• Men’s Fashion Trends

Men’s SS13 Colour Trend: Blue

Introduction

One of this season’s most popular upcoming trends is the utilisation of colour – whether in the form of tailoring or tonal outfitting. And it seems that one particular colour has moved to the forefront: good old-fashioned blue. Now it may not seem particularly ground breaking to report that blue is going to dominate menswear this season ? it is, after all, ingrained as a male-oriented colour from birth ? but it had a huge presence (in multiple hues) within designer collections at the global fashion weeks, and the high street looks set to follow suit.

On The Runways

Blue hues proved to be extremely popular on the high fashion runways ? ranging from bright cobalt/aqua shades to more subtle, calm tones. So for those that already have a wardrobe full of navy and sky blue, there should be something that will still appeal.

Salvatore Ferragamo SS13

For the more adventurous men out there, the collection by Salvatore Ferragamo featured unashamedly eye-catching shades of Curaçao blue. These bold tones featured in the form of separates, such as single-breasted blazers, shirts and tailored shorts, and were also used to create striking colour-blocked and tonal head-to-toe outfits in shades of aqua:

Burberry Prorsum SS13

Taking an even more adventurous approach, Burberry Prorsum launched their highly controversial metallic collection, advertised by none other than Romeo Beckham. The metallics trend has already been featured on FashionBeans earlier this year, and it proved to be one that polarised opinion whilst also being extremely difficult to pull off. However, in smaller doses, such as metallic detailing or patches, it is a trend that works extremely well and would definitely make you stand out from the crowd:

Key Show: Hermes

For those who would prefer a more subtle take on the blue trend ? which I imagine is the vast majority of our readers ? check out the SS13 showcase from Hermes. Hermes utilised striking yet subtle tones of petrol blue throughout the entire collection, which, when combined with the cut of the tailoring and sophisticated styling of the looks, helped to maintain a sense of professionalism and effortless style. Those of you who are looking to create tonal formal/office appropriate looks this year should take note. From single- and double-breasted blazers to stylish overcoats, the range encapsulated a timeless sense of classicism that is often lacking within the majority of designer collections – especially these days when designers often seem more preoccupied with shocking and stunning their audiences. The showcase also featured some more casual pieces, such as the blue wide-knit fisherman-style jumpers, which were paired effortlessly with chinos and tailored shorts to create summer appropriate, tonal outfits. Overall, it’s refreshing to see a high fashion collection that is completely wearable and retains a sense of sartorialist superiority:

The Fashion Press

The men’s fashion press has wholeheartedly endorsed blue as the go-to colour for this coming season. For instance, a couple of months ago Shortlist magazine featured a summary of the key trends for SS13, highlighting blue in all types and shades – from cornflour and cyan to sky and cobalt. Shortlist noted that this is a very easy colour trend for any man to incorporate into their wardrobe and also recommend using blue as a starting point for successful colour-blocked outfits. Similarly, Esquire magazine included a feature in their February issue called ‘Traveller?s Check’, where they detailed four European cities ? Paris, Milan, London and Copenhagen ? and the types of looks that are typically associated with stylish men living in these areas. Every single one of these four looks used the colour blue as a base to build the outfit around, showing that it is not only a popular colour trend for the upcoming season, it’s an internationally stylish choice. Sticking with Esquire, their March issue featured an article called ‘A Bolt From The Blue’, which included a collection of accessories in this season’s go-to colour. Included in the feature were blue suede boots by Hackett, a blue leather tote bag from Tods and blue crocodile skin loafers from Bally Esquire. In the same issue, gold medal-winning Olympians Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford showcased a variety of designer looks that are likely to be popular this season. Nearly all of them incorporated bright shades of cobalt blue, creating a series of striking outfits. There was an adventurous blue chunky roll neck jumper by Michael Kors, a cobalt unstructured blazer by Tommy Hilfiger, turquoise twill trousers by Gucci and a pair of navy suede tasselled loafers from Russell & Bromley. Although these garments were specifically selected for an eye-catching photo shoot, each piece would still work extremely well with other neutrals you already own within your wardrobe.

Retailer Lookbooks: SS13

Take a look at some of the latest designer and high street lookbooks that are showing an emphasis on blue for SS13:

Current Key Pieces

• Topman Solid Blue High Roll T-shirt
• Reiss Hinks Merino V-neck Jumper
• Mcq Unstructured Slim-fit Cotton Suit Jacket
• Asos Skinny Fit Suit Jacket In Polywool
• Topman Cobalt Blue Flannel Heritage Blazer
• Casio Casual Blue Digital Watch
• Herschel Blue Settlement Backpack
• Junya Watanabe Leather Belt
• Topman Blue Chambray Pocket Square
• Antoine & Stanley Parker Brogues
• Polo Ralph Lauren Telly Suede Loafers

Final Word

So there we have it, one of the biggest colour trends to hit the men’s fashion world for spring/summer 2013 is one that all of us should already own. However, why not look to incorporate multiple shades of blue within your wardrobe this year? The great thing about this trend is that the new pieces you purchase will already work extremely well with other complementary colours you have in your wardrobe – think white, red, brown or tonal navy – helping you develop seasonally appropriate, effortless looks that are both on trend and stylish. But now we want to hear your view:

• Is blue your favourite colour?
• What specific shade of blue are you backing for spring/summer 2013?
• Will you be looking to create tonal blue outfits this season?
• Are striking shades of aqua and cobalt appropriate for an office environment?

Let us know in the comments section.

Ben Jones

Contributing feature writer who produces in depth fashion articles focusing on a variety of seasonal topics.