Guys Guide: Spring Trends

On this page we will feature tips and fashion tricks for the man who wants to look his best and doesn't fear clothing: real men know fashion.

 Our first post--a spring trend watch, is by our newest contributor Scott Strait.

Looking around school campuses, the office, out for a night on the town and on the streets you see men wearing dull outfits lacking color and designs. Spring is coming up and this year you need to box up those dingy dull outfits and give them to Goodwill and upgrade to a brighter wardrobe full of patterns and designs.

So many men worry that by wearing brights colors they will look feminine and anytime they see patterns and designs they worry it will turn them into Elton John. The truth is in small doses colors, patterns and designs with enhance your look and in turn make you feel happier and brighter.

This spring bright colors like coral, pink, lemon, lime, aqua and magenta are being featured on every body-part from the runways in Milan, Paris and New York to stores like American Eagle, Banana Republic, Express, Gap and Lacoste. Red and blue shorts and pants will make their return along simple colored v-necks. But along with all these colors the classic white look will also be big in mens fashion. White shorts, pants, dress shirts and polos will be featured in about every line one way or another.

Patterns will be huge for men for yet another season and almost every preview has shown plaids, checkers and stripes. From jackets to shorts to dress shirts and ties it will be another huge year for patterns and designs.

Scott Strait

This spring the trench coat is back for a sophisticated touch to any outfit. Most lines are showing shorter double or single breasted jackets in mostly blues, tans and blacks. Some lines are going more extreme like Burberry who are thinking out of the norm introducing red and bright yellow trench coats along side their normal collection.

Seen right :

Jacket: Express $179.90

Tee: American Apparel $22.00

Jeans: bullhead $49.50

Mixing and matching has also been featured in many shows combining colors many would think to daring like burgundy with green while many would think christmas others have thought genius and have highlighted the combo in their collections.

Scott Strait

As far as formal wear the designs and looks have not changed much from last year. Many are featuring tighter and shorter jackets with tight legged pants and a dropped crouch while others are reviving the baggy pants look. Regardless of the look the colors are the same black and bright blues seem to be the front liner while whites, greys browns and tans linger nearby. One of the biggest 

trends seem to be the shine look, using silk, latex, leather and other various"technical" fabrics to give a little shimmer to any outfit.

Seen left: 

Suit: Express jacket $128 pants $79.90

others: Express shirt: $69.90 tie 39.90 belt 39.90

Shoes: Calvin Klein $129.00

At the beach shorter retro shorts will be more popular than the normal board shorts. If your really willing to step out of a branch try a low rise trunk just be sure to hit up the tanning bed prior to the first wear. Colors are all the rage even in swimwear, pinks, aquas, red, purple and yellow to name a few. Plaid is about as crazy as you want to go with designs and patterns.

Regardless of the weather this spring if you follow these pointers you are sure to get out of the winter blues and into the summertime sun, this spring. Keep in mind while upgrading your wardrobe that only part of fashion is what your wearing while most of it is how you wear it.