Banjo Outpost

Jesse is rocking the military trend with these olive drab drawstring pants. His denim shirt with white micro polka dots is layered with a light blue sweatshirt and a navy windreaker. The Pendleton Mighty Chief rucksack completes the look. All fashions courtesy of Banjo (most available online),except model’s shoes.

Some of spring’s most fashionable clothes are also pieces that will transform into mainstays of your wardrobe, if purchased without an excess of contemporary details. Case in point: an everyman’s new wardrobe basic, the luxury sweatpant. Luxe sweatpants have been on the style radar for a couple of seasons and because they are so well-loved by men far and wide, will become a fashion staple for years to come. Narrower in the leg and tapered down to a fitted ankle, their tailored look is perfectly balanced when layered with a tank top, button up shirt, and a denim jacket for a relaxed Saturday. Purchase in a neutral colour like grey or black to ensure their seasonless appeal…(check out Bridge City Fashion for more of this blog post)

The ochre jean is matched with an olive drab military-inspired jacket with utility pockets, spring-appropriate kelly green zip up hoodie, and white tee with floral print logo. The duffle bag is made of environmentally-friendly recycled leather. All fashions from Banjo except for model’s shoes.

But it’s not just olive drab that we’ll see in the retail stores this year. Green in every shade is having quite a moment in fashion right now, from darker, more diminutive shades like bottle green and loden to statement greens such as kelly green and washed-out mint. A hunter green tie can be a simple yet purposeful way of injecting some of spring’s new life into your office wardrobe. Incorporating a bright cobalt shirt or pocket square is another way to enliven your work wardrobe, since brights in primary colours are also popular for men this season. Lemon yellow and poppy red look quite snappy in a preppy polo shirt or a lightweight summer cardigan, especially when paired with white, grey, or black. For the sartorial risk-taker, a pair of trousers in a solid primary colour is a statement that indicates one has reached a level of fashion transcendence.

For men like these who are brave of heart and secure in their masculinity, florals have arisen as an unexpected, yet playful trend. Applications range from loud, English rose printed jackets and suits to more conservative, delicate prints on ties, shirts, and hats. A more subtle textile print such as the classic nautical stripe in navy and white or black and white may be more suitable for the man who likes to play things conservatively in fashion for both work and play…….

Meanwhile, in the land of man’s carry-alls, if you’ve finished your post-secondary education and you still believe that a man’s backpack is comprised of something made of nylon, it’s time for you to upgrade. Unless you’re going to the temple of health (a.k.a the gym), you have a social responsibility to dress like a grown-up and trade your backpack for a knapsack. The difference? A knapsack is beautiful. It’s made of natural materials like wool, leather, or cotton canvas, and it often has details lending it a vintage vibe. Brands that create these type of knapsacks include Pendleton, Herschel, Gravis, Sandqvist, and Will Leather Goods, all of which are available in Saskatoon.

Top Ten Men’s Trends for Spring:

1. Military-inspired jackets
2. Ochre-coloured jeans – like Carhartt’s, but better
3. Luxury sweatpants – think tailored, not sloppy
4. Denim shirts – a menswear staple, classically paired with chinos
5. The colour green in every shade – bottle green, loden, olive, kelly green, mint
6. Bold brights in primary colours- lemon yellow, poppy red, electric blue
7. Florals – as subtle or bold as you dare
8. Nautical stripes – white and navy or white and black
9. Sockless shoes – invest in Dr. Scholl’s peppermint foot powder
10. Rucksack with leather and/or wool detailing