Five Essentials for College Guys This Semester
Alyson Mullee January 26, 2013
There’s often a very fine line between looking up-to-date and trying too hard when it comes to male fashion on college campuses. As much as you may want to tackle the latest style, sometimes it’s best to ease into a new trend. Some of this season’s statement looks, like florals and long jackets, are simply not workable for the average guy. I’d like for you to more easily be able to navigate through the best fashion concepts and avoid wasting time on styles that won’t be popular. The following article is a guide to five trends for the spring semester that will make you appear easily cool, current, and carefree (without the mockery that comes with male florals)…
Stripes: Wow, what a concept! This isn’t a revolutionary style choice, of course, but I suggest we all dip our toes in the water before we dive into the fashionable pool that is the male runway. Stripes allow the wearer to go from heavy, patterned sweaters to thin, nautical shirts with ease while still maintaining a consistent style. Contrary to what you might think, horizontal stripes create the illusion of broad shoulders, creating the manly physique that everyone lusts over without making you look wide-bodied. If you’re worried about how stripes might make you look in the keg area, simply choose a style that has broader stripes at the neckline and diminishes in stripe-thickness, or disappears altogether, as it continues down the shirtfront.
Bright Accent Pieces: Neon pops of color are huge this season, and college-aged guys are the perfect people to try out the trend. A funky color on a not-so-funky outfit can make you stand out from the crowd and help you show off your personality. While the runway accents for this trend included gloves, shoes, and man-bags (just say no!), there’s a less obnoxious way to pull off this concept. Wear a polo with an accent pocket or a bright, spring-weather jacket to pay tribute to the look and maintain a relaxed vibe.
Light Grey Suit Jacket: The fifty shades of anything jokes are getting old, but you should definitely keep the grey trend in mind when buying a new suit for that internship or final presentation this semester. The lightest shades are among the most fashionable this season and they pair nicely with chalk-toned tops, whether those tops are buttoned cottons or relaxed tees. While double-breasted suits are certainly a major style statement right now, avoid excessive detailing when choosing your grey jacket; too many buttons or pockets will make it difficult to rock the look on a casual date night and it’s important to think about versatility before dropping cash on something like this.
Blood Orange Basics: At first, this seems like an odd color choice for spring clothing. Upon further consideration, however, this color makes perfect sense. Blood orange is the masculine version of bright, peppy orange (a color that women wear in the warm weather to make them appear tan). The shade compliments every skin tone and is just deep enough to wear on the wintry days of the spring semester. Some may think that this orange tone is too overwhelming to wear on a major piece, but that’s debatable. A blood orange pair of pants looks great with a fitted tee and a jacket in a similar shade looks awesome with a pair of dirty-wash jeans and crisp Vans.
Lace-Up Boots: Many of us are still experiencing chilly winter weather while looking forward to the latter end of our spring classes and the temperatures that tag along. While you wait, try out a pair of lace-up boots, worthy of tucked-in jeans and chinos and still workable with shorts when the sun comes out. Keep them loose and semi-dirty, making a point to avoid looking like you walked through puddles but still messing up the leather enough to give off a rugged edge. Short boots are easier to pull off, and toned legs with some muscle on them (neither skinny nor thick) will be best for working the look into the upcoming season.
Is there a trend for the spring semester that you think everyone should be trying out? Are there any that you think everyone should avoid? Share with us in the comments below!