon green jeans, the ‘Studio 54-esque disco bag’, the transparent footwear- Me Oh My! For boys who are not blessed with similar slim limbs, you can still follow the ‘bold colour’ trend by wearing bold coloured accessories. Also as this guy’s bag shows, you are not limited to neon green- you can try canary yellow, crimson red, cobalt blue etc. Alternatively, if you are not comfortable with such loud colours making up most of your outfit- experiment with showing flashes of acid colour by wearing a bright coloured shirt (with a collar) under a jumper or tucking a bold, printed, coloured kerchief into your suit jacket.
2. Preppy Chic
I love it when men dress like ‘cute little schoolboys’. And if I had my way- every man would possess a bowtie.
What makes this outfit work is the attention to detail- from the exact angle he placed his hat, to the use of a checked shirt (the trend staple in every man’s wardrobe it seems), to the length and fit of his shorts, right down to his trainers- where in true fashionable form- the laces are undone.
3. Minimalism
Sometimes keeping it easy and simple works best. I like the fit and texture of his (the guy on the left) white vest and the way he rolled up his cargo shorts.
With the guy below- I like the way he added some pizzaz to his minimalist look by donning a statement print headscarf and sunglasses.
4.Short Shorts
My attention was on the man on the right, although I normally shudder when I see a man wear a pair of shorts above the knee or/and white socks- somehow I had to marvel at how he put this look together. I especially liked his blazer and hat. A great look for sipping a Pina Colada on a yacht in the French Riviera, n’est ce pas?
5. Urban Dandy
Although I liked the casual elegance of the man on the right- I was totally blown over when I met Andre 3000′s long-lost brother (on the left). I loved his black- rimmed glasses, print bowtie, the colour combination of his ensemble, the akward length of his trousers which deliberately show his colour-co-ordinated socks and the pointed worn-out brown leather shoes.
6. Denim
It was good to see that ‘Denim Mania’ had swept from girly shores to masculine waters. Here is a trend that men of all shapes and sizes can adhere to. This summer, if there’s one thing you do- make sure you invest in a pair of jeans that reflect your personality. Judging from this guy’s ripped jeans and his ‘hot rocker girl’ accessory- I’m guessing he’s ‘with the band.’
7. Statement tops
This is one statement top that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and thank God for that. And what makes this look so damn cool? Is it the cute print belt, the fit of his jeans, his slippers? Who knows? Who cares- its another effortlessly cool look to add to the pile.
8. Slick tailoring
Smart tailoring can be a hard look to pull of; especially at a fashion event. There is an anorexic line between looking like your bog-standard 9-5 penguin and looking like a dedicated follower of fashion. Here this man fits the fashionable bill because of the colour, pattern and fit of his ensemble. Also teaming up this smart look with a pair of casual trainers, helps to further distance him from the corporate crowd.
9. ‘It’s all white now’
W-O-W! I was so tempted to drag this black beauty (pun intended) back to London and use him as a model in a fashion shoot. I found his looks and way of dressing truly inspiring- a pair of trousers that have a trail attached so you can swish and swash your way through life- Bravo!
10. Fashion Rocks!
I saved the best for last! Any guy man enough to stomp around in a pair of stilettos gets my vote. Ok. Seriously. Obviously this is fashion in its most garish and attention-seeking form but believe it or not there is something that can be taken from this ensemble for the ‘man’s man’. I do like the way this ‘dude’ is wearing a statement ’Band T-shirt’. Why not wear your musical influence on your sleeve this summer and invest in a T that showcases your favourite musician or group. But instead of going down the fuschia pink pvc leggings route- wear it with a pair of jeans, khaki/cargo shorts or trousers…
