Warm-Weather Prep
While we’re still very much in the midst of winter, there’s no harm in looking ahead to a – literally – brighter future. In fact, by starting your spring/summer preparations now, you’ll soon be able to sit back and relax in your new warm-weather get-up while everyone else scrambles through the remains of the high street clothing rails at the first sight of sun. If you’re keen to keep your shopping list as concise as possible, here are the five essential items you’ll need to instantly update your look for SS15.
1. The Striped Blazer
Showcased in several SS15 collections from some of menswear’s biggest names, the striped blazer is straight in at number one on our list. While checked tailoring continues to make its presence felt, both on the runways and the streets, this season the pattern takes a back seat to stripes, which come in all forms, from horizontal pinstripes to thick, block-coloured variations. Guaranteed to give your tailoring collection a summer-ready lift, a striped blazer will serve you well for a slew of different occasions, from formal garden parties to sun holidays abroad. To tease out its smarter potential, combine with slim- or straight-fit chinos (hems rolled up slightly), a white button-down shirt and pair of chunky soled brogues or tasselled loafers. For something less dressy but inarguably stylish, team it with a classic fitted white crew neck T-shirt and pair of leather sandals. Alternatively, if those two options are a little too safe for you, consider tapping one of the season’s major styling trends: mixing and matching stripes. You’ll need a healthy dose of confidence and a reasonably lean frame to pull this one off, but layering a broad vertical awning striped blazer over a thin horizontal Breton tee makes for a clash that flouts old sartorial rules, but is undoubtedly fashionable. The key to mixing patterns is to try and vary the orientation and scale (size) of each piece you add to the look – for example, a boating striped blazer matched with a pinstripe shirt and horizontal club tie.
Lookbook Inspiration
Key Pieces
- Skopes Lucerne Blazer
- Blue Stripe Blazer
- Hammond & Co Designer Navy Otley City Stripe Blazer
- Polo Ralph Lauren Seersucker Gilford Sport Coat Blue/white
- Austin Reed Boating Stripe Jacket
- M&s Collection Luxury New Linen Rich Tailored Fit 2 Button Striped Jacket
- Blue Harbour New Notch Lapel 2 Button Striped Jacket With Wool
- New & Lingwood Rowan Stripe Boating Blazer
- Band Of Outsiders Schoolboy Knitted Wool And Cotton-blend Blazer
2. The Printed Shirt
Whether worn on its own as a statement piece or layered underneath a lightweight jumper or blazer, the printed shirt is back in all new guises for SS15, offering a sure-fire way to breathe life (and colour) into your warm-weather wardrobe. A spring/summer 2015 favourite for labels such as Agi & Sam, Alexander Wang and Hunter Gatherer, one of the best-executed looks came courtesy of Topman Design’s 1970s-inspired show, with the brand teaming a vibrant yellow floral printed shirt with loose-fitting black trousers and a pair of retro trainers. But whether you opt for a vintage floral design or plump for something sportier in the shape of a geometric print, you’ll want to keep everything else minimal and fuss-free in order to ensure your shirt is your look’s undisputed show piece. Key motifs to consider this year include: florals, tropical prints, large dots, geometrics, camouflage, and statement stripes (block-colours, thick vertical designs, etc.).
Lookbook Inspiration
Key Pieces
- He By Mango Modern Slim-fit Floral Shirt
- He By Mango Slim-fit Camo-print Chambray Shirt
- Farah Vintage Shirt With Dot Pattern Short Sleeves Slim Fit
- Topman Floral Print Short Sleeve Shirt
- Paul Smith Jeans Shirt With Feather Print In Short Sleeve Classic Fit
- Gucci Stretch-cotton Jodhpur Trousers 1002263
- River Island Yellow Slim Chino Shorts
- J.crew Broken In Slim-fit Brushed-cotton Chinos
- River Island Pale Green Slim Chino Shorts
Final Word
Now that you know what should be top of your shopping list for the season ahead, you can start building a spring/summer 2015 wardrobe to be proud of. Whether you’re going for a full overhaul, or want to subtly freshen up your look, we want to know your key pieces for SS15. Will you be adding any/all of the above to your check list? Have we missed something off? Let us know in the comments section below.
