• Men's Fashion Guides

How to Wear 10 Notoriously Difficult Menswear Pieces

Hands up: anyone who hasn’t looked at a runway show and thought, WTF? If a six-foot-four Scandinavian Adonis can’t pull off Rick Owens’ glory hole trousers, how on earth can we average men? Even when such trends trickle down to the high street, they can present all sorts of problems – we’re either too short, too fat or just too sane to even launch an attempt. But tricky clothing shouldn’t be discounted entirely (unless it is actually glory hole trousers). As guys take more wardrobe risks, we spoke to style experts about how to steer such pieces from wacky to wearable. And the solutions are much easier than you’d think.

Cargo Trousers

Cargo trousers: once military uniform, now an on-trend essential in many a man’s kit. But despite the recent surge, they still cause boyband-triggered Vietnam flashbacks nationwide. “The solution is in the fit,” says Luke McDonald, associate stylist at men’s personal shopping service Thread. “Make sure your cargo trousers don’t pool or bunch around the ankle – a slimline shape should sit just above your shoes and will flatter most physiques.” (Related: How To Wear Cargo Trousers) In addition, to make sure your style doesn’t go MIA, McDonald suggests flanking cargo trousers with simple staples such as cable-knit jumpers, desert boots and plain T-shirts in earthy hues or darker neutrals such as black and navy.

Key Pieces

• Next Laundered Cargos
• New Look Light Grey Cargo Trousers
• Broome – Garment Dyed Cargo Pants Relaxed Slim Fit
• River Island Black Slim Fit Cargo Trousers
• Jean Shop Gene Slim-fit Cotton-twill Cargo Trousers
• Todd Snyder Infantry Herringbone Cotton Cargo Trousers

Technical Rainwear

Technical rainwear is usually a terrifying reminder of sopping wet school trips and dry-as-a-bone Geography teachers, with most pieces falling firmly into the nerdwear remit. “Wearing technical rainwear is a problem because it often looks like you’re wearing exactly that,” says Mr Porter style director Olie Arnold. “Traditionally-speaking, they’re not the most stylish of pieces, with boxy and unfitted shapes more associated with the great outdoors.” But it isn’t all bad: “Brands are now placing technology from active sportswear within more stylish designs,” adds Arnold. “Look out for Nike Lab and Loro Piana – both offer pieces that have more in common with a blazer, which suits just as well over a suit as it does with jeans or sneakers.” (Related: Making Sense Of Technical Fabrics)

Key Pieces

• Topman Stone Parka Coat
• Rains Four Pocket Jacket Blue
• Herno Laminar Slim-fit Gore-tex Paclite Shell Raincoat
• Reiss Steer Slim-fit Shirt Pink<img
  

Murray Clark