Style : Your 12 Essentials For Spring

Spring is coming very soon, only few weeks of cold weather. Have you noticed that days are longer and the sun goes down later already? I did. I don’t like winter so much except for its fashion, thick warm knits, coats and scarves. But today’s post is all about spring trends. I will list 12 essentials that you should invest on for spring. Some items like my first suggestion, suede jackets, are  more expensive so you might not want to invest in this and go with my second suggestion for the same vibe, the jean jacket. Most of these essentials can be found in very affordable stores, but can go up to many hundreds of dollars for designer’s version. But the key here is that you CAN find them at all prices, because they are classics and I didn’t go for too “trendy” items for this post. Take a look below!

1- Summer Suede: The miracles never cease: this season’s suede is buttery soft, light as a feather and comes in warm, summery shades of tan, brown and caramel. Wear over a tee or denim shirt and channel the laid-back style icons of the 1970s.

2- The denim jacket: An american classic. For spring, it is washed, medium blue, treated for a faded look and comfortable feel. Wear it with chinos for a preppy look or with cool sweatpants for a casual look. You can buy it at Levis for under $100 or you can find great designer options or MrPorter online.

3- The Sweatshirt : Sweatshirts have been around for few seasons already and they are still very strong. I would suggest that you buy grey melange or navy, but you can find them in all colours for spring. Try to buy one crafted from 100% cotton as they are more comfortable, breathe and age well. If you want good quality, I would suggest Club Monaco for around $100, but you can find cheaper versions at H&M for $40 but I have to warn you that they won’t last. I bought a navy one for Fall and the colour is already gone and all fucked. My Club Monaco grey one, I’ve had it for 3 years and it’s still perfect. Designers also offer sweatshirts, some add leather patches at elbow or a print in the front, but get ready to pay from $300 for brands like ACNE Studios to $900 for designers like Maison Margiela or Valentino. Wear it with jeans and your suede jacket or with chinos and sneakers.

4- White sneakers : White sneakers have been around for 3-4 summers already and are still in style for this coming season. It definitely has become one of my favorite classics. Get them in a minimalist design and superior construction. Try to look for “made in Italy” as they are usually of better quality. They might be more expensive, but not only the outside is made in leather but the inside of the shoe is probably leather too, which helps for comfort and “breathability”. Try to keep them white, so if they become dirty, clean them. Wear them with selvedge denim jeans and a lightweight knit for effortlessly understated flair or wear them with your navy suit at work with a great white shirt for a cool fresh look. Trust me you won’t look stupid with great white sneakers and a suit, people will “get” it. Shoes are always more expensive so I would suggest that you invest at least $150 on nice white sneakers ( check FrankandOak.com ), I like white sneakers and like designer shoes so I don’t mind paying for that because I keep them for long. Last year I got few pairs, my Maison Margiela ones at Ssense.com, my Balenciaga in their NYC store in Soho but the ones shown below are Common Projects, available at MrPorter for $350, not cheap.

5- Cotton-twill chino shorts : These will turn a formal look into something altogether more summer-appropriate. The neutral beige colour will pair perfectly with almost anything in your wardrobe, while the pressed creases emphasise the slim cut. Worn with polished Derby shoes and a blazer, they’ll take the heat off smart weekend lunches when formality is required but the mercury is on the rise. You can also wear them with white sneakers and a simple t-shirt. Last year I bought some similar to these for $29 at Old Navy, but you can get amazing ones at Club Monaco for $60 but designer chino shorts are all over $300. These below are from AMI, a french brand.

6- Midnight-blue and white windowpane check shirt: this shirt will bolster your weekday roster. This classic piece is cut in a slim fit from soft and lightweight cotton-poplin and is finished with a smart button-down collar. Wear it with dark trousers to the office, with jeans for a casual look, or tuck it in with white pants for a cool fresh look. It would also look amazing with the beige suede jacket I’ve presented above! These windowpane check shirts are everywhere for spring!

7- Cotton chino pants : sharp and casual at the same time, chinos are definitely my favorite trousers. If I have an event or something that requires me to be a bit dressier, I will wear them with a nice white or baby blue button down shirt with a brown belt, but if I’m seeing friends for a casual dinner, I will roll the bottom and wear a polo or a crisp white t-shirt with brown loafers or white sneakers. The length of chinos can be slightly cropped for a contemporary look (if you are more trendy) but wear them full length if you are more conservative. But don’t wear them too long and bulking at the bottom, you will look shorter and it is not nice. Check the cut as well. These are relaxed but slightly more tapered at the bottom, which looks better.

8- Leather Loafers : They are a worth an investment, you will keep them forever. They are classic and very elegant. Ideally get them 100% Leather (including the inside and sole). Wear them for a refined finish with everything from chinos to suiting or even nice jeans and a shirt. I suggest going with brown for spring as it is softer and more in style. They are everywhere as well,  from Aldo to Dior and all price tags in between.

9- The T with side pocket: The T-shirt is the the most popular garment in the world. We started wearing it in the early 1900 but it became popular after the second war. Veterans were wearing their T-shirts with their uniform trousers as casual clothing. Almost 100 years later, we still wear T-shirts every day. I suggest that you buy them 100% cotton, some companies mix it with polyester for comfort or to lower costs, but I personally hate it, I feel like I’m wearing plastic and I sweat a lot in poly/cotton blended fabric. Wear it out with chinos and jean jacket with your white sneakers or with blue jeans. You can get nice quality pocket tees at Club Monaco or Frank&Oak for $20-30 and they will last few seasons. I don’t suggest you invest in designer T-shirts because they are expensive and not worth it. Some designers charge $200-300 and it is ridiculous. You will want to get new ones next season anyways. I would suggest you buy few white ones, navy, army green, baby blue and maybe few pop colours like yellow or coral for example, it definitely enlighten your face and are fun during sunny days. Keep black or navy for evenings.

10- Leather backpacks : This trend has been around for few seasons already. Backpacks were usually reserved for young school students but we’ve seen more classic styles in leather for adults for few years. The price tag is a bit higher than your typical canvas bag, but the leather makes it more elegant and more appropriate for adults. I’ve seen leather backpacks around $150 at FrankandOak.com and designer versions are all over $1000 on MrPorter.com or ssense.com. The one shown below is from Valentino and over $2000 but you can definitely get similar ones under $200.

11- Maritime inspired swimsuit : Swim shorts featuring a characterful maritime print is a classic choice to hit the water. Weather they are all navy, black and white striped, with wave or anchor prints, the maritime inspired swimsuit is your classic “par excellence”! Don’t buy them too long: For younger guys I suggest mid thigh and for older gentlemen, I would go slightly above the knee to keep it classy and elegant, please nothing under the knee, let’s leave that for straight guys. You can get very affordable swimsuits at GAP, Old Navy or even H&M but the fits are soso. They are usually made in polyester, so the colour doesn’t fade and the shape doesn’t move. BUT if you invest a bit more, you can get a better fit. I like Saturdays NYC for example and for $75 you can get something great. For $100-150 you can get brands like Paul Smith or Ralph Lauren and if you invest a bit more like 200-300, you will get la crème de la crème, Orlebar Brown or Vilbrequin, luxurious swimwear companies.

12- The chronograph brown leather watch: These intricate watches always look great, they combine utilitarian aesthetic but don’t compromise on sophistication. This piece below comes in exquisite rose gold with a crocodile-embossed leather strap and is apt for a global traveller who demands reliable quality, ageless elegance and high-performance. It also has a price tag of $22,000. But you can find more affordable watches with the same look for way cheaper. Calculate $150 to $400 for a great watch.

So after reading all my suggestions of classics, which ones you think would be great for you? Which ones would you invest on? Keep in mind that it is totally acceptable to mix high-end with low end. For example I can totally rock a Levis jeans at $70 (511 cut is my favorite by the way, it is narrow but not too slim and the waist is regular, I hate jeans that are too low waist) and mix it with a Club Monaco $25 Tee with my Balenciaga $600 white shoes. In 2016 there are no rules, you can mix and match no problem. If you need tips or help for where to buy etc, ask me questions below, I will definitely help you out. Did you guys know that I’m a personal shopper too as a side-job? I love that and been doing it with private clients for over 6 years now. I love men’s fashion and I get to use my creativity, which is nice.

Next week, I will also post about trendy items that you should go for if you are a fashion lover. This post here was more of the classic essentials, but I will also help guys that likes to go a bit ahead and push it to another level. Stay tuned!

Dave

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