With my 10-year college reunion on the not-too-distant horizon, I recently met up with one of my best buddies from Uni. We started to reminisce about the good old days when all you needed was a ten pound note in your pocket and you were sorted for a night out on the town, with enough change left for chips and a battered sausage on the way home. Back then when it came to clothes I embraced colour in all its glory, never shy of any shade. Leaving the world of scholarly pursuits behind and starting to “mature”, I noticed the colours I was wearing started becoming less vibrant and I guess you could say more subtle.
Summer is a liberating time in mens fashion. For at least two thirds of the year many men indulge in a safe, muted and somewhat sombre colour palette that tends to dominate clothing collections. While there’s nothing wrong with that per se, summer has always been a time when even the most ardent die-hard fans of black, mellow and introduce a touch of colour to their wardrobe (even the Emo kids at Central Bank manage to add a splash of colour when the sun shines!)
Here we take a look at a few essentials to inject some colour into your world this season.
SUNNIES
OK so I’m stating the obvious when mentioning sunglasses for summer. As a means of brightening up an outfit however they are a very simple touch. Ditch your darker frames, or at least put them away for a couple of months and try out some of this season’s more exuberant colours. Definitely one of my favourites are Ray Ban. Their colourful new collection‘Rare Prints’ maintains the classic wayfarer frame with an injection of fun and colour, ideal for long summer days. Irish owned Claimtheframe.com have some of the best prices you’ll find with Ray Ban starting from €92.
WRIST CANDY
What a watch can do to a look should never be underestimated and in my opinion no man’s outfit is complete without one. The most subtle of finishing touches a watch subconsciously elevates an outfit to another level. Most guys have at least one good watch which they wear the vast majority of the time and is suitable for most occasions. Summer however is a different kettle of fish when barbeques, days at the beach or even afternoons spent in the beer garden require something a bit more fun. It doesn’t involve spending a fortune either. Highstreet stores stock a super range of fun, colourful time pieces that won’t break the bank. Swatch also have lots of fun time pieces in their collection.
MAD HATTERS
Perhaps no easier way to liven up a look than the addition of some fancy head gear. Don’t worry you don’t have to go all out, even a simple straw trilby with a pop of colour does the trick and adds interest to an otherwise plain ensemble. Style aside hats offer the best protection against sunburn and even sunstroke…yes on a good day in Ireland it’s very possible. Fingers crossed there’s plenty good days on the way!
By Darren Kennedy
