Breaking The Rules Of Men's Fashion
Men's Health Magazine is out with its annual March Guide to Style, a primer for men and the rules of style. It features tips and rules on everything from how to button your suit correctly to how to wear khakis. But as with all rules, some are meant to be broken.
Men's Health Editor-in-Chief David Zinczenko stopped by The Saturday Early Show to show us how to break some of the fashion rules for men -- with great-looking results.
Breakable Rule #1: Leather is for winter.
How to break it:
We now have softer, more pliable leather, better suited to the mild days of spring than to the cold days of winter. All the best designers -- including Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani -- are including lightweight leather in their spring and summer collections. Zinczenko says tan, caramel, and other lighter shades of brown are good color choices for the spring.
Breakable Rule #2: Work clothes are for work; Play clothes are for play.
How to break it:
Tailored clothes can mix well with casual clothes. Try wearing a sport coat with khakis, or a dress shirt and tie with blue jeans. Pairing a sport coat and jeans speaks volumes about your ability to put clothes together. Zinczenko says this rule is best broken with single-breasted jackets, and suggests keeping the double-breasted suit coat with its matching pants.
Breakable Rule #3: Don't mix patterns.
How to break it:
Combining patterns -- especially with shirts, ties, and suits -- is a great way to flex your sartorial muscle. A dark suit, solid white shirt, and red power tie screams "Wall Street 80s." Mixing stripes, checks and windowpanes is the modern way to say "power" with your clothing. Match a pinstriped suit, striped shirt, and diagonally striped tie and you let everyone know you've switched off the autopilot. Zinczenko warns not to go overboard with color, though. Keep it to two or three coordinating tones, such as gray, blue, and white, or tan, orange and navy.
Breakable Rule #4: Your watch must match your shoes.
How to break it:
Along with your shoes, Zinczenko says your watch is the main thing most women look at. So, without even knowing it, you're telling others a lot about you by what's on your wrist. Color is the big story for men's watches now. The key trends are big faces and lots of color. There are more options to choose from, including blue and gold dials (or faces) and colored leather straps. If, for some reason, you own both a red watch and red shoes, don't feel the need to wear them together.
Breakable Rule #5: Wear dress shoes with a suit.
How to break it:
There's a place and time for all rules. Some aren't meant to be broken. But Zinczenko thinks doing things your own way says loads about your sense of individuality, and recommends breaking loose every once in awhile. He suggests untucking your shirt, unbuttoning your button down collar and losing the belt every so often. In general: loosen up. A cotton suit for spring is perfect. Instead of a dress shirt and loafers, pair it with a cool crewneck and a pair of funky trainers for a Friday night out. But don't try this with a dressy wool suit, and don't fool yourself into thinking your gym shoes count as funky trainers.
Zinczenko also notes that white on white is one of the key color trends for men this spring. He says this look isn't just for the tennis court any longer -- it's now also a statement in good style. It's a great casual look for guys.