By: Fred Blauth | Editor-in-Chief
Bros. Dudes. Amigos. We need to talk.
You’re in the prime of your life, acing those papers and that girl or guy you matched with on Tinder wants to grab drinks this weekend. Life’s great! But your wardrobe isn’t.
Before you bust out the cargo shorts and snap backs this spring, let’s examine a few trends to up your style game a notch. Whether you’re a chronic thrifter or a dapper, name brand gentlemen, The Duke’s got your back (and front) this season.
The Thrifter ($)
You may have relied on those Cosby sweaters all fall and winter, but what do you plan to do about the 60-degree heat? Kate Colussy, owner of Highway Robbery Vintage in the South Side, has the answers.
“Rock the ’70s,” Colussy said. If you can’t just yet give up your knits, look for a lighter weight material that still lets air circulate through. Too hot? Throw the thing around your waist for instant cool; bonus points if your threads have a bold pattern or print. Change it out for your grandfather’s flannel and when the wind picks up you’re still covered. And speaking of prints…
This is Pittsburgh, not the Amazon rain forest. Toss those tribals in the trash and look to your own environment for bold lines and graphic shapes. Whether it’s thin stripes or bold color blocking, graphics are your friend. Work with your body to find the right combo for you.
And if all else fails? Go monochrome! A head-to-toe black or white outfit takes guts and won’t go unnoticed. Afraid of ending up looking like a waiter or funeral attendee? The secret is texture. Rock a rough ’n raw pair of denim jeans with a simple crew neck and a pair of leather combat boots. You’ll be kicking ass and taking names (numbers too).
If you’re looking for inspiration, Colussy tells us to look towards icons of the ’70s for guidance.
“Think John Lennon, not Peter Brady.”
More modern celebrities such as Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and Zac Efron make it look easy in today’s world. One last way to add that touch of glam rock to an outfit is by simply pairing it with an accessory.
“I want to see men wear more accessories!” Minton-Colussy exclaimed.
Don’t freak out, we’re not talking extravagant necklaces or earrings. Think a thrifted gold watch or woven leather bracelet. Baby steps dude, baby steps. For the boy on a budget, looking good is a no brainer this season.
The Surfer ($$)
For the West coast guy stuck in the East, Decade Pittsburgh in The South Side has just what you’re looking for to keep the good vibes coming.
“Spring 2015 is going to be about keeping it casual,” said Steve Ford, owner and founder of Decade and their side project Surf Pittsburgh, where patrons can literally surf the Monongahela. “This year we expect to see bold stripes and floral print shirts on guys, from brands like Brixton and Obey.”
For the average Joe, Spring 2015 is all about finding bold, statement pieces and dressing them down to keep from getting overwhelming. Keep overall outfits toned down, but with a flash of strategically placed bright color. A print or textile will bring just the right amount of heat.
“A strong look with a minimalistic hat is great,” Ford added.
Bucket hats are set to make the comeback of the season both fashionably and practically. With a pop of color or pattern on the noggin, you’ll be taking that effortlessly disheveled look to the next level. Add a pair of tinted shades and the Ohio River just became your very own Pacific Ocean. For a casual look, careful planning can make a huge pay off.
The Jetsetter ($$$)
All right pretty boy, you went to Berlin for Duquesne’s Spring Break Away and want the wardrobe to prove it. To acheive the international look without fronting the shipping costs, swing on over to Moda in Shadyside to make it happen.
Michael Barone, owner of the 25-year-old luxury clothing boutique, is telling his customers to lose the color all together and focus rather on silhouette.
“Looser, longer,” Barone said while displaying an oxford white button up with an exaggerated hemline. Drape-like shirts and outwear over a pair of black skinnies will elongate your shape and hide those craft beers you’ve been storing in your lower half.
The same goes for hair. Grow it out, throw in a bun or wear it down, it doesn’t matter as long as you can keep up with it. And if you can, you’ll never go back to the clippers.
If you’re thinking menswear has gone limp, don’t fret.
“There’s a lot of prints, florals and geometrics going on this season. Everything from dots to British flags,” Barone explained.
In addition, a new buzzword that’s making its way from the runway to department stores is athleisure.
“Athleisure is all about athletic wear that’s not being worn to the gym,” Baron clarified.
With a pair of tapered sweatpants, Nike training shoes and an Adidas mesh detailed athletic top, leg day is definitely not today in this attire.
