Fashion, Simplified: Playing with Patterns
Plain styles and solid colors have always been part of the foundation of men’s fashion. There is, however, much more to life. Patterns of every kind and scale are also crucial in every guy’s wardrobe; without it, your clothes always run the risk of boring other people to tears. Pattern matching is practically a life skill that every guy should know to do.
A Question of Scale
Size and scale is the most visible way that patterns differ. It’s that crucial aspect that sets a formal shirt with a teeny tiny micro check apart from, say, a casual shirt with a huge plaid pattern. It then figures that this is your first consideration when you assemble any kind of outfit that features a pattern.
Men most frequently have a problem with combining multiple problems because they wear two patterns that are too similar in size. The usual result is a confusing mishmash of visual elements; viewers can’t tell the patterns apart because they blend into each other.
The technique to getting a patterned outfit right, right away is to always keep the scale of your patterned pieces drastically different from each other. If you’re already wearing a micro check necktie, you might want to wear a shirt with a larger spaced check. If you want to wear a shadow plaid suit, the same large-check shirt won’t be as good an idea.
Keep Colors Coordinated
Colors are another problem area for men. It’s partly to blame why most guys today prefer shades like black, gray and navy: they’re almost foolproof when you try matching them with other colors. Unless you go with ‘riskier’ colors like reds and greens, however, you will be stuck with a wardrobe that’s performing at less than its best.
To ‘coordinate’ colors is to simply pair items whose colors either contrast or complement each other. You don’t have to use the dominant color; you can use an item’s secondary color and then match that on another item to give it emphasis. The idea is to simply work with the colors that are present in the pieces that you’re trying to wear.
Even more personality can be added to a patterned outfit by throwing in a bright color to give the whole ensemble some extra attention.
Moderate Patterns, Greater Style
Fashion is partly about taking risks and partly about knowing when to stop experimenting and trying. The same idea applies to patterns: matching patterns is a risk in itself, but you also have to know when to stop adding new patterns to the outfit.
In fact, the best way to really give emphasis to the patterns in your outfit is to minimize the number of patterned pieces in your look. By isolating the patterns, you make its cool visual factor that much easier to appreciate. The reason why Hermes Birkin bags are so valuable is that they’re so rare that people have to wait months to get theirs. The same principle applies here.
It takes practice and an honest eye for evaluating your appearance, but the art of patterns is something that every man should master sooner or later. Patterns are the best way to add some youthful energy to your office-bound styles without sacrificing elegance.
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