Mark Greene
Eye Catching Styles for Spring
Don’t celebrate too soon but it appears as if the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Vaccinations have immunised a significant chunk of the population and the government has tentatively put together a plan for the relaxation of restrictions. We’re all hopeful about the prospect of being reunited with our family and friends – whether that’s in parks, pubs or festivals come the summer – but what are we going to be wearing as we flood back into public spaces?
We’ve had a look at this spring’s virtual fashion showcases across Europe and we’ve identified some of the styles that have caught our eye.
Utility
The buzz around genuinely useful garments has been building for a while now. This is a trend James Hillman can get on board with.
Frank Ocean has championed brands with a technical bent for years. Mammut and Arcteryx spring to mind as two examples of brands benefitting from the singer’s support. While the superstars of the past might have favoured frilly flourishes, today’s celebrities are more concerned with the functionality of their wares.
Similarly, French footwear brand Salomon had hitherto been a staple of off-trail hiking and running enthusiasts. When it was co-opted by London streetwear brand Palace, it rocketed into the mainstream – with rappers like Pusha T favouring the brand.
Surging interest in the functionality of fashion saw the arrival of the safari jacket as the industry obsession of springtime 2020. It was a fixture of catwalks throughout Europe: Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Prada all debuted iterations of the pocket-laden beige jacket.
This year, utility continues to be a pre-occupation of the fashion world. For a period of time where our survival has never felt so perilous – with a pandemic wiping out part of the population and global warming continuing to threaten human existence on this planet – the focus on utility seems right. If we’re battling our way out of apocalyptic scenarios, we’re going to be kitted out in clothes to match.
Floral
Floral patterning is unlikely to ever go away and the arrival of spring is the perfect time to turn once again to the trend that isn’t really a trend. As Meryl’s Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada declares:
“Florals. For spring? Groundbreaking.”
From choosing floral accents to bring a visually striking component to your outfit to wearing billowing, flower-patterned camp collar shirts that are sure to capture the attention of your friends, there are a variety of ways you can add floral design to your wardrobe this spring. For more menswear tips, have a look here.
Wide trousers
Fashion moves in cycles. And this year has seen the return of wide fitted trousers. It harks back to the sixties, when flares and bellbottomed jeans were all the rage. It’s probably partly a welcome change from the tight fitting skinny jeans that have been so popular in the last few years.
This year’s fashion shows have welcomed everything from exquisitely pleated and draped wide legged trousers to roomy tracksuit-style trousers. Gucci, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, and Rick Owens all exhibited wide-legged trousers. Expect to see loose-fitting trousers everywhere this spring.
