There is so much to be gained from stepping outside of our comfort zones. Of course, the majority of us never do.
We might feel the occasional urge to do something wild but we suppress it, afraid of what people might think, that it might seem out of character. Just look at the way most men dress. With every colour of the rainbow at our disposal we largely rely on neutrals: a sombre palette of black, white, navy and grey, punctuated by the occasional sashay into camel or olive. Anything beyond that can feel a bit transgressive, as if we’re trying too hard to be different – to stand out from the crowd.
But few trends come without an element of transgression. Fashion designers live to overstep boundaries, and so anything regarded as off-limits has a pretty good chance of becoming the next big thing – or, at the very least, a version thereof.
The trick to tasteful application of colour is to use softer hues for larger areas of fabric
Take pink, for instance. Its current popularity in menswear speaks not just to the fact that it’s both attractive and versatile, but also that, because it’s often considered a more feminine colour, there’s something slightly anarchic and fun about the wearing it with confidence. From salmon to flamingo, cherry blossom to blush – there’s a hue for you.
Need proof? Look no further than this outfit from Mr Porter’s in-house label, Mr P., which releases its latest collection this month. The trick to subtle and tasteful application of colour is to use softer hues for larger areas of fabric and more vibrant ones to add an accent: notice how the dusty pastel pink of this suede biker jacket is softened by the more intense flashes of pink on the camp-collar shirt.
Adventurous without being audacious, it’s the sort of thing that stands out from the crowd without screaming for attention.
For more information, see mrporter.com
