Spring 2011 Seasonal Trend Preview (Orignal Article) off our corporate website
Fashion writers are already suggesting that “purple is the new gray” (wasn’t gray the new black just a season ago?), and Pantone (a leading authority on color for design of all sorts) announced that “honeysuckle” (an intense, orangey shade of pink) is the color of the year for 2011. (By the way, in case you didn’t notice, “turquoise” was the color of the year in 2010.) With respect to clothing, trending colors typically appear first in shirts and ties, deco colors in suits and sport coats, and all over the place in sportswear. And before you start asking for a new wardrobe in “the color of the year”, remember that it often takes a year or so for them to show up in menswear after first appearing in women’s fashions and décor. For this season, look for shades of purple (such as “grape”), berry reds, brighter blues and aqua, citrus tones, as well as a range of rustic yellow and orange. Keep in mind that all of these colors should be supported in a total look by a dominant neutral (such as navy, tan, or gray) for the perfect blend of classic, confident and cool.
Trim fitting shirts and clothing are not going away anytime soon, but it would safe to say that fashion has hit the limit of “skinny” and that styles will now be trending the other way, albeit slowly and deliberately. For example, while flat front pants have been the leading style for the more fashionable man for the better part of a decade, the late adopters are still in the midst of making that shift. Pleated pants as a fashion statement are still somewhere in the future. We are likely to see double breasted jackets sooner than racks full of pleated pants.
The modern man of means is addicted to comfort in his clothing, whether in a tailored suit or weekend casual clothing. Taking comfort to the next level, ever lighter fabrics and softer construction are strongly featured for spring 2011. Additionally, the union of sportswear and tailored clothing is a trend that shows no signs of slowing. Garment washed fabrics, and fabrics with stretch are what’s new and exciting. Look for cotton with nylon and other innovative blending of fibers such as wool, cashmere, and microfiber polyester.
With those introductory comments, here are a few more style cues to watch for in early 2011:
The Unstructured or Lightly Structured Summer Jacket or Blazer
Comfort and lightness are the order of the day for tailored jackets. Softer construction, along with less lining inside of the jacket, helps accomplish this. If a more relaxed and comfortable (but still tailored) look is what you’re after, you owe it to yourself to try some jackets made with soft construction and/or 1/4 or “butterfly” linings.
The Boot Cut
Distinguishing Details
Pocket treatments, edge stitching on jacket lapels, buttons of substance, linings that contrast, cuff links and pocket squares are details that establish your individual style.
The Short Point Button Down
www.twitter.com/eriktampa
www.facebook.com/eriktampa
www.eriktampa.blogspot.com/
www.youtube.com/eriktampa