Posted: October 24, 2011 at 11:37 am
AUTHOR: Seun Adenuga
It has always intrigued me as much as it irks me that despite the major relevance and involvement of the male folks in the creation of contemporary fashion, much, ironically, isn’t done in terms of styling/usage of peculiar fashion pieces for men (respect to the very few men who do). And it isn’t as if the fashion pieces aren’t (readily) available.
Run-of-the-mill trouser pants, shirts, shoes and the very seldom accessories are men’s staple while the females eternally have an endless array of options, even as far as men’s wardrobe to choose from (all, mostly created by talented “male” designers). Even more irksome is the fact that the so called “male style icons” (that’s if we have any in this part of the world to start with) haven’t themselves exceeded their horizon beyond the ever safe zone of the blazer and pant staple: Style Icon is a big deal therefore safe won’t cut it. Hardly would you find men, hip or not, pushing their fashion sense past the generic because 1) The regular man is too carefree to take fashion seriously and 2) overly fashion conscious men are perceived gay. While nobody is asking guys to have a wardrobe sex change or pioneer a Lady Gaga-esque male look, a little va va voom in your style every now and then just won’t hurt. This is why I constantly advocate the ABC of style: Accessorize, Bohemianize and Colour Block, every chance I get.
Accessorize: Brooch, Scarf, Shawl, Corsage, Sunglass, Bag and Jewelry are all supposed female inspired pieces that would exemplify and pull together an all male ensemble if put to creative use. For example a stylish corsage or brooch instead of a pocket square would make a bolder statement on a formal ensemble or instead of the regular tie; a scarf would appear more stylish or you could finish off the look with a briefcase-like bag. Not to mention the smartness behind quickly turning a serious look casual by accessorizing with jewelry: Rings, Bracelets and Chains.
PS: If you must use jewelry on a formal look, keep it really subtle because there’s a very thin line between tasteful and tacky.
Boheminize: This rule bridges the gap between stylish chaos and order. For example, instead of your regular casual tees and jeans look, go boho: an Aladdin pant + loose-necked tees, which at first might seem out of place, can be pulled together with a sandal (gladiator) and some funky retro sunglass or rather a sling bag. This rule also encourages the gender-ambiguous/androgynous sense of style for those who dare.
Color Block: This is as simple as ABC and 123, yet most usually get it wrong. As long as the colors don’t exceed a three range palette, you’re fine. It’s all about getting creative with colors. Either choose two neutral colors like white and gray, as the main piece and a somewhat loud color like turquoise as the supporting color for a matured look. Or pick closely related shades like purple, lilac and pink, and then tone it down with neutral accessories for a fun and playful look. Or get extra playful and mix colors of the rainbow (just don’t exceed three colors if you must). You can as well create a fashion scene with louder colors such as gold, silver and other jewel-toned colors.
Who said style isn’t as simple as ABC after all? So guys start reciting your A B C.
Filed Under: Fashion, Style
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