The Spring Style Guide: 10 Looks To Ease You Back Into The Game

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The Spring Style Guide: 10 Looks To Ease You Back Into The Game

Words by Chris Elvidge | Photography by Mr Matthieu Delbreuve | Styling by Ms Otter Hatchett

15 February 2022

Get ready for the big reveal. After a couple of years spent hunkering down in the bunker, we’re glad to report that fashion is back – and it’s bigger, brighter and more colourful than ever. To give you a better idea of what we’re talking about, we took a trip to Lisbon, the jewel of the Portuguese coast, to road-test a few of this season’s best looks. Consider this your fast-track back into the style game: an easy guide to making the most of the new collections.

01.

Tee off with Marni’s argyle knitwear

Marni’s adventurous take on classic argyle knitwear is not to be missed. Which is just as well, because you couldn’t miss it if you tried. This mohair-blend cardigan, one of the standout pieces of the Italian designer’s spring collection, is available in a hi-vis yellow and a cool tonal blue – but it’s the hot-pink version seen here that really does it for us. Flared denim from Acne Studios completes the look, but if you’re feeling bold why not double up on pink with one of these?

02.

Go wild with a Wacko Maria bucket hat

Think you’re incapable of pulling off a leopard-print bucket hat? Perhaps you see it as the sort of thing that’s best left to the Mr Tommy Lees and Machine Gun Kellys of this world. That’s fair: we’ll admit that there’s a certain rock-star swagger to swathing yourself in animal print. But with the mood in menswear as it is right now – one you could best sum up with the words “anything goes” – we’re confident that you can pull it off. And this corduroy hat from the cult streetwear label Wacko Maria is the perfect place to start.

03.

Turn up the contrast with Bottega Veneta’s bold colours

Bottega Veneta, the erstwhile king of Italian understatement, has undergone quite the transformation over the past couple of years, embracing bold colour and becoming in the process one of the hottest brands on planet fashion. “Bottega Green” may take all the headlines, but there are plenty of other shades in its swatchbook. The high-contrast teal shown here is known as “Blaster” and packs just as much of a punch. It’s put to great use here on this mohair-blend sweater, which we’ve paired with black denim trousers from Lemaire.

04.

Keep it pale and interesting with Tod’s and Brunello Cucinelli

There’s something delightfully impractical about white. It might not be the sort of thing for parents of mucky-fingered toddlers or anyone prone to accidents involving condiments, but if you can keep it clean – or put up with the dry-cleaning bill when any accidents do occur – then nothing else comes close for that European summer glamour. And, speaking of European glamour, few do it better than Brunello Cucinelli and Tod’s, the Italian brands responsible for the polo shirt and pleated trousers, respectively.

05.

Channel mid-century style with Dries Van Noten

A pink silk shirt might not be at the top of your new-season shopping list, but it makes for a smart addition to your wardrobe. Don’t believe us? Observe the supporting evidence. Worn here over a black vest from TOM FORD and cotton-twill chinos from visvim – plus a cheeky flash of pink boxer short – this one from Dries Van Noten is a fast-track to mid-century cool. The accessories, which include a pearl necklace from POLITE WORLDWIDE® and a pair of sunglasses from Cutler and Gross, keep this one from going full “Danny Zuko at prom night”.

06.

Looking blooming marvellous in Jacquemus’ prints

Mr Simon Porte Jacquemus’ eponymous menswear line has been serving up sunny, south-of-France chic since 2018. Nothing says “summer’s here” quite like its range of short-sleeved shirts, which typically come in an oversized fit and printed – or, in this case, embroidered – with floral patterns inspired by the designer’s upbringing in rural Provence. A laid-back summer staple you won’t want to take off, it deserves to be worn with something equally relaxed; these pyjama-like trousers from Acne Studios fit the bill.

07.

Live your beatnik fantasy with Nanushka

Classic workwear continues to provide a rich seam of inspiration for fashion designers, with the chore jacket now occupying a similar position in the male wardrobe as the navy blazer did 10 years ago. The in-demand Budapest brand Nanushka makes a particularly attractive version from gingham-check seersucker; we’ve paired it here with brown corduroy trousers from L.E.J. and loafers from Yuketen for a look that’s very rive-gauche beatnik, if we do say so ourselves.

08.

Get yourself a Studio Nicholson trench coat

An enduring symbol of utilitarian style ever since the 1940s, when it became associated with silver screen icons such as Mr Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, it’s no surprise to see the trench coat back on fashion’s front line. Studio Nicholson’s version is rather more understated than the original, doing away with many of its signature military design details but retaining the air of maturity and elegance that has made it such an all-time menswear classic. We’ve styled it here with a mauve-coloured cardigan from Jil Sander for a pop of colour and added a cross-body belt bag from A.P.C.

09.

Embrace retro sportswear with Isabel Marant

Nobody knows Parisian style better than Ms Isabel Marant. Who better, then, to give us a sneak peek of how the French cool kids are dressing these days? Her vision of contemporary men’s style (as demonstrated by the latest collection from her eponymous brand) is one which leans heavily on classic sportswear staples, such as this long-sleeved polo shirt, which stands out from the crowd thanks to a pleasingly retro graphic logo print. A white sweater thrown over the shoulders adds a nonchalant touch, while heavyweight sweatpants from LA basics brand Les Tien and a baseball cap from Norse Projects finish things off.

10.

Get fruity with JW Anderson

As the creative director of LOEWE, Mr Jonathan Anderson has spent the last eight years steering the Spanish heritage brand into exciting new creative territory; but for a glimpse of what the Northern-Irish designer is really all about, you need to check out his own brand. JW Anderson is a celebration of the fun that can be had in getting dressed up, a point illustrated perfectly by this matching fleece tracksuit decorated with giant strawberries – a recurring motif in the brand’s SS22 collection.