A trend that has exploded onto the catwalk and into the mainstream thanks to various high street stores, the patterned suit is something every dapper gent should be keeping an eye on. In the world of fashion, boundaries are being consistently pushed and the patterned suits emergence, as this season’s hottest trend, is no surprise. For years we’ve seen fashion houses experiment with bigger and bolder checks, houndstooth and pinstripes, so it’s only natural for that styling to evolve into heavily patterned suits.
Probably not one for the office, but one that will make you stand out from the crowd if worn with confidence. From subtler details like Paul Smith’s new camo over-check in his PS line, to full scale jungle prints from A. Sauvage for AW15, every end of the spectrum is catered for. The nature of the printed or heavily patterned suit means this is one where the shirt/tshirt and optional tie, should really ground the outfit. When working with heavy print it’s imperative that other areas of the outfit tone down the ensemble and keep the print the focus.
LOOK ONE
For look one we’ve chosen a suit from ASOS. We’ve kept the outfit casual so have chosen a t-shirt and crisp sneakers to maintain that the suit becomes the focus. This is a great look for when you want to stand out, but keep it relaxed. Clean, simple sneakers are imperative to this outfits appeal.
LOOK TWO
For look two we’ve chosen something bold from the queen of punk rock tailoring, Dame Vivienne Westwood. However this time we’ve gone down a more formal route. Feeling brave? Pull this one out at a slightly more buttoned up affair and you’ll stand out for all the right reasons. It’s absolutely paramount that you tone this one down with a classic shirt and tie combo or as shown here, a simple roll neck, this is definitely an area where we would highly recommend against experimenting further.
LOOK THREE
We mentioned earlier about the patterned suit probably not being the best choice for a meeting with your boss on Monday morning. However, if that inner dandy inside just has to get out, look no further than this fantastic suit from Paul Smith. Renowned for taking classics and adding a twist, or a hint of quirkiness, this season he’s taken the conservative check charcoal suit and added a camo overlay.
The great thing about this suit is it’s playfulness, It’s not immediately noticeable but once you’ve spotted it, you can’t help but be amazed at how well something so outlandish is being hidden in plain sight, clearly the camouflage is doing its job! We’ve toned this one way down with some help from a knitted tie and a crisp white shirt. You can hide in plain sight with this suit, but when you’ve made a statement as bold as a printed suit, don’t make the mistake of pushing that boundary too far.
A FINAL NOTE…
The patterned suit is something we are going to be seeing a lot more of, thanks to high street stores filtering down what we have been seeing on the catwalk over the last few seasons. Worn with confidence, something printed, or with a very bold pattern, can send your look into the stratosphere. It’s not something for everyone, but why not be a bit bold and give yourself the option of having that one, head turning outfit?
