Spring Trends: Go To Hell Bottoms
In whichever way it may come, color is mandatory when the sun begins to shine. This time around, it seems the infamous Go To Hell (to put it simple, unexpected eye-popping colored items) are back in full strength. From formal slacks to relaxed jeans or chinos, everyone’s dishing their own favourite versions to brighten up the urban landscape.
Bright yellow, green, red or coral are all part of the game, as are embroidered motifs. It appears nothing has been left out the equation for this season’s bottoms, especially if you add the assortment of washes, patched alternatives or even paint splattered versions. With so many offerings, the trick is deciding which ones are worth investing in: like a kid in a candy store, chances are you’ll want to grab one of each to keep your options open and cover the whole chromatic spectrum.
However, instead of ending up with a rainbow like wardrobe, go through your collection and narrow the choice to missing or complementing shades. Go ahead and do some styling of your own, set aside some pieces and try to picture what would look good with them. After all, there’s no use in buying items you’ll hardly sport as they don’t match your other garments. Also, bear in mind that bottoms deliver much more of a visual impact than say, for instance, a sweater or tee. When in doubt, go for safer options but don’t be afraid to experiment with the whole color palette prior to deciding.
Top to bottom: 1 - Acne; 2 - Zara; 3 - Park & Bond; 4 - Rugby Ralph Lauren; 5 - Paul Smith.
Play It Fair…
If it’s generally accepted that certain colors have more in common with specific seasons, the same can be applied, although to a lesser degree, to patterns. To name but a few, stripes and gingham are usually sported in Summer whereas argyles, for instance, are more wintery. Even if within a fashion forward universe, this traditional approach is being overlooked, the concept still remains to a large extent. It there’s one such pattern that symbolizes Winter in all its frost white glory, it has to be Fair Isle.
Named after the homonym island located in Northern Scotland, it consists of a local traditional knitting technique where up to five distinct colors are combined in rows, creating a uniquely characteristic mosaic pattern. Originally found only in this island, its visual appeal has captured the heart of designers and stylish individuals alike, earning it a place in runways and shops worldwide. Its recent burst in popularity placed it on most Christmas wishlists and allowed designers to create a never before seen variety of items, in an array of fabrics and shades.
Top to bottom: Hat by Gant Rugger, tie by Brooks Brothers @ Park and Bond; Sweater by Raf Simons, varsity jacket by Junya Watanabe @ Mr. Porter and scarves by Drakes of London.
El Camino is already on my wishlist…
