I'm concluding this three part post responding to a reader who asked how to dress now he'd reached his fortieth birthday with a thought that's only come to me recently. Often the most successful style involves keeping it simple.
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| The simplicity of the look enhances the real sense of style. Image The Sartorialist |
Everyone's tastes differ - luckily - but I find myself increasingly influenced by really uncomplicated looks based on straightforward shapes and colour. We're programmed from early in our sartorial lives to think about pattern and colour and how it all goes together. We get used to the idea that complexity here is the norm. Does that colour shirt go with this patterned tie with this pocket square and that blazer?
Forget all that and think about -
1. Form - is what we're wearing well-fitting and simple in shape?
2. Colour - are the colours complementary, restrained and, above all, uncluttered?
Once we are happy here we can turn to number 3:
3. Do we want to add to this basic and straightforward structure with a single bold splash of colour and/or pattern (in a tie or pocket square for example) that draws attention to, but doesn't detract from, the basic simplicity of form and colour?
The honesty of the look enhances the real sense of style. Think classical Greek architecture, think minimalism.
What do you think?
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| Image The Sartorialist |
Interesting introduction GF to the art of dressing. Might you want to talk a little about tonal dressing ( Say a mixture of blaks and greys in an outfit) Or the advantage of the artists colour wheel when selecting apposite and opposite colours?
ReplyDeleteGosh! - you're assuming considerably more expertise than I can claim, I'm afraid, but I have touched on these matters before and will have a go at it again.
ReplyDeleteThe choice of tone and colour is a fascinating subject and I'm not sure I fully understand it yet. This may be something for a guest post.
GF.
I like your idea of simplicity as a goal as we age.
ReplyDeleteThe approach you advocate to is one used in next summers Burbery Porsum collection. For anybody, like me, who can't afford Burberyy can I suggest either Uniqlo or Gap for high quality yet colourful merino knits. Or perhaps a nice tartan scarfe from Edinburgh Woolen Mills or Kinloch Anderson
ReplyDeleteAs a woman , the first man is very appealing - enough effort to look stylish without trying too much . The second guy is just too precious for me , he's really thought about this . That's fine of course but I prefer the laid back look of number one , & he has a great smile too
ReplyDeleteWendy