• Men’s Fashion Trends

Men’s SS13 Key Colour: Pink

Introduction

Having already had your mind opened to the option of orange for SS13, it’s time to strike while the brightly-tinted iron is hot and introduce another colour that is set to shape the coming season. As the title suggests, this colour is pink. Cerise, fuchsia, salmon or rose, the hue has an obvious and significant cultural association with femininity. Therefore the colour is often shunned (or not taken into consideration at all) when piecing together the male wardrobe. Ironically, pink was once a popular colour for baby boys in the early 20th century. This season, pink has been used widely in collections across the fashion spectrum – from statement blazers and suits available at the likes of Topman, Cos and Dondup, to bold metallics and more subtle prints at premium fashion houses such as Burberry. So although the pink dress shirt is often considered part of a classic capsule wardrobe, this year it’s time to expand and grow – with confidence and gusto.

Pink On The SS13 Runways

Top To Bottom: Burberry Prorsum SS13, E. Tautz SS13 and Michael Bastian SS13

How To Wear: Pink SS13

Pink plays right into the traditional spring/summer aesthetic. A lighter pastel shade is always a solid option when the sun begins to shine, helping to create the Riviera-inspired outfits that are perennially stylish. Pastel pink, alongside lightweight fabrics and similar subtle tones (e.g. white, off-white and light grey), is a combination worth championing this (and every) spring/summer. A matte pink hue, akin to what was on show at Michael Bastian, is a bolder choice that doesn’t appear too brash. In particular, a matte pink shirt creates a solid contrast against a light coloured suit, yet isn’t dark enough to the point that it can’t support a tie – a fine balancing act that makes this particular piece an excellent addition to your wardrobe. Matte variations also look superb when applied to coloured trousers or shorts. With preppy/Ivy League connotations, pink leg wear will pair effortlessly with other American prep-inspired pieces and your existing collection of smart-casual staples (think polos, Oxford shirts and lightweight merino wool). Utilised correctly, they will inject a splash of colour and personality into any ensemble – just remember to anchor with more restrained neutrals in order to let the trousers do all the talking.

Men’s Pink Spring/Summer Lookbook Inspiration

Outfit Inspiration: Pink

Look One: Statement

A salmon pink jumper, despite being a great statement piece, is highly wearable for most occasions – another versatile wardrobe addition. Anchor the bold jumper with some more sober tailored chino shorts. A sparse, understated print on your leg wear is an on trend and stylish move that will add more to the look than it takes away. With the statement sorted, take a simpler approach to the rest of your ensemble. A plain block-coloured polo is the way forward, so layer one underneath the sweatshirt before finishing off with some timeless tassel loafers in tasteful brown leather:

• Allsaints Bramford Polo
• A.p.c. Loopback-cotton Sweatshirt
• Topman Navy Chino Leaf Shorts
• Polo Ralph Lauren Arscott Tassel Loafers

Look Two: Pastel

Combine two major colour trends in one look with a pair of light pastel pink chinos worn alongside a sky blue button-down. Roll up the sleeves to fight the height of summer or, if the weather remains warm but not hot, layer up with a white blazer – something that has become somewhat of a spring/summer staple in recent years. Finally, finish off the look with some grey suede shoes. A frequently underused colour when it comes to footwear, grey is just as versatile and easy to wear on your feet as it is everywhere else:

• Dr. Denim Pete Light Blue Shirt
• Asos Slim Fit Suit Jacket In Cotton
• Band Of Outsiders Cotton Chino Trousers 152984
• Topman Morris Suede Shoes

Look Three: Office Appropriate

Suiting up in summer is often an unfortunate prospect (especially when combined with a sticky commute and office air-con that is less than effective), so when the mercury rises, reach for lightweight fabrics. If your dress code allows it, unstructured tailoring will also prove less stifling and should help you remain cooler. Suiting up in summer is often an unfortunate prospect (especially when combined with a sticky commute and office air-con that is less than effective), so when the mercury rises, reach for lightweight fabrics. If your dress code allows it, unstructured tailoring will also prove less stifling and should help you remain cooler.

• Reiss Juke Mutli Yarn Crew Neck Jumper Rose
• Uniqlo Men Dry Jersey Jacket
• He By Mango Cotton Oxford Blazer
• Michael Bastian Cotton And Linen-blend Trousers
• Allsaints Catamaran Swim Shorts
• Topman Pink Chino Shorts
• Skinny Tie
• Striped Knitted Mulberry Silk Tie
• Pantone Pink Crew Socks
• Bale Kg Kurt Geiger
• Asos Loafers In Suede With Fringe Detail
• Saucony X Solebox Mens Shadow 5000 Sneakers

Conclusion

They say that real men wear pink. Whoever ‘they’ are, we agree they have a point and that it’s time to reclaim the colour from the fairer sex. Integrate it into all areas of your wardrobe this season, from office wear – a pink shirt is always a great option to have in your rotation – to off-duty casuals in the form of knits, shorts and shoes. Whether you choose to make a statement or utilise pink as an accent, it is fast becoming a contender for colour of the season. But now we want to hear your view:

• Are you a man with a penchant for pink?
• Do you regularly work a pink shirt into your office wear rotation?
• Do you like to get bold with the colour in your casual clothes?
• How will you be styling pink when the heat picks up?

Let us know in the comments section…

Alex Woodhall

A student and self-confessed fashion fanatic whose articles mainly focus on seasonal topics varying from trends to guides. As well as being a contributing writer at FashionBeans Alex maintains his own blog over at wardrobewarrior.co.uk.