Three ways to wear one of SS18’s key trends.

OK, we admit it – the idea of statement prints, which we have designated one of our key trends for spring 2018, is something of a catch-all. On the one hand, it refers to a specific tendency for designers to pepper their T-shirts and sweatshirts with strident slogans or logos. On the other, it encompasses a preference for loud, colourful patterns, which, as the summer months approach, dare we say it, is not entirely new. The truth is that print always comes to the fore in summer, and there are some motifs that recur every year, which makes them a slightly better investment than they might initially seem. Scroll down to discover the three patterns we think every man should master this spring, and how to wear them.

Both optimistic and unquestionably summery, florals have made inroads into men’s style in recent years, thanks in large part to the resurgence of various 1950s-tinged styles, such as the aloha shirt. The example above, from AMI, is one of the most recent and vibrant variations on the form and, though rather bright, is easier to wear than you might think. Simply tone it down with a pair of navy chinos, which will speak to the blue background of the floral pattern, and add a pair of white sneakers or leather sandals, depending on how fully you want to leap into the whole summer thing.

No one could say camouflage doesn’t have pedigree. Like all military-inspired details, it’s a print that has found a place in men’s style, thanks to its formidable function. But you probably don’t want to blend in too much when wearing it as part of your weekend wardrobe, so we suggest throwing this field jacket on over a contrasting sweater. This one from Altea comes in a pleasing off-white colour, which will work nicely with the yellowy greens of the camouflage pattern.

Ikat is an Indonesian fabric that owes its appealing geometric patterns to carefully space-dyed fibres. You don’t necessarily need to know that to appreciate the complex textures of this jacquard, ikat-inspired jacket from Saint Laurent, but you could be stuck for an ice-breaker this summer. We like its loose, bohemian style, which brings to mind the kind of thing you might pick up in a Los Angeles thrift shop. Play up the quirky, New Age feel with a hypnotic eye-print T-shirt from Gucci.

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