With the latest launch of our product, we have introduced newness in colors, fabrics, and styling options. I want to focus this segment on color and how to wear it; though I realize how subjective color is in clothing and how preference rules choices – I wanted to share some guidance on how you can wear color confidently.
I have said this before and will repeat this as an introduction: For most men, a little bit of color goes a very long way. Men generally wear color a lot less in their day-to-day outfits, and the colors themselves that they gravitate towards are usually smaller in range. One item that seems to be an exception is their summer polo, a summer go-to for casual days. This item has always been an easy place to accept even bold color as an option to classic Navy, grey, and white.
Perhaps with so many guys playing golf or enjoying club sports, the request and the wearing of color seem to heighten in the spring and summer. Men generally seem less afraid of color than in the past, or the general menswear market tends to offer less, sticking to limited ranges. I say, don’t be shy about wearing color. You may be surprised by what a lift it gives to your summer wardrobe. Wearing color is not as easy as it sounds, and choosing color is a fine line between too little or too much. So here are some of my guidelines that I hope can prove useful in wearing our new colors and how to wear them effortlessly.
Naturals and Color
I am grouping all of the lovely “wheaty” or “cereal” colors of khaki, chalk, and pebble in our latest collection as a natural color group. These are easy pant colors, and I love how sophisticated any pop of color or colors such as aqua, sunshine, and Aperol knits sits with them. Especially when accented with cognac accessories, the color accent seems almost toned down and looks and feels more wearable. This is an excellent option for men who are wearier than others about bright colors and can show how color can be easily integrated into a J.Hilburn custom-made wardrobe.
Classics and Color
For classics, I intend Navy and grey in all the different tones. These go-to menswear colors in pants and outerwear work well with color. I participially love a grey pant work with a bright accent-colored knit top, which I find is a modern and metropolitan way to wear color. If you add a white sneaker or a grey sneaker with a white accent, it is very “in the know” for a guy who isn’t scared of color that is looking for a new way to wear a color that he may not have thought of before. Navy (or black) works very graphically against color and can look a bit heavy on a figure in the height of summer, so my advice is to lighten outfits up with lighter cognac accessories or a white sneaker.
Tonals and Color
Another way to wear color is to think tone on tone classics and naturals with a singular color. Let me give you an example: Our slate grey performance pant works with the heather grey pique and then a vest in an accent color as the third piece to the outfit.
This could be inverted using the pant as the singular accent color of the outfit in mid-blue performance with the two tones of grey on the upper part of the outfit. This 2 + 1 method with color works well for spring outfitting using colors with the third piece for layering. This can be used with tones of blue, tones of grey, tones of natural, and then adding your favorite bright color from the new collection.
Another tip: I always try and match or coordinate the color of the footwear to the grey, blue or natural of the tonal majority of the outfit.
Color on Color
I think this looks great in the height of summer, showing two pieces together between a pant and top where this is a short, chino, or 5-pocket. The new Summer Cotton, the Spiced Coral, was designed to be worn with Sandy Pink Cotton Pique, as was the Azure Blue Summer Cotton back to Aqua Blue Pique. The Azure Blue also works with the new Light Blue Tech Poly, which gives a great colorful outfit – on the golf course, perhaps?
White and Color
Lastly and most easily is wearing white and color. I consider this a summer classic with a seasonal white (or almost white – like chalk) worn with a bright accent color and a white sneaker. It looks particularly good on a beach day or fresh for Saturday shopping with stylish color worn with Summer white.
Enjoy the sunshine and don’t forget to enjoy the colors.
