Spring is a wonderful time of year, when you get to discard all of your heavy and hot winter clothes, and wear something light and fun. However, many people do not know the standard in springtime color and fashion, and some just get it outright wrong. Whether you are looking to wear something casual or for the workplace, here are some tips on spring style, with some popular fashion trends that cannot fail.
Shorts & Pants
Shorts are a staple spring wear for men all over the country. This time of year, you cannot go wrong with simple-looking chino shorts, preferably made out of lightweight cotton, or anything alike. Tan shorts are generally more versatile to fit any outfit, but you can also use a dark shade of blue (checkered and striped patterns are favorites for this color), or bright colors if you are feeling energetic. As for where the shorts should lie, however, is a tricky question. In general, the rule of thumb is that the short should hit about 1 to 3 inches above the knee, with a 7 to 9 inch inseam.
In spring, pants are generally flat-front as opposed to pleated, in plain neutral colors. Many clothing manufacturers release Summer-weight pants, which are great for this season as well. Spring is also the time of year where you can proudly display your sharp red pants all rolled up, and not warrant terrible looks.
Shirts
In springtime, the shirt is highly visible as overcoats and jackets are left in the closet. Polo shirts are common wear, and are quite versatile as you can wear them in nearly any color without looking odd. That’s right, even bright pink is acceptable in the spring! The most important part about selecting a shirt for spring is to make sure it fits well. A Polo, much like a T-shirt, should rarely be tucked in (and the top button should never be done.) Some people who do not like Polo shirts instead opt to wear a T-shirt or a long-sleeved button-up shirt. If you feel like wearing a long-sleeved shirt, remember to roll up your sleeves, to expose a nice portion of your forearms, as well as keep you cool. Most importantly though, each shirt should be made out of natural fibers, so it can breathe well when you go out in the hot sun.
Shoes
Shoes can be a tricky subject, because there are so many types. For spring, low-top canvas shoes, boat shoes, loafers, and mocs are all great wear. If you want to go for a hip-yet-preppy look, a pair of skateboarding shoes can also work well with most any casual outfit. Sandals can be iffy, because their use in an outfit varies depending on your region. If you are going to wear sandals and flip-flops, make sure your feet are thoroughly cleaned and your nails are cut. For shoes, some of the most preferred colors are beige and tan, but a dark blue or black can work quite nicely too.
Professional Wear
While the workplace is not typically considered a place which encourages great fashion sense, people still can wear good-looking clothes suitable for office work. For spring, try a custom khaki suit, because these look great and they breathe nicely. Some people just wear the jacket without the other pieces, to keep the style, but add more flair with their own pieces. To add more color to the outfit, it is a good idea to sport a nice tie, with bright colors. Layering on a suit is very important, but sometimes less is more, and it may do you some good to just wear a vest, or just a dress shirt by itself.
For office shoes, you might be able to wear loafers or bucks with your suit, depending on your workplace policies of course. In general, most professional spring attire is either tan or neutral, but shoes for the season work best in brown tones.
Spring can be a fantastic time to experiment and work with new clothes, and some of your old favorites. Even more importantly, it provides an opportunity to work with some fun colors and styles particular to the season. However, be careful — it can be very easy to go overboard on your attire and get a little too casual! Whether you are dressing for work, play, or a little bit of both, you can never go wrong with a little bit of Spring-time.