7 things to wear this Spring to make you stand out
Claire Dickinson
I don’t envy men when it comes to fashion, most men I know say that they don’t care but in reality toil and torment over the anticipatory first date ensemble, “how do I come off not creepy, and still get laid?” You don’t want to appear as though you’re trying too hard (gay-vibe-red-flag) and you don’t want to come off a disheveled, Lebowski of sorts; it is never a good thing if the woman you’re courting questions you on your regular bathing habits.
So how do you find that in-between, that look, that pièce de résistance, that signature style that sets you apart and makes others notice?
With Spring here, the season of finding your metaphorical rabbit, you’ll want to dress your best to stand out and attract, without coming off like a guy that would a) wear a tattoo style graphic t-shirt (need I mention names) or b) have a subscription to Vogue (10 points if you had to ask yourself “What’s Vogue?”) Sprucing up your wardrobe doesn’t mean you have to detract from your own personal, set style, it does not need to be a fight to the death, you do not need to call your buddy’s girlfriend and ask what works. Check out these selections and suggestions below:
1 Hats
A good hat does many things, it keeps you from having noticeably bad hair days, bad haircuts and serves as an awesome extra to make a t-shirt and jeans look a little cooler.
The Fedora capitalizes on this idea; I’ve been seeing both cloth and straw fedoras in high-volume this spring. The base color hat with whatever color/pattern you could think of, made by everyone you could think of. Not only is it a good looking hat, it’s really versatile.
Wearing the same clothes from last night? Slick the hair back, prop the fedora on, and all focus is brought to the guy with the really cool hat.
The Fedora is a hat commonly associated with the Great-Depression era gangsters and the coolest of cool Humphrey Bogart, circa Casablanca. Fedora-wearers are most often epitomized as the desirable, tough guys, aching to be loved, and us women, just want to love them back. Interestingly, no matter the decades that pass, the Fedora is still considered a necessary fashion accessory for adding that bit of spice, and touch of class.
True Religion does a mighty good job of updating this classic hat. The cross-weave style looks more like as overturned basket, but the straw color and brown braid gives it that spring/summer touch. ($75)
Robert Geller’s Spring/Summer show back in September had this heavy German, beach, boat vibe. I really enjoyed the lightness and playfulness of the color schematics. The feather and black and white coloring gives the former hat a Bugsy Malone type-feel. (about $265)
And for the all important affordability, H&M has its hand in every style out now, no price but I’m sure it’s reasonable
2 Shoes
Shoes should always be comfortable first and god-damned sexy second. A cool pair of shoes can totally transform an outfit, and your stride. There is nothing like strutting into a room with your very own blue suede shoes.
We’ve finally come into a time where you can wear sneakers with suits, and for whatever reason, dress shoes with sweatpants. It’s shocking and fun. Shoes are the new watch. The accessory men compare at the gym, the bar, “Dude, have you seen my new kicks…” all this, with keeping in mind that shoes are meant to touch the ground, not run your finances into it.
My picks for the season are: The color-block shoes, they are really interesting and are sure to get you a double-take….
These Cole Haan shoes may be a bit too much for the normal 9-5 business man; the blue into black concoction is creative and visually attractive. It both figuratively and literally redesigns an old shoe idea with a splash color. This palette boost, dresses up the everyday black dress shoe to something that says: “I care, but not too much.” To contrast my love for these shoes, my father, said they weren’t his style and “…looks like a narc walked through a paint puddle,” to each his own. ($198)
One of my favorite men’s shoe brands is Generic Man; constantly skirting social and style boundaries, this brand loves when color holds hands with classic savoir-faire, and makes little baby shoes that feel great. 
These shoes combine textures, styles (that span decades) and a color scheme that just flat out rocks. I’ve included photos of both their dress shoes and more casual shoe. So versatile. (about $295/$175)
Speaking of Color, a great brand to trust for a good fit (remember sizes run a tad small, I’d go with a half-size bigger) is Alife Footwear, successfully melding styles of the 70’s and 80’s with the repeating patterns/graphics of the aughts, Alife is one of the most recognizable shoe brands out there, and for good reason! ($120)
3 Stripes!
Stripes are nothing to be scared of. They are not to be associated with time spent in prison! Do not feel contrained by the dyed bars! Do not feel trapped by the power of at least two colors containing you in its fabric vault!
Stripes are not to be toyed with either. The number one thing is to choose the appropriate stripe pattern for you, your body and personality. If you’re short, Vertical Stripes make you look longer. If you’re a little on the heavier side, Horizontal Stripes will make you look a little thicker. I like all types of stripes, they’re not as obtrusive as a graphic tee and more interesting than a solid sweater/shirt.
This tee by Drifter messes with the constraints which is much appreciated. ($48)
Also, mixing stripes (i.e., stripes on top and bottom) may have you looking like an hypnotic spiral
Ever, an L.A. based brand, mixes surfer saavy and adult sensibility. This sweater would look great with jeans,shorts, slacks, or in the hamper. ($88)
BDG, an Urban Outfitters brand, does what Stripes should do – they draw your eye in, making a simple button down, something else. I like this brand a lot and this shirt structure is another must have for this Spring. The subtlty of the lines/stripes aids to the refinement. Lightweight, sheer and breezy, the rolled up sleeves and assortment of colors make this a very good pick, especially at ($48).
4 Linen and Cotton Pants
It’s time to put away your skinny jeans and let your legs, thighs and nether-regions breathe. With warm weather a-coming, you should pant yourself accordingly. I think women tend to have it easier with the vast array of shorts, cropped pants and lightweight trousers. Men don’t seem to have as many options, shorts always seem under-dressed and slacks always seem out of place (when out of the work realm) and there’s not much that’s really interesting about a pair of jeans.
You don’t need to be the Mediterranean Don Juan to wear cotton or linen pants, this is a common misconception. These lightweight and comfortable pants will help to combat the heat and look like you could jet-set somewhere tropical at any moment.
These Steven Alan “layman” pants are 100% cotton and super comfy. I see a blazer and light colored button down paired with these pants for that “I just stepped off my yacht” look. For that I wish I lived on the beach but I’m stuck with NYC rooftops sensibility, these pants are right up your alley ($198)
H&M is surely delivering this season in regards to Men’s Clothes. A good friend of mine just bought their stark white linen pants for ($35). Probably the better fitting pants I’ve seen in this style. Just remember, wear light colored underwear, or nothing at all, if that’s how you’re gonna roll this summer.
Old Navy known for that beach bum look, has a great pair of Linen pants. I can smell the coconuts and rum from here! ($26)
5 Denim Shirts
Denim is making a HUGE comeback in waves! So much denim on denim it’s as though the trains were still running on coal! Now the double denim look is not for everyone and it doesn’t have to be. As much as this reminds of some Coal Miner’s Daughter serenade, you don’t have to go all the way! But denim is the stand out this season, making men across the nation have the urge to wipe grease across their foreheads.
There is, at times, this overwhelming sense of “I don’t want to look like a Village Person” and you don’t have too! I think Denim shirts are more a reflection of Cool Hand Luke than YMCA.
ADAM takes a stab at re-looking at the denim shirt as a new commodity. I love how this one looks and how flattering the cut is, or lack of cut for that matter. This screams I’m confident in what I’m wearing, no matter how big (or small) my member is! ($195)
G-Star Raw is one of those brands that is always on the cutting edge, figuring out what’s cool before cool knows it’s cool. Always flirting with concepts of experimentation, space, the future, and innovative traditionalism, this Denim Shirt does what many try. Clean lines and cut, it doesn’t appear that this gentleman is on his way to the tracks, but rather, that next morning breakfast? Tip: wear your hat ($160)
6 Reinvented Shirt
Anything redone, to be new again, earns points in my book. Same goes for Beatles covers. Asymmetrical lines aren’t used to so much compliment the body, but rather the look. Wearing something that isn’t ordinary automatically puts you at the forefront. This doesn’t mean wearing things you’re not comfortable with.
Men wear skirts; I am in no way promoting this.
Beta Unit has some of the coolest cuts I’ve seen. This hoodie is more than just a hoodie. Walking down the street in this, people are sure to notice. And this isn’t going so out of the realm of comfortable fashion. It’s like origami folds, finding new and innovative ways to make the regular sweatshirt, more than just a sweatshirt. The intentional dirty grey works well with the worn style and lax fit. This, in my opinion, is a must have. ($129)
This Mans Nonno sweater takes not only the vitality of this red but the intricacies’ of the design. This asymmetrical top exemplifies the style. Refreshing and alluring, this sweater is both casual and inventive. ($62)
Tim Hamilton does what very few designers do, and that is experiment to the fullest sense of the word. I don’t have prices for these, and each dud is probably more than my rent, but they serve as an enigmatic example of the Reinvention of the Shirt. Not everyone could, or should attempt to pull these off, but the mere thought, and concept behind these is art.
7 Vests
As winter makes her way to Spring there’s still a slight chill in the air. Wanting to show off your sweet denim shirt or reinvented top, a jacket does a bit too much to cover and conceal.
The vest should be a necessary component to everyone’s wardrobe and you don’t need to grow a beard to own one, or feel like a down-filled nylon bubble. When paired with jeans, a vest can help create many chic combinations that are suitable for a number of different occasions.
This add vest will ensure you stand out. No one will say lumberjack when you stroll down the street in this. Fusing sportswear and chic-ability this vest could replace the need for flashlights. This will combat those chilly mornings and cool evenings without the need for extra fabric!($239)
ORISUE Nylon Vest is a different take on the sleeveless covering. This vest screams hipster chic and I can’t help but yell along too. The cut is very visually appealing and that extra fabric, or what-have-you, draws the eye to the most important part of the clothing, the wearer. Housing many pockets this vest could free your jeans of all that extra crap you stuff in there. ($64)
The most important thing about standing out this Spring is making sure you’re wearing clothes that fit you, which you feel comfortable in. We all remember the kid in grade school who showed up in his dad’s clothes.
- Find the uniqueness and experimentation that works for you.
- Clothes are an extension of personality; they are not the all-encompassing feature.
- Don’t fear the retail circus, make it work for you.
- Dress how you want to this Spring, stand up and stand out!
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