As Spring approaches, we’re all looking for the small adjustments we can make to our wardrobe to be on-trend and classy for those beautiful Spring days. In this vein, we took some inspiration from content creator and influencer Alex Ketchum – who has been blazing a trail in his hometown of Toronto. He’s known for his viral social media content, but his style has also been catching the eyes of the public in recent times. It’s not flashy or in-your-face, but it’s sleek and classy throughout.

Here are the five principles we picked up from him, that you can apply as you build your spring wardrobe: 

Loose Fit

 

The days of tight fitted clothing really are done now. We went through a phase where the tight fit was what everyone was aiming for, but now there’s been a significant push going the other way. It hails back a little to the fashion of the 90s and allows for a much more raw and approachable style that has been missing in recent times. Get rid of those skinny jeans and go for the straight leg (or the bootleg if you’re brave). Instead of the constrictive muscle-shirts, try a looser fit that leaves more to the imagination.

 

In the pants specifically, wider, looser fitted items are definitely the way to go. You want the symmetry with a looser shirt and there are a great range of wider fitting trousers on the market currently. It’s a much more relaxed feel that portrays a more muted confidence, not so brash and in your face – subtle and refined.

 

Monochrome

 

Traditionally men’s fashion has been very strong on emphasizing contrast where possible. This standard advice has tilted through 2020 and this year should bring the return of a monochrome colour palette. To wear monochrome is to wear one colour throughout your entire outfit. The common troupe is to make this black or white, but you really can pull this off with any colour. The subtlety and simplicity is what makes this work and it shows that you’ve made an effort with your look – something that subconsciously makes an impact on those around you.

 

If you’re put off by putting all your eggs in one basket, then you can experiment with a few different shades of the same colour in one outfit. You’ll be amazed at what you can create when you have a creative constraint like this. It could push you to look at your wardrobe with fresh eyes and come up with some new ideas. Monochrome is here to stay.

 

Neutral Colours

 

Building on the point above, you’re going to want to stick with neutral colours for this Spring. It doesn’t feel like the right time to be too bold with colour selection at the moment – the more muted the better. There’s something about neutral colours that come across as much sleeker and more sophisticated than some of their brighter counterparts. Stick with blacks, browns, navy, khakis and whites where possible. These lend themselves well to a monochrome look and can actually carry a tremendous amount of depth if you craft the look carefully.

 

Neutral colours also make it easier to layer items in interesting ways so that you can come up a wide range of different looks without needing an extensive wardrobe. You can get away with a capsule closet of key anchor items and some creativity in the way you put it together. The time for bright colours will return at some stage, but not in 2021. Stick to the basics here.

 

Cargo Pants

 

We’ve all been stuck at home for a long time now and I don’t know how many of us are dying to get out of our sweatpants and into some dress pants. Instead, it seems clear that cargo pants are coming back into fashion to fill that gap. It’s hard to say if the military inspiration has ever really worn off, but cargo pants are set to be one of the biggest trends in Spring 2021. When worn correctly, they are immensely comfortable while also making you look like you’ve got things together.

 

In addition, they are the perfect weight and feel for typical Spring weather. They’re light enough to feel comfortable and agile as you’re moving around town, but they also carry the weight that you need to be taken seriously in higher stakes scenarios. They are versatile, sleek, and are one of the key anchor items that we all should be thinking about for the season ahead of us.

 

Chunky Trainers

 

Keeping with the theme of loose and relaxed, chunky trainers are the shoes of choice for Spring 2021. The understated and minimalistic style of shoes gone by has been replaced with louder and chunkier trainers that show off your personality. If you’ve been following the crazy demand in the sneaker business, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. They pair really well with the wider trousers and loose-fitting clothing that remains the centrepiece of the year. They ooze with vitality and verve, providing the perfect way to express yourself and what you stand for.

 

Don’t be afraid of being too loud here, you’ve got full permission to let your trainers speak for themselves. Let them be the crown on top of the outfit and you’ll be sure to turn heads wherever you go. It seems that the chunkier you go, the better.

So, there you have it. Keep these trends in mind when putting together your outfits for a classy, sophisticated look for the Spring. It’s clear that the pendulum has swung back to a more natural and neutral tone for male fashion. If we had to sum it up, we’d say that simplicity is key. If you stick to a more relaxed, more muted expression – you can’t go wrong. In fact, you’ll be ahead of the curve.