Today’s modern man is bold, adventurous and on top of the hottest fashion trends.
Just a couple of decades ago, men typically had their nine-to-five business attire for Monday through Friday. Weekend wear consisted only of t-shirts and jeans. When it comes to fashion for the modern man, anything goes.
“I see a trend in menswear incorporating more contrast aesthetic, in terms of blending pattern design with a respective color story.
Several brands have been successful in achieving this already like Marni, Stella McCartney and MSGM just to name a few. I see that trend
Continuing,” explains Alan Grobman of YPRES Clothing.
In fact, unlikely and unexpected fashion pairings often elevate a man’s look instantly. Here are some of the most fashion-forward trends that instantly make a man look updated, modern, relevant and current.
Fashion Layering Under The Shirt
In recent years, men have really embraced the notion of layering. Ypres clothing has a line of layering tank tops that add color, pattern and urban style to any outfit. The tanks can be worn as standalones, with a pair of cargo khaki shorts and low-top athletic shoes.
…BUT…
For an unlikely pairing, pick a floral Ypres Clothing tank top and pair it under a plaid button-down shirt in a complementary color palette. Then, throw on some distressed jeans and some high-top athletic shoes for an unexpected, high-style look.
Another way to effectively pull off fashion layering under the shirt is to mix articles of clothing with different textures. A rib-knit tank top or t-shirt adds visual texture when worn under an argyle cashmere sweater.
A slub-knit tank top lends a casual vibe when worn under a thermal henley; the waffle-knit texture of the henley and broken-in look of the slub-knit shirt are great combinations to wear during a weekend ski trip with the guys or while hanging out and watching the game together at a backyard barbecue.
Unexpected Pairings: Mixing Casual With Dressy
To really give your look the wow factor, consider this unlikely pairing: mixing high-end and dressy with uber-casual clothing. To pull off this look, it is all about the fit. A pair of skinny jeans and a fitted blazer gets the cool and effortless vibe of being paired with a loose hoodie. Throw the fitted blazer on over the hoodie, and put on the jeans with a nice leather belt.
The best part of this look is that you can wear it with virtually any type of shoe: low-top athletic shoes, loafers, chukka boots, hiking boots or boat shoes.
Another similar high-fashion look involves pairing a basic crew t-shirt with a pair of dress slacks. Tuck the t-shirt in to the pants, throw on a leather belt and leather dress shoes or loafers; top it off with a distressed jean jacket or silky bomber jacket for a casual look that is both sophisticated and effortless. For an urban-chic look, layer a graphic or band t-shirt under a wood-button cardigan. Throw on some skinny-leg corduroy pants or khakis and some chukka boots or brogue shoes for a look that mixes high with low in a sleek way.
Change Your Look With Outerwear
Outerwear provides an opportunity to give your outfit an unexpected twist. When the weather begins to cool off in the fall, you can pair a long trench coat or herringbone car coat with a pair of distressed and relaxed-fit jeans, a basic cotton t-shirt and some athletic shoes. The jacket quickly becomes the focal point of the outfit and takes it from casual to polished in an instant.
A long shawl cardigan has a preppy standalone style until it is paired with a pair of leather hiking boots, some black skinny jeans and a ripped t-shirt; edgy meets preppy with this unexpected style combination. A blue denim jean jacket adds the perfect splash of casual when worn over a plaid button-down shirt, khaki pants and leather penny loafers.
A two-tone bomber jacket, constructed from mixed fabrics, adds the perfect casual texture and visual interest when worn with a monochromatic all-black look. For a downtown-casual look, pair a tailored blazer and fitted turtleneck with a pair of skinny jeans and some low-top athletic shoes as you run errands around town or check out the local venues with your date.
Style-Altering Accessories
One of the fastest and easiest ways to completely update and transform your look in unexpected ways is by accessorizing.
The way most guys style a basic cotton t-shirt and jeans is to throw on a baseball cap and athletic shoes to blend in with the crowd. If you want to stand out from the rest, throw on a t-shirt and jeans with a fedora and some brogue shoes; watch heads turn in your direction by making this small change.
It takes just as much effort to throw on some brogue shoes in lieu of athletic shoes. It also takes the same amount of effort to put on a fedora and leave the baseball hat in the closet, but the finished look is much more polished and unexpected when you opt for dressier accessories.
A fringe-trim scarf fills in a blazer in a preppy way; you can mix up the preppy look by throwing on a baseball hat or pair of moto boots for either a casual or edgy style that is completely unlikely. A pair of jogging pants and athletic shoes worn with a newsboy cap and a buffalo-plaid dress shirt has a hipster vibe that looks effortlessly cool and suave.
The stylish modern man has considerably more clothing and accessories options than he did two decades ago. You can choose to blend in with the crowd, or you can transform your look and style by mixing and matching textures, prints and silhouettes. For some more ideas, check out the Ypres sites on Facebook and Instagram.
Featured Photo by Ryan Holloway from Pexels.
