With a huge array of colours and styles out there, knitwear is a look that can be worn well by absolutely everyone. Bright colours, bold stripes and fair-isle designs are very much back on trend, and a sweater is a great way to wear them well, without overloading.  There is certainly a lot more to knitwear than just keeping warm.

V-neck sweaters are versatile as they can be worn over a shirt to complement jeans or even suit trousers, creating a simple but stylish look that works well from day through to night. Wear a V-neck instead of a jacket for a great smart/casual look.

Crew-neck sweaters are very much the look of the season.  They look great with jeans and there is a huge range of colours and styles to choose from.  A crew-neck adds style and flair to simple outfits.  A smart sweater worn on a cold winter night out not only looks stylish but can also be very useful for keeping warm on the journey home.

Cardigans that fasten at the front with buttons or a zip have made something of a style comeback and the right piece can add flair to a casual outfit.  Choose a cardigan in a comfortable wool fabric, in a colour that complements everything else.

Knitwear

Jeans

Not just one pair but two or three really good quality pairs in dark denim, lighter denim and a black pair. Police jeans can see you through any event whether really dressy but not an occasion for a suit or down at your local. Straight cut with no fancy detailing is what you are looking for, something that will easily go with anything else in your wardrobe.

Trousers

Trousers are seeing resurgence this season whether they are chino trousers, corduroy trousers or just coloured trousers. You don’t need a whole collection, just something to make a change from wearing jeans if the occasion arises.

Tops

Under tops you will find dress shirts, casual shirts, long sleeved tops (granddad tops) and t-shirts anything that goes on top really. Not forgetting during autumn winter, jumpers, hoodies and cardigans.

Suit

Self-explanatory really every guy needs a good well-fitting suit, as long as you don’t drastically gain/lose weight a good quality suit can last you years. The only thing you will probably find you change is the shirt and tie, depending on fashions and your tastes.

Outerwear

For the winter months a good wool coat will see you through the coldest of the UK weather and when we don’t have artic conditions then a jacket will do. I would probably say investing in a good quality black wool jacket in a classic style would be the best idea, something that will last you a number of years and won’t go out of style. Jackets on the other hand can be less expensive and you could go for more trend led styles.

You can really pick up some good brand bargains with clothing from Designerwear, so why not top up your wardrobe today, to make sure you have the essentials you need.

Donna Karan exclaims “This collection was about the empowerment of women, their words of wisdom and their ability to be strong and take a stand without giving up their femininity.” And she explains this is what has influenced her to bring back the bold statements pieces such as the famous, knee length skirt.

Other designers, such as Gaultier, kept it sexy and included a slight modern-edge to the collection, by adding a revealing thigh-high slit to pencil skirts, while Jonathan Saunders used a series of unexpected colour combinations to help and an ‘upbeat vibe.’

Whatever your fashion style, you would be stupid to miss out on ‘forties fashion’ this season. For those who aren’t as confident when it comes to fashion, you could always start by adding just a few pearls to an outfit. Once the confidence is gained, you can always go the extra-mile and go for the complete look!

Forties fashions

Firetrap was founded in 1993 just when Britpop was forming and on the tail end of grunge style, so these elements were taken into consideration when the company was defining their style. Over the years the company have always stuck with a dark, edgy style perfect for those with a rebellious attitude to fashion which can easily be seen in their standalone stores.

Firetrap have not only standalone stores, but also numerous concession stores, selling in over 30 countries with 1,500 outlets worldwide as well as a huge online presence, you can get Firetrap clothing from Designerwear as well as many other online stores.

Like other brands Firetrap also champion new music as a way of communicating with their customers, looking into underground music talent at venues around the country. During 2009 Firetrap were heavily involved in many of the definitive music and fashion events. They offer endorsement to up and coming artists and Firetrap have also been headline sponsors of the Stag & Dagger festival, plus they were also the sponsor of Bestival’s first ever signing lounge and press area.

Firetrap clothing for A/W 11/12

Jack & Jones clothing black double breasted coat which is below is streamlined to create a more toned down version of the classic cut.  The new paired down version is universally wearable due to its conservative good looks as well as its increased functionality.  With more material closer to the body around the body’s core, the new double breasted coats are warmer than the older oversized version. 

With the coat fitting closer to the body cool air cannot get inside of the coat and the body’s natural warmth is kept in.  The more tailored, lower profile cut is also universally flattering allowing men who may be shorter in stature to wear this look without the heft of the coat overpowering a smaller frame. Republic clothing has a great selection of coats and jackets ready for winter some are featured below.

Mens coats from Republic

Michael Bastian

New York based, Michael Bastian is known as a very basic designer.  His original mission was to create a clothing range that was so broad that it would appeal to almost anyone.  His main look focuses around American style clothing, but with subtle flairs.  Over the past five years, since the creation of his very own menswear range, Bastian has managed to cement his place in the industry as one of Americas fashion elites.

Michael Bastian

Tim Hamilton

Tim Hamilton is primarily known as a menswear designer.  After winning the CFDA/Swarovski award in 2009 for best men’s wear designer, his clothing range has been stocked in some of the most prestigious fashion shops in the world.  Hamilton is known for his preppy, yet masculine designs that simply serve as an upgrade to the everyday man’s wardrobe.

Tim Hamilton

Keanan Duffty

One of the most eccentric British designers of all time, Keanan Duffty is known for his rock ‘n’ roll inspired designs.  With a cult following and large host of celebrity fans such as; David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Billy Corgan, Duffty has established himself as one of the world’s most important designers.  His range has been credited as one of the most fun and cutting-edge of all time, often using strange fabrics and industry taboos to create a sense of individuality.

Ozwald Boateng

London based designer, Ozwald Boateng has quickly made a name for himself in the United States, having designed specialist outfits for celebrities such as; Laurence Fishburne, Mick Jagger and Jamie Foxx.  After opening his first Savile Row store at the age of 23 he has gone from strength to strength.  His range oozes sophistication, focusing heavily on luxuriously designed suits.

With the past decades emergence of so many men’s fashion designers, the industry has seen a boom in interest that was lost in past years and with the rise of these designers, people from all sorts of backgrounds have started to take more of an active interest in what they’re wearing.

The key to conquering this look would be to avoid going OTT. One shining piece is all you need to ensure your look is stand-out without looking like you are from out-of-space. You should aim to mix you metallic piece with simple shirts, basic knits and matte, leather accessories.

It is important to remember, you don’t have to wear this look to ensure you stand out from the crowd. Metallic jewellery in the form of necklaces or cuffs can be a nice addition to an outfit, without being too much. You don’t have to steal the show.

On the other hand, it can be nice to stand out, especially if you have a nightlife event or a special occasion to go to. Sequin dresses, can be bold statement, and are proving to be very popular this season. When wearing a sequin dress, you should wear minimal jewellery and minimal make-up; you don’t want to distract the attention from your lovely (and most likely expensive) dress!

If a dress isn’t really your style, but you really want to try out the look, then be a bit different. There’s certainly nothing wrong with pairing up metallic jumpers or a blazer with a pair of tailored trousers! Go for it!

Metallics and glitter

I normally reserve printed t-shirts, slogan t-shirts or branded t-shirts for casual wear, plain t-shirts can be dressed up for smart occasions however I feel that printed t-shirts can’t.

 Sport shirts cover a range of tops; polo, rugby, tennis and cricket. Sportswear trends are always popular and these types of tops are always good for casual wear. However when I am talking about sports top I don’t mean actual team ones, these are fine for games but don’t really work for everyday casual wear.

Check shirts seem to be big in casual wear at the moment, although they seem to be getting a bit overdone but then again checked shirts are always handy to have in to mix up a look. Worn on their own, open over a printed tee or under a sweater they are great for layering.

When it comes to Republic jeans, you probably can’t get much more casual than that. For years jeans have really been casual wear mainstay, there are some styles which look smart such as dark denim, straight cuts casual style however tend to be loser fitting and work well lighter in colour too. Canvas and corduroy seem to be making a comeback at the moment with different colours being popular, easy to wear and mix and match they are perfect for casual wear.

Casual menswear

Choosing Colours this Autumn

Honeysuckle, the vibrant edge of an autumn sunset is also Pantone’s colour of the year and remains a theme carried over from summer.  Deep teal is the colour of choice for the premier fashion houses in Paris, New York and Milan this year. Coffee liqueur and nougat make a comeback after several seasons in women’s pants and eveningwear.  The neutrals have held more ground this year, showing up in day casual wear, especially in tartan skirts and tunics.  A surprise entrant for scarves and shrugs is the bold and dignified mimosa yellow, while cognac has been the toast of the season for skirts, gowns, scarves and jackets.

The Colours of Joy

The dour, sombre, gloom of autumn and winter make way for the proud and powerful colours of this year’s autumn collection.

The Basics of Winter Fashion

As the months are getting colder and colder, people are tending to opt for a larger boot.  Growing in popularity is the leather boot with a chunky sole.  This will not only keep out the water, but will serve as a great insulator with the help of some nice thick socks.  Changing the laces are a great way to add some character to the piece so you can give them your own personal flair.

A popular fabric that we are seeing a lot more of is tweed.  Created in the Highlands, tweed is very warm and durable wool.  Tweed trousers look perfect with a cardigan, whilst tweed jackets can be made to look very stylish with the help of some dark jeans and ankle boots.

The More Stylish Approach

Style wise, in recent years there have been a drastic increase in brighter colours and horizontal stripes, usually in the form of a kitted jumper or cardigan.  Wearing bright colours above the waist is a great way to make you stand out amongst the dark gloomy backdrop of the winter.
Leather jackets can also be a good way to keep your style in check.  Not only do they look great, but they can be nice and warm, and are perfect for keeping out moisture.