Spring Trends: Pastels
With SS collections on full display at retailers, chances are you might get somewhat confused when faced with the eclectic color palette. The thing is, as most shops already have the entire collection available for purchase, going from one end to the other feels a bit like time traveling, as you find yourself wandering around everything from mid-season garments up to swimwear. With such a complete offering, it’s only natural that the colors on each garment reflect its suitability to either Spring or Summer.
Our inherent reaction to the arrival of sunnier days is to go with the flow and bring out brighter items in full strength. However, there are some pieces you should save for later on when Summer reaches its peak, allowing you to be more in tune with the season. So, instead of going all in, save some tricks up your sleeve for the upcoming months. You might’ve noticed that along with bolder, neon like shades, there are several garments in more neutral, muted pastels.
These are perfect transition pieces, enabling you to progressively incorporate color into your attire without going overboard. Shades such as khaki or lighter versions of blue, pink, peach, yellow and ecru all make the list of this Spring’s trendiest and should be a part of your alternatives. This doesn’t mean you cannot sport the occasional bolder colored piece, but try to keep up with the seasonal vibe and blend in. Here are a few examples of how to pull it off…
Top to bottom: 1 - Mr. Porter, 2 - Gap, 3 - Kitsuné, 4 - Mr. Porter
Urban Menswear Myths #3
Inherent to our perception of color and its earthy, warm or cold tones, we are keen to associate it with different seasons of the year. As a rule of thumb brighter/lighter shades become Summer staples, whereas warmer/darker ones are usually considered for Winter.
This division of the color palette into strict seasons always put me off in a way, but I can relate to it simply by taking human behaviour into account. We’re moody beings, subject to humor variations which besides our personal issues, are undoubtedly influenced by the weather itself. Our usual good Summery mood, a kind of temporary euphoria, leads us to express it through the use of color; in Winter however, our gloomy disposition is the perfect match for darker shades. Nonetheless, we were also given the gift of thought and decision making, which should overcome our humor when it comes to outfits.
One of the colors which is discarded right off the bat come colder days, and regrettably so in my opinion, is white. The epitome of lighter shades, it’s usually viewed upon as a SS alternative not only for its shiny mood but also for the ease of getting dirty. There’s no argument there: white will always be prone to stains, even more so in rainy, windy days. Sporting it in the rain might be a bit of a stretch, but it shouldn’t be left out of your wardrobe as it’s likely you’ll experience a few nice days during the season. Pulling off your white jeans with a hunter green cashmere sweater, topped with a navy duffle coat and snuff suede double monks is well worth the trouble of throwing them in the washer afterwards… and besides, they aren’t meant to look pristine all the time. After all, you still sport your crisp white shirts, so why give up the bottoms? 
I had something like this in mind: Gloverall Mid Length Duffle Jacket, Kitsuné V-neck Cashmere Sweater, Rugby Solid University Oxford, Zara Jeans, Ovadia & Sons Snuff Suede Milford Double Buckle Shoe and Anderson’s Woven Belt.
