Fashion Forecasts: Men's Fashion Trends, Spring 2007

Weeks after Fashion Week in the Big Apple, specific trends have made their way into mainstream culture. A flurry of spring-toned colors and cuts, as well as fresh fabrics and mix-and-match clothing choices are hitting it big on the streets. The weather is still very permitting in many parts of the country. Why should anyone feel the need to wait for the upcoming season to jump into such hot clothes? Here are just some of next spring's hottest looks. They require an open-mind, bold taste, the ability to be reinspired by past season's and tastefully-selected vintage-inspired pieces. Here are the looks:


In Dries Van Noten's spring collection, Van Noten has incorporated a unique accessorizing technique, as well as many other designers for the upcoming season. This look introduces a new location for the belt, where a trenchcoat is worn and pulled tighter to the waist with the help of a belt. In this picture, the belt is the same color and fabric as the jacket itself. Many other designers have paired a regular trenchcoat with a rustic brown belt or a thin waist belt. This look is innovative and allows for accessories to shine brighter than the clothes themselves. Ken suggests: Stick with neutral colored belts. Browns, blacks and greys will allow for the trend to stand out, yet not scream for unnecessary attention.

This look needs no introduction. In the world of Haute Couture and street fashion, a blend of classic gentleman, savvy bachelor, true devotee to artistic expression and love for traditionalism, the waist coat (presented in the Hermes spring 2007 collection) is part of every generation's fashion musts. The look can compliment anything from a T-shirt to a cashmere sweater. This look is often forgotten, however, and is looked at as something only the true fashionista can wear. This is not the case. Try pairing a vest with your favorite white T-shirt and a pair of your most comfortable jeans with boots and you have the quinessential uniform for any man: fashion-conscious or not. Femals too! Ken suggests: To throw a more humble yet outstanding ensemble towards questionable critics, compliment your waist coat with a plaid fedora, exposing your hair. This will give your look a reinvented definition of the word 'Dapper' and will bring your street style to higher levels of chic.

Plunging Necklines are not only for girls anymore. A majority of Men's fashion has worked up to allow men a more lenient androgenous flair; the deep V-neck is just one of them. The deep V-neck has given the male chest more attention, giving men a sexier look. What better time than to introduce this look in the Spring, right? Here, Hedi Slimane hit all time highs by reaching all time lows for the plunging neckline. This look is best to pair with more masculine clothing choices, such as a crisp blazer, straight leg jeans, or worn-in, rustic boots. Ken suggests: Stay natural. If you have a bare chest, great! If you have chest hair, let it show! The waxed look is very gaudy Miami and will not be taken seriously by anyone, a naturally bare chest will do just fine.

The leather-shoes-with-no-socks look has been thrown around a lot. Yet, no one is even sure if works. This coming spring, this look has been presented in full force! Lanvin Spring 2007 collection offers cropped pants with leather shoes to tone down the high-structured formality of the suit and oxfords look. The look is fresh and timeless. While the suit may say you are getting down to business, the sockless shoes say 'I'm staying casual'. This is important as many day time looks steer away from overtly formal work wear and aim to achieve a more comfortable ensemble and less of an aggressive edge. Ken suggests: Leather shoes can be tough on the feet without socks. Try the shortest socks on the market or pull your black socks all the way up then pull them down over your sole for added comfort and more cushion. The socks will remain unseen.

A frenzy of short-shorts hit the runways for the 2007 spring collections, including John Bartlett. Bringing back elements of old-school prep and boyish charm, the short-shorts have made a tremendous comeback as many other fashion houses incorporated similar styles into their own collections. This trend is a fresh replacement of the oh-so-tired cargo short, used off and on from the end of the nineties right up through to 2006. Certain styles of cargo shorts came and went, yet overall, the shorts included baggy utility pockets, giving fashion a military twist. It will be great to finally see a change in a staple item; now most of us will be able to let our legs finally breathe. Ken suggests: Khaki Short-shorts with boat deck shoes or Romanesque sandals. A preppy flair of a big pony polo shirt may help many onlookers realize that the general ensemble isn't too feminine.

Could it be possible that man bags are here to stay? The answer is unsure, however one thing is for certain: the modern day briefcase is far more unique and more appealing than what men used to carry. A regular leather carryall has transformed into a personalized valuable item, a trademark of one's own personal style and character and breaks free from the mold of what things are to what things should be. The carryall has been a must in many runway shows, giving each ensemble a bold, manly image. As these bags take a specific shape, each design house is able to accent their bags with their signature pieces. For one, it could be a polished leather satchel or messenger with crocodile trim and brass hardware, for others it might be militaristic canvas tote with rustic leather straps. John Varvatos has taken on the latter of the two. As seen in the picture on the right, John Varvatos introduces (in his 2007 Spring collection) a much more casual bag. As an investment for true versatility and unrivaled quality, this bag can not only endure harsh weather conditions, but can also take on an alternative view of high class carryalls.

Casual grey is a phenomenal way to approach a new year as well as a new season. Most designers opt for a dramatic entrance, fluttering with a wide spectrum of colors and vibrant images painted on, amidst animal prints and luxurious fabrics. Grey has a subtle way of sneaking behind the scenes in order to turn heads dramatically. The key here is subtle. Different shades of grey give Michael Kors (picture to your right) a cool and alternative way to beat the perils of predictability and introduce the unexpected. Complimented with whites and off-whites, this color combination still keeps the most promising season of the year shimmering. Ken suggests: Head-to-toe in similar tones of grey would be overkill. make sure to switch up the grey tones in order to magnify the intensity of your wardrobe choices.

Recently mentioned by the Sartorialist, an unexpected color choice for shoes can really change a person's perspective on the outfit. A dark suit paired with brighter-colored oxfords or sneakers can allow for all the right attention to be directed your way. In Louis Vuitton's Spring 2007 collection, Marc Jacobs opted for a fresh look by offsetting an outfit, black suit vs. white leather shoes. He received all the attention he wanted. Pairing brown shoes with an unexpected suit can brighten your look and still remains timeless and effortlessly sophisticated. It is in the interest of maintaining a unique perspective in the realm of innovative fashion trends that we are constantly able to achieve bold and daring, yet pleasurable and exciting combinations of accessories, clothing and generally style for that matter. Ken suggests: Pick a color choice that wouldn't directly appeal to you and go with it. If it grows on you and others like it too, then you will be known for a having a creative fashionable kick and others will notice you too. (The Sartorialist is a blogger who writes about similar topics of street fashion here in the US and around the globe and also writes on current trends in the industry. You can find The Sartorialist on thesartorialist.blogspot.com.)