Spring 2014 Fashion Report

In the US it has been a long, brutal winter. In the Northeast, we’ve had snow since before Thanksgiving! March is upon us, and with it, hopefully, spring. With that hope firmly in the forefront, we are taking a look at what fashion forward men will be wearing when we finally pack away our parkas.

The double-breasted blazer is the go-to for suits this spring. It’s been seen paired with flat-front slim cut pants that touch the top of the shoe. Some pants are cut tighter at the bottom and hit just above the shoe. No bunching at the ankle or shoe top is allowed! Brighter colors paired with shades of blue look fantastic. No tie, plain tie, or print tie is determined as much by the event as by the suit style.

Checked, large or small, and plaid blazers paired with jeans and button down shirts are also hot for spring. The runway may feature bold plaid shirts with dubiously matching checked blazers, but that look doesn’t translate to many workplaces.

Watch for the new manly florals. Yes, floral prints are in for men this spring. At Men’s Travel, we prefer the subtle tone-on-tone florals for shirts and are staying away from floral pants or anything resembling a Hawaiian print. Vintage-inspired florals tend to be more abstract and work with jeans, depending on the print.

Now you see them: camo is back. Along with tie-dye, watercolor, and other assorted prints, men’s fashions are seldom solid colors this spring. Few can pull off the print pants, but a nice polka-dot shirt can really look sharp with a solid tie and jeans.

Believe it or not, brightly colored sneakers are on trend for spring. Several brands, including Reebok, Adidas, Nike, and more are offering up neon, striped, and print sneakers that just demand attention. If you prefer to try out a little color rather than a bright suit or shirt, why not start on your feet?

Toss out that cross body bag or briefcase. Chic envelope bags with no handles are the spring favorite. With a variety of closures, colors, and styles, these bags look streamlined, even when stuffed.

Spring accessories include the ongoing oversized watch. Watchfaces continue to be minimal in style, but huge in size. Mirrored shades for the (hopefully) sunny days are the craze whether beige or blue.

Try one trend at a time to get comfortable with it. Pick and choose what you want to be your statement piece and wear it with an outfit you are comfortable with. Trends change, so you need to determine what pieces are worth the money for you. If you know you’ll get the wear out of the double breasted blazer, go for it! It will probably stay in style longer in a solid color. If you are intrigued by the florals, check out a button down with a subtle print first and ease into a more bold design. You may find you really like these manly florals.

Whatever you choose, let’s hope spring gets here soon so you can wear it!