WINTER TRENDS FOR CONTEMPORARY MENSWEAR DESIGN

We can start looking forward to winter this year as the trends set for contemporary menswear have been looking to the classics for inspiration.

The fashion houses of Armani and Dolce and Gabbana have been leading the charge on power dressing for most of the year and take us into winter with continual sharp lines, tailored 3 piece suits and earthy colours. For that colour infusion, to help liven up classic suits in more severe black, charcoal, dark blues and brown shades; put together with Vivienne Westwood braces and Paul Smith scarves and cufflinks in your accessories, or look to Ralph Lauren or TM Lewen who have been adding the style along with the bold in their vibrant shirts and ties.

Military trench coats are one of the staple features of any wardrobe this winter and can be dressed down with casual light-washed jeans, sat atop ankle boots or top buttoned with sleek trousers and high polished Chelsea boots for an effortless man about London town persona as demonstrated by the timeless Marc Jacobs. The same principle can be addressed to waistcoats that can sharpen up a t-shirt and jeans combo, sit smoothly amid accompanying trousers and jacket or be equally as comfortable in wools or jacquard designs to liven up straight line trousers. Tuxedo jackets or velvet blazers can also make a smart addition to your apparel, also being used to emphasise a more simplistic combination, with accessories like slim-line silk scarves to revive that urban glamour.

Bomber jackets and shearling jackets with the added extra of some classic Ray-Bans bring forth the spirit of aviator and biker styles while double-breasted jackets, Barbour quilts and Herringbone married with chinos and the classic brogue have seen a return to form, expressing that country manor look.  This has led the way for Burberry to make a welcome comeback to its high end ranking in that distinctive and quintessentially British check through accessories such as scarves and snoods.  Outlets like Ted Baker add a finishing nod to the look with their affectionate homage to the flat cap.  High Street brands such as Gap and H&M have also captured this semi-mod mood with a range of skinny chinos, khakis and cords.

Progressive labels like YMC (You Must Create) want you to be young at heart and are bringing back denims and chunky knitwear and placing them quite rightly alongside double-weave shirts, Plimsoll’s and skinny jeans or turn-ups to help invoke your inner school boy.  Just throw on a Casio digital watch and retro style satchel for the ultimate in preppy college chic.

The mainstay of any outfit this winter will be that of the check shirt which will escort any other items out of the wardrobe and will be happily seen out in public among all themes, threaded through sharp and right in to street.  Its versatility sees it at the forefront of urban cool with the European leaders in the look, such as progressive Danish company Won Hundred and the classic stylings of Swedish brand, Our Legacy and sold in bohemian chic outlets like Norse Projects.