Key Menswear Prints & Patterns For SS14: Part Two

Prints & Patterns Round-Up Continued

In part one of our guide to the key prints you should be considering adding to your wardrobe for 2014/15, we explored classic checks and polka dots, along with more contemporary animal-inspired and geometric motifs. Here, in part two of our round-up, we take a look at two perennial spring/summer pattern trends as well as a couple that are sure to polarise opinion. Yet no matter whether you’re a timeless and refined dresser or like to make more of a statement, it has never been easier to individualise your warm-weather outfits…

Stripes

With the Breton t-shirt an all-time classic piece of menswear, stripes should be considered a wardrobe staple rather than a trend. That said, each spring/summer season brings with it a new modern tweak or variation on this timeless motif. For instance, Moschino took inspiration from nature and the elements for its SS14 collection, which saw garments covered in lightning bolts graphics, sandy desert scenes and images of the high seas. Interestingly, these patterns were split into horizontal panels, giving the appearance of wide block stripes, and applied to key pieces including a blazer, shirt and sweater. Kenzo was another fashion house that took a unique approach to the trend, utilising block stripe panels complete with a ‘paint brush effect’. In fact, the paint brush pattern itself is almost reminiscent of sporadic, disjointed stripes:

Those of you who prefer your stripes in a more traditional guise should look no further than E. Tautz, who applied vertical stripes to trousers, long jackets and even shoes. Andrea Pompilio, meanwhile, utilised classic horizontal stripes on suits, t-shirts and outerwear, modernising the print through adventurous colour choices. A highlight came in the form of a two-piece suit with all-over stripes in orange and black, while other looks featured a mix of wide and micro stripes within the same item of clothing:

SS15 References

As recently highlighted in our London Collections: Men SS15 trend round-up, vertical stripes are set to become extremely prominent in 2015. Typically coming in bold, thick, contrast forms, the pinstripe was the motif of choice throughout many collections, including respected tailoring houses such as Casely-Hayford, Gieves & Hawkes, E.Tautz, Duchamp and Tiger of Sweden. Away from London, Gucci were another huge advocate of the vertical stripe, applying thick black and white versions to both tailoring and separates that are designed to get you noticed. Other key trends include the block stripe, prominent within Dior Homme’s seaside meets city showcase, and traditional horizontal stripes applied to both knitwear and blazers, which were spotted at Emporio Armani, Boglioli, Zegna and Brioni:

Lookbook Inspiration

Current Pieces

It’s plain to see that the vertical stripe is set to become a major trend next summer, while SS14’s block stripe trend also looks set to build on its current popularity. For those that really want to make a statement, keep your eye out for striped jackets, trousers or knits, which were all popular on the SS15 runways. Remember, you can control the impact of this pattern through your choice of colour palette (muted or tonal stripes are easiest to wear) and the width of the stripe itself:

• Selected Striped Swim Shorts
• Asos Slim Fit Blazer In Stripe Jersey
• Selected Homme Danni Striped Shirt In Blue And White
• Allsaints Slide Tonic Crew T-shirt
• He By Mango Slim-fit Fine-stripe Shirt
• Gucci showcased several floral two-piece suits, proving that florals can successfully be applied to more formal items of clothing, too. Both single- and double-breasted suits were given the floral treatment, with the collection also demonstrating floral pattern mixing by way of separates. Looking at the more traditional, tropical end of the floral spectrum, our favourite print came from Ami. Using tropical leaves and flowers in lush yellow, red and green tones, this vibrant summer motif was applied to bomber jackets, trousers, shirts and sweatshirts. Interestingly, this tropical pattern was often paired with other key motifs already featured, such as camo print, geometrics and stripes:

  

  SS15 References

  Next year, florals are set to return to their more natural form – namely bold and vibrant. A. Sauvage applied oversized tropical leaf motifs to everything from shorts and tees to cropped bomber jackets, while Topman’s psychedelic showcase saw models sent down the runway in bold daisy print clothing in shades of yellow and pink. Elsewhere, Brioni incorporated digital floral prints in classic shades of blue, green and burgundy, which were actually extremely refined and wearable. The brand managed to take the more masculine elements of this year’s dark floral trend and give them a statement twist that is perfect for summer:

  

  Lookbook Inspiration

  

  Current Pieces

  This year is all about dark, muted florals that will slot seamlessly into your capsule wardrobe. However, come SS15 a slightly larger, bolder take will come to the fore – perfect for those that want to stand out from the crowd. Key pieces to consider include floral bombers, short-sleeved shirts and even printed blazers:

  • Topman Selected Homme Floral Shirt
  • He By Mango Floral Print T-shirt
  • Allsaints Hornsgatan Short Sleeved Shirt
  • Selected Blazer With Floral Print
  • Topman Tropical Print Ultra Skinny Trousers
  • He By Mango Floral Print Cardigan
  • He By Mango Tropical Print Pique Polo Shirt
  • Paul Smith Shoes & Accessories Printed Fine-cotton Pocket Square
  • River Island Black Floral Print T-shirt
  • River Island Turquoise Floral Print Casual Shorts
  • River Island Black Floral Print Mid Length Swim Shorts
  • Junya Watanabe Leather-trimmed Flower-print Canvas Backpack

  Ombre/Dip-Dye/Tie-Dye

  Ombre is defined as ‘having tones of colour that shade into each other, graduating from light to dark’. Sometimes referred to as a gradient dip-dye effect, it’s not one of the singular standout print trends for SS14, but it is a pattern that was prevalent within some high profile collections and enables lovers of colour to effortlessly integrate tonal shades into their wardrobe. Richard James was one designer who incorporated dip-dye into his collection, with a highlight coming in the form of an eye-catching ombre polo shirt that faded from neon pink to pale lavender. Adopting a similar approach, Giorgio Armani and Vivienne Westwood applied ombre and dip-dye effects to t-shirts and shirts, which perfectly encapsulate the mood of summer and would be ideal for holidaying or festival season. But our favourite examples came from Fendi, who utilised a charcoal grey tie-dye pattern that also incorporated shades of white and yellow, as well as a gradient dip-dye which faded from white to bronze. These burnt/charred hues echoed the underlying desert theme that ran throughout the collection:

  

  SS15 References

  Ombre effects gave way to tie-dye at the SS15 fashion weeks, with Casely-Hayford kicking off proceedings in London with a grown-up take on the pattern. The father and son duo chose to stick to muted colour palettes, combining tie-dye t-shirts with neutral separates to create an altogether refined and subtle statement. In Milan, Iceberg took a slightly bolder approach, applying tie-dye patterns to loose-fitting shorts and cropped bomber jackets for a more casual feel. Like Casely-Hayford, these pieces came in more subdued tones of grey, black and dark red. Finally, Bottega Veneta sent bleach effect knitwear down their runways, which gave the appearance of an ombre effect. These came in washed out blue hues and would make an excellent addition to any high summer wardrobe, where they can be layered over vest or tees at night once temperatures drop: