Adventures in Men’s Clothing

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According to The NY Times, men are being more adventurous with the way they dress. Mixing patterns and colors have become part of the trend for men this season, and many are surprised that this is catching on.

“Men are more brave with color and pattern now,” said Paul Smith, the British designer who may have initiated more men into the art of mixing pattern than any other. He knows, from working in his own stores, how eager men are to try, yet how afraid they are of making a mistake.

“You know, how do you say what’s O.K.?” he said. “That’s what’s difficult. You have to be brave to think you can do it. It’s such a matter of personal confidence and taste.” But he noted that what made the Duke of Windsor and Fred Astaire style gods in the 1930s was their daring in mixing patterns.

Men are really trying to mix and match, to be more confident, and have fun with what they are wearing. Not only in suiting, sportswear has now ween some mixed patterns.  Even those designers known for their allegiance to an urban palette that ranges from asphalt gray to traffic-cone orange have had a field day with patterns this spring. Among others, Miuccia Prada, Martin Margiela and Junya Watanabe went overboard for, respectively, plaids, stripes and florals.