Category Archives: Latest Fashion Trends

Everyday Men’s Fashion: Trending Tweed

Wool is the unimpeachable standard used by the men’s fashion industry for its suits. It is, however, far from being the only fabric around. Linen is a favorite wool alternative in the summer for its cool, crinkly character. Heavier, heftier tweed, meanwhile, takes the fabric stage in cooler fall. Despite its English provenance, the past couple of years have seen tweed defy geographic boundaries with its ubiquity in high-style events.

Tweedy and Traditional
Men’s fashion has taken a turn for the traditional in the last decade, going back to things like three-piece suits and brogue footwear as the new ‘forward-looking’ trends. It should come as no surprise that tweed – itself a big thing a few decades back – would be among these style blasts from the past.

When you wear tweed, it’s immediately apparent to everyone else because of its unique flecking and texture. That isn’t to say, however, that it’s a casual fabric; its long history of use in formal style by the British lets guys today wear it to all but the dressiest black tie events. It’s a strong, businesslike textile that conveys sophistication and high taste.

The modern man’s tweed suit comes in the slim style that is typical of suits today, and is ideally a contemporary slate or a deep brown color, like the shade offered by Donegal tweed. Keeping the colors deep and the fit slim is the easiest way to keep the tweed suit firmly in 2011 and out of the dated look that it tends to fall into.

Bold and Bolder
Strong, distinctive patterns are another big trend in men’s fashion this season, one that presents more of a challenge than usual because such loud prints can overwhelm an outfit. Tweed is perfect for those purposes because its combination of distinguishable texture, visible flecking and strong tailoring (a prerequisite for the country textile) makes an ideal companion for balancing out a bright color or bold pattern.

If you’ve ever wanted to try an off-kilter or pattern on pattern necktie and shirt combo, do it with a three-piece tweed suit. The modern vibe of the prints is evened out by the Old English air of the tweed fabric. It’s a great balance that not many guys know how to do.

That’s what makes tweed a particularly smart style investment right now. Not only is a tailored tweed suit a timeless classic piece that every guy should want, but it will also enable you to easily pick up one of the season’s harder to wear trends.

Modern Separates
If you’re like most guys today, you separate your suits on a regular basis into its individual parts and then wear each piece like that. Tweed suits excel at this activity as well, since the fabric lends depth and interest to each individual item of the suit.

The gray jacket will look crisp when paired with black chinos or jeans and a plain white shirt. The pants should be just as versatile as any other gray pair you own. It’s the vest that’s of particular style value. Like Matthew Morrison’s Will character in Glee, you can balance out a bold necktie-on-shirt combo with the classic look of a tweed vest.

By no means is tweed considered one of those must-have men’s fashion pieces. Once you consider everything it can do, though, you’ll have to agree that a tweed suit is definitely one piece that’d be great to have.

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Three Trendy Ties for Fall 2011

Few accessories will add life to your business ensemble like a necktie. Typically the Fall and Winter collections are less bright in color that some might consider boring and dull. If you want to add color to your suit and shirt but still want to dress according to the upcoming Fall season, then the three ties featured below will be perfect. Click on your favorite tie below to see a bigger image and to get some tips on how to best show it off.

Burnt Orange Mens Tie
This tie is a perfect accessory for this years Fall season. The burnt orange color reminds of turning autumn leaves. The fine ribbed texture is woven into the fabric and gives the tie a full look and some nice texture. There are many ways to showcase this tie but if you want to be the best dressed man in your office then we suggest you dress up this tie the following way: Navy-blue suit with classic pin striping pattern, off-white or ivory color dress shirt, and dark chocolate brown shoes. Also great is the price! This tie is available at only $10 here at Cheap-Neckties.com. For more information please click on the picture on the left.

Bordeaux-red Silk Tie
A truly stunning necktie for this year’s Fall season is this handmade tie in Bordeaux-red. This is made by hand from finest silk adding some brilliant shine to the otherwise classic and simple tie design. This tie looks excellent with suits and shirts in earth-tones. Our suggestion for this tie: A solid color olive suit with a 3-button jacket cut, a slightly off-white dress shirt (ivory or cream is best), and some medium-brown oxford dress shoes. We at Cheap-Neckties offer this tie for only $15. Because this tie is so popular we also carry in in XL length for men taller than 6 foot and 4 inches.

British Tie in Golden-Yellow, Navy, and Olive
This tie is perfect for you if you value a traditional look and prefer sophistication over “flashiness”. The fine ribbed texture on this tie adds a thicker look and gives the tie a matte, slightly more conservative look. The fine stripes in dark navy, off-white, and olive set a nice contrast to the golden-yellow background. We at Cheap-Neckties suggest you show off this tie with an olive or navy suit. Should you pick the olive suit then add a white dress shirt and brown shows. For the navy suit black shoes will look a bit more refined. This handcrafted silk tie is available for only $20.

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Get Dapper with Bow Ties

It’s hard for us all to jumpstart a new look but it does a man wonders to widen his horizons and shake up his wardrobe. The bow tie is a perfect accessory for adding a special brand of panache to any man at any age. The bow tie exudes sophistication and smart fashion sensibilities.

The rule of thumb to wearing a bow tie is that the width of the bow tie should never extend beyond the jaw bone and that the tie knot should be framed and centered by the shirt collar. Bow ties come in both self tied and pre tied styles. The pre tied bow ties usually come with an adjustable neck strap that fits any size neck and is hidden by the shirt collar.

It’s time to get dapper and decide what bow tie is right for you. There are number of options when it comes to bowties; you can choose a solid color, a pattern or a matching bow tie and pocket square set. The bow tie and pocket square set is ideal for fancy occasions and has the power to unify any look.

If you’re thinking of adding patterns to your accessory collection, you can’t go wrong with the tartan plaid bow tie (JAS-N358-2) in red, green and yellow. For a smashing new look, pair this traditional pattern with a white dress shirt and dark navy sports coat. You’re sure to turn some heads and garnish some compliments.

For an easier transition, start with a solid color bow tie and work up a level of comfort with the savvy accessory. The solid color bow tie is perfect for adding a splash of color and refinement to a blazer or suit. The dark blue bow tie (JA25) looks sharp when paired with a microcheck dress shirt and dark grey blazer.

Don’t be a naysayer and give the bow tie a shot. You’re sure to be acknowledged and praised for taking the risk and shaking up your look.

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Your Cheap-Neckties Team

Guide to Men’s Summer Suits 2011

Warm weather and balmier days are the heralds of the season, but spring fashion for men rarely takes a completely casual route. The formal styles of the previous seasons, in fact, simply become lighter, slimmer, crisper or otherwise more sun-friendly. It’s time to get your neckties out, men! The suits of spring are here.

Dark Linen Suits
Fashion tradition dictates that a standard men’s suit be made of wool of a suitable grade. Wool, however, isn’t the most heat-friendly of fabrics. Some varieties can breathe, but the inherent weight of the textile makes it literally tough to carry for spring and summer.

Enter linen, one of the less celebrated suit fabrics among traditionalists. Fashion-forward and comfort-loving gents, however, love the stuff because it’s lighter (and less stuffy) than wool but loses none of the sophistication. It’s the perfect fabric to wear in warmer months, whether you’re headed to the Bahamas or the boss’ office.

It’s a dark color like black or navy, though, that will really pull a linen suit into the realm of the formal and boardroom-worthy. The dark shades not only give you the right amount of sobriety, but add subtlety to the texture and character of linen as well. You’re probably used to seeing linen (pants especially) in neutral tones worn by senior citizens in tropical climes. Black and navy throw in that exact dose of 21st century edge that you need.

Add a slim necktie in some happy print and bright color, and even the plainest white shirt you own will seem fresh and trendy for the season. Leave your lace-ups at home and opt for the lighter and more streamlined loafer (or even a sneaker). It’s time to play it cool.

How Now, Brown Suit?
Neutrals and tones are always spring style favorites, and for good reason. These colors offer the same versatility as black while being much more comfortable under the sun, while maintaining an image of crisp coolness. They’re relaxed, yet manage to be refined.

Brown suits are an increasingly trendy alternative to black. If you’re going to get a wool suit anyway, chocolate, tobacco and other earthy tones do a much better job in the spring than somber old black. It’s also the perfect summer color (yes, you should be planning a wardrobe ahead of time) to set you apart from the rest of the black- and navy-wearing corporate crowd. For the spring dandy, brown is the color of the season.

It probably goes without saying that an all-brown suit is already quite a style challenge in itself because it’s such an atypical color. Pair it with safe pieces like shirts in white or powder blue, and clean-cut lace-ups in black. When you’re feeling like a bit of color, add a necktie in some bright and bold pattern to give the look some life.

Formal men’s fashion never really exits the style stage, even in a season as casual as this. The right fabrics and the right colors are the keys to achieving those sharp, dapper outfits even in the blaze of the spring heat.

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Most Popular Blue Ties for Spring/Summer 2011

Blue is without question the most popular tie color and it is not surprising that blue ties are available in any imaginable pattern, size, and fabric. Also the shade of blue can range widely. We at Cheap-Neckties.com therefore divided our blue ties into two categories: Light Blue and Navy/Dark Blue Ties. Below are some of our most popular blue ties for the current Spring & Summer season in 2011.

Bright Cyan-Blue Necktie
Looking for a brightly colored tie? Then this bright cyan-blue tie would be a perfect choice. The solid and patternless design in combination with a sateen sheen adds to the brightness of this unusual necktie. Also worth noting is that this tie will match with David’s Bridal’s “Malibu Blue” – a popular wedding color for the spring and summer season in 2011. For more information about this tie please click on the picture. This tie sells for only $10!

Sky-Blue Silk Tie
If the tie above is too bright then this sky-blue silk tie might make an excellent alternative. What makes this tie so unusual is the fine snake-skin-like pattern that was woven into the fabric. The pattern adds a nice texture to the fabric, gives the tie a thicker look and feel, and makes it easy to tie a thick dimpled knot.

This tie matches best with suits in the gray to charcoal range. We at Cheap-Neckties.com picked the following outfit as our favorite for this tie: Medium-gray suit with fine pin striping patter, a solid white dress shirt, black dress shoes, and a matching sky-blue or white pocket square.

Bright Blue & White Striped Tie
If you prefer striped ties then this modern interpretation of the classic striped tie will be perfect for you. This tie combines a bright blueish-teal background color with a contemporary white striping pattern. Also worth mentioning is that this tie will complement David’s Bridal’s popular “Oasis-Blue” wedding color. For more information on this tie as well as to purchase this necktie please click on the picture.

Stock Up Style for Winter

As much as men’s fashion brands might entice you to buy bespoke and/or high end fashion every season, the trends that really matter are the ones that affect the clothes you wear every day. This season, keeping warm is everyone’s first priority, but that doesn’t have to mean looking like a style-less sherpa. Have these pieces stocked and ready in your wardrobe, and you can keep yourself toastily sharp all the way ‘til Groundhog Day.

Preppy Crewnecks
The prepster sense of style is often associated with spring brunches and balmy days at the Hamptons. Not many appreciate East Coast clothing and the winter fashion cred it can earn, even when you end up wearing it every single day of the season.

Crewnecks never have to be a trend; they’re simply one of those things that become very practical investments in the right season. It’s the same practicality that makes crewnecks of every style and shade good investments in the colder months. They’re as versatile as you could possibly wish, and can easily be mixed and matched into existing wardrobes. Crewnecks can practically serve as your t-shirts for the whole cold season.

Stock up on different colors; there are enough men’s fashion brands on the market selling these things that you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a variety of colors. Don’t just think of them as standalone pieces, either. Aside from wearing one as a solo top, you could also layer it over, say, a Henley for extra warmth, or a shirt and tie for an even more visible smart preppy vibe.

Everyday Vests
Now that formal men’s fashion so often crosses over into daily casual styles, vests have become standard street fare. No longer limited to three-piece suits and stuffily dressed up events, they add an interesting dose of formal to your standard outfit – as well as an extra layer for any winter get-up.

Grab yourself a standalone vest, which many retailers now sell. Some of these may still be made of suiting fabrics like tweed, while others feature less traditional textiles like cotton. The point is to avoid overusing the vest of your three-piece suit apart from the rest of the set. All three pieces should wear and fade at exactly the same rate, else the whole thing will look very sloppy much sooner than you would like.

Pop stars like Adam Levine of Maroon 5 have long been sporting vests in casual styles, and theirs is an easy lead to follow. You could go the classic route of subbing a vest for the usual suit jacket when wearing a shirt and necktie set, or take a page out of Levine’s book and wear it with jeans and a plain tee. The former look is formal with a just a hint of rakishness to it, while the latter has an undeniably modern rock star feel.

Something Bright, Something Bold
Winter is a dreary time, even for men’s fashion. It’s that time of year when everyone’s in grays, blacks and tweeds, and traditional suddenly becomes trendy because it has some of the toastiest pieces around. If you feel like even your outfits are getting cabin fever, stock up on bright and bold pieces to wake up your clothes every working day.

Basic pieces like tees are the easiest to buy and wear, since you could easily pick up a few from H&M at less than $10 a pop. Throw one on under your coat or jacket to make even those emergency supermarket runs seem memorable. For formal or office days, on the other hand, eye-catching accessories like a neon necktie (best with cotton) or playful print on a bow tie with a solid silk shirt set you apart visually, and in a good way.

The basic rule of thumb for these show-stopping pieces is always the same: never wear more than one. Whether it’s a loud necktie or a quirky pair of office socks, wearing two or more such items crosses the line to ‘distracting’. You’d also run the risk of the pieces clashing. A single bright item will suffice to catch the eye of everyone you pass on the street. What more do you need?

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Every Man’s Cold Weather Gear

Winter is that time of year when practicality is paramount. Even designer men’s fashion isn’t worth a lot if you’ll end up freezing your butt off as soon as you step outside. That doesn’t, however, mean you should leave yourself looking like a yeti for the sake of keeping warm. Wearing the right style pieces for the season can have you looking cool while staying hot. It’s all a matter of knowing how to do it.

The Cord Suit
Toastier and more textured than trusty old wool but still conveniently light, it’s a good thing that cord suits have been swinging back into trend these past few months. More than just a preppy spring staple, slightly heavier cords are perfect for colder weather.

How do you make corduroys work during fall and winter? Thinner is safer when it comes to the waling, or the distance between the ridges. Not only does this avoid the workman look of too coarse corduroy, but it also keeps your cord suit much more versatile – a good thing, since these things rarely come cheap.

Choosing a cord suit is very much like choosing a wool one, except that you should stick to earthier tones and neutrals instead of navies and grays; they’re not as flattering in this material. Chocolate browns and tans are standard fare for cords, so you can start there. Much like a wool suit, try to keep things on the slimmer, tailored side, and opt for as little break as you can manage on the pants.

One great thing about pinwale cord suits is that they’re relatively easy to mix and match. On workdays, wear both pieces with a light pastel shirt, a silk necktie and a tie bar for a young and sophisticatedly preppy vibe. Going out on the weekend? Throw the jacket over jeans a plain tee for that eclectic mix of casual and formal.

Time for Tweed
Men’s fashion uses a surprisingly wide range of fabrics, and tweed is one of those that you don’t see very often. It’s a heavy and very formal cloth that has its sartorial roots across the pond, in the cold and rainy United Kingdom. It’s that formal, frost-ready heritage, however, that makes it so perfect for colder weather.

Tweed is largely a suiting fabric, and tweed suits are fairly easy to find in higher end men’s fashion boutiques. If you’re not that ready to wear tweed regularly, though, a tweed coat (or any other outer layer, really) might be a better investment. Their formal, traditional vibe rarely goes out of style, and you can usually reach for them once the leaves turn, regardless of the ongoing trends.

If you feel that your personal style is more dressed down than formal, at the very least a tweed sports jacket would be in order. These fitted, no-lapel versions of the coat won’t look out of place with jeans and a tee. The tweed, however, keeps them formal enough should you decide to wear them with a shirt and tie.

That Go-To Topcoat
Even in the haughty, buy-everything-now world of men’s fashion, certain allowances are made for the fact that you’re a guy. There are those days when you just want to throw on whatever you can find, blast what those other people on the street think. That’s why you should consider getting a go-to topcoat, to keep you warm and in-style on those days.

It could be wool, tweed or some other blend of material, as long as it’s simple and sleek. Remember, you want it to go with as many possible outfits as possible. Keep its length somewhere around or above the knee. Some guys use the casual-formal litmus test for this kind of purchase: if you can imagine wearing both an office shirt-and-tie ensemble and a weekend jeans-and-tee pairing with the coat, it’s good to go.

Winter is a time when you should pay more attention to the clothes that you buy and how you use them. Fashion and practicality need not be mutually exclusive for the man who knows what to buy.

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A Guide to Mens Cord Suits

Corduroy is one of men’s fashion’s here again, gone tomorrow trends. They have a habit of popping up one season (or month, even), only to depart from store shelves the next. It is, however, a timeless fabric that you’re sure will keep coming back again and again. It might have less lasting power than other trends, but it has a great propensity to bounce back, making the corduroy suit as sensible a style investment as anything.

The Corduroy Choice
When used in suits, corduroy works very similar to classic wool, which is found in most other suits in men’s stores today. You should thus use the same criteria when shopping for a new wool suit.

That means you should look for a suit that’s as fitted as you would usually get. This is so much more important in cord suits because of the texture involved; a baggy suit looks even more sack-like and voluminous when there’s so much tactile fabric to look at. Slim cuts keep the texture understated to just the right levels. After all, no man wants to turn into an expensive two-piece shag rug with a necktie.

In terms of color, meanwhile, there’s a different style mindset required for corduroy. Navy and black have a tendency to look too much like car upholstery, which is partly why earthy tones and neutrals are the best idea for this textile. At the same time, those lighter colors help bring out the suits natural texture, giving you more fashion mileage.

Pants are most often regular button-front styles in wool suits, but you’ll want to opt for a sleeker tab-front design on a cord suit. This keeps your trousers looking clean and sharp, as well as eliminating the need for a belt, which could be potentially distracting.

The Corduroy Outfit
On paper, a two piece cord on cord suit might sound a little much, as if you couldn’t get enough of the fabric. In the mirror, however, you’ll find that a pinwale cord suit is still a stylishly dapper choice. It’s sleek with a bit of texture, depth and a slight Euro vibe.

Another thing that makes a corduroy suit a good fashion investment (despite its seasonal wearability) is the fact that it goes really well with both casual and formal outfits. It’s as appropriate for a full day at the office as it would be for a whole day’s drive when things get nippy. At the same time, the color makes for a pleasant change from the usual grays and blacks that the men’s fashion industry is so fond of churning out.

For formal days, match your two-piece suit with a light colored shirt in a high contrast color like pastel blue or mint green. If you’re wearing it with a plain button down, a pop of color like a slim patterned silk tie should add a bit of drama to your ensemble. Don’t forget to throw on that tie bar to maintain the preppily dressed up vibe of the suit.

A sleek pair of dark (not chocolate) brown shoes should complement things quite nicely, especially with a tan cord suit. Keep it light and non-chunky (that is, more American or Continental than English) and things should work out well. Loafers tend to work better than lace-ups because they’re sleeker and have less detail on them, keeping attention on your cooler-than-usual suit.

On casual, necktie-free days, meanwhile, you could simply swap out the button down for a simple solid round neck tee. Purples and pinks usually work very well because they’re ‘soft’, relaxing shades. (please see our selection of Pink Ties) Replace the leather shoes with something more casual like a pair of sneakers or sport shoes, and you have yourself a weekend-ready outfit.

Wool suits aren’t your only options, especially during winter. Cord suits are just as hard-working and versatile, appropriate with everything from shirts and ties to tees and even to turtlenecks for those smart evening cocktails. There’s not a lot more you could want from a fashion investment.

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Summer Fashion Lessons: Burberry Prorsum

Whether it’s politics or fashion, the Brits have always had their own unique way of doing things. This summer, Christopher Bailey and the rest of his team at Burberry Prorsum show the rest of the world how to do an English summer in a style that the rest of the world covets. Bailey’s take on men’s clothing is so relaxed yet put together that one can’t help but want to copy the man – regardless of which side of the pond you call home.

Color It Up
Aesthetically, winter is a very dreary time with all its whites, blacks and grays. Summer is your opportunity to break out of the color doldrums and bring out a brighter, happier side of your wardrobe. Burberry, like any British institution, shows you how to do it with an English brevity and succinctness.

Bailey had few colorful items – a shiny rouge red pea coat here, a road sign yellow parka there – yet he was able to get his point across. There’s no need to splash color all over yourself like the women tend to do with ketchup-and-mustard ensembles or full-on spring color dresses. For guys, one key item in a bold, bright color is enough to make the whole outfit memorable. That’s the kind of philosophy that Bailey has – and you should imitate.

One visually dominating piece like Bailey’s pea coat ought to be paired with a quieter set of clothes to work as a contrasting base. In Burberry Prorsum’s case, Bailey used grays, whites and beiges to offset the strength of the color. The end result is a daring outfit that’s neither too fussy with the pieces nor too contrived with the colors.

Should you find your wardrobe lacking – not everyone has fire red pea coats at the ready, after all – a set of subtle accessories in a bright color is a suitable replacement. Web belts, nylon watch straps and slim, light neckties can be combined to bring out a theme color without overwhelming the simplicity of your outfit.

Beat-Up and Offbeat
“Laid back” is one of the best ways to describe a summer aesthetic that’s as timeless and old as the season itself. With the sun in the sky and vacation in the air, you can’t help but let your style become as relaxed as the world around you.

Bailey subtly creates the effect by using offbeat or beat-up pieces, certainly off the beaten fashion track. He discards the pristinely tailored veneer of men’s fashion, replacing it with slightly rumpled coats, satin soft trousers, and bags and shoes that show the smallest patinas of age. The effect is a man who has worn and worn out the same pieces for years, making the clothes his and his alone.

And then there’s Bailey’s use of quirky details like leopard prints and decorative bandeau strips. The outfits are otherwise plain combinations of tonal pieces, but the slight detail – they have that vintage store-bought vibe – makes them memorably casual.

Canvas Craze
Besides the brand’s mania for buttery soft leather, Burberry Prorsum is also well known for its road-ready yet luxuriously pliable canvas bags. Bailey’s collection for summer had the material as a rather prominent feature, just like you should do for the season.

Canvas is a very sturdy material and is much more summer-friendly than leather could ever be. The stuff can withstand water, sweat, sand, rain and infinite amounts of exposure to the sun. In short, it’s the perfect summer companion for the style-conscious man who wants to go everywhere. The brand’s flawless craftsmanship and covet-worthy materials make a convincing case for you to splurge on a Burberry product.

If a Bailey bag is out of your price range, though, you could always just cop the aesthetic. Go for plain, unadorned pieces, since they’re least likely to become outdated with time. That is, after all, the sum total of the Burberry fashion philosophy: simple pieces, done with quality materials and flawless workmanship, will last forever.

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Fall Fashion for Men by GUCCI

Luxury is part and parcel of the fashion leviathan that is the Gucci house. If the price tags on Frida Giannini’s wares aren’t enough to convince you, then the workmanship on each garment will. Yet even the well-outfitted and luxurious can become laid-back and relaxed as well, as the Italian brand’s creative director shows for fall this year. What else does Giannini have up her sleeve for next season? We at Cheap-Neckties took a closer look at Gucci’s mens fall collection.

Dreaming of Africa
If you were to look at the styles that the brand rolled out for fall, Africa is one of the first themes that you’d recognize. The Gucci man for the season is one you can easily imagine on the continent, as if he were on a safari or on permanent vacation on the savanna. What’s the best part? There isn’t a single cliché safari jacket in sight.

How’d this happen without the ever-present safari jacket? The designer simply channeled everything else there is about Africa. The region has a wealth of prints and patterns, for example, and that’s exactly what she used. Geometric patterns like diamonds and zigzags were particularly effective, incorporated into several knit items like a soft collar sweater and several scarves. Last year’s Fair Isle prints are this year’s African patterns.

Just like the Fair Isle fashions of yesteryear, it’s inevitable that such big and bold prints make a splash in any outfit. You should follow Giannini’s cue and pair similarly sizeable prints with plainer pieces like solid tees and simple pants. Even a scarf can be attention-catching, so you’d best make sure that it doesn’t have a lot of visual competition.

Camel is Cool
And that goes for just about any neutral. Adapting the African theme for the urban setting isn’t the easiest fashion trick to pull off, but it’s exactly what Giannini did. Modern men like you can channel the African vibe with neutrals and camel –the color and the texture.

The opening look for Gucci consisted of a simple, buttery soft trench over a camel texture button down vest and ankle-baring washed navy pants. Had it featured any other colors, it would have been much, much more formal. The liberal use of browns and neutrals, on the other hand, kept most of the collection both grounded in the African theme and richly laid back. Even if you’re not a big fan of the African aesthetic, it’s a strategy you can adopt.

For any outfit that you want to dress down – a workday suit-and-necktie combo, say – the same pieces will feel much more relaxed in tones and neutrals like camel and brown. It’s the reason why tan suits are such good investments, especially in the summer. You get to wear exactly the same things, but they’re a lot less fussy than they could have been.

Time for Texture
Although the lower temperatures of autumn make certain styles like tanks and shorts a tad impractical, they also open up a different set of fashions for men. Giannini taps one of those other segments, as shown by her generous use of textures in Gucci’s fall collection.

Simply put, texture is one of the easiest and fastest ways to create a dramatic outfit in the colder months. The volume of a brown toggle coat is emphasized by soft waxed fabric. A plain jacket suddenly becomes complex in embossed camel hair. A coat needs no other decoration when it’s executed in touch-me soft faux fur. A moleskin blazer is sufficient to create a throwback statement. Do you see the pattern here?

Contrast is the key element when you’re doing a textured style. You want the pieces to be able to stand out against each other, like an interesting textured necktie against a slim and sleek suit jacket. It’s the least complicated way of maximizing your textured pieces. One other thing you shouldn’t forget is to build the outfit up with simpler pieces as well. You want to look dramatic without becoming a plush toy on two legs.

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