Introduction

It will come as no surprise to hear that stripes are trending – again – for spring/summer. A pattern with strong nautical and Riviera connotations, both perennial trends in their own right, stripes have long cemented their place within the modern gent’s warm-weather wardrobe, with the Breton t-shirt/top widely considered to be a timeless piece that every man should own. However, this season designers have taken a slightly different approach to stripes: they’re bigger, bolder and come in block form. Briefly highlighted in our 5 Trends/Pieces To Try in 2014 article, block stripes are set to become menswear’s go-to motif this SS14…

On The Runways

Block stripes were prevalent across all the major fashion weeks, with designers choosing to apply them in a variety of different ways, colours and sizes. At the more sober (and, in my opinion, more wearable) end of the spectrum was Valentino’s showcase. Models were sent down the runway in beautifully cut, tailored pieces featuring subtle block stripes in timeless shades of navy, grey and black. Despite the ambitious stripe effect, the suits and blazers remained wearable due to the classic, understated colours used. Echoing this theme, Valentino included oversized jackets in striped denim, offering a refreshing and more formal take on the now ubiquitous denim jacket. These were paired with tailored trousers and flip-flops for a true spring/summer feel. Valentino also featured military-style khaki overcoats/jackets with cream stripe detailing confined to the bottom half of the body and sleeves. Perfect for those men who would prefer to use stripes as an accent rather than a statement:

Wooyoungmi offered a slightly more casual take on the trend by including block-striped t-shirts in nautical shades of turquoise and blue, as well as denim jeans with stripe detailing on the legs and cuffs. The fabrics used to construct these pieces were quite stiff and structured, adding a nice textural identity to the garments. Wooyoungmi also applied light blue and indigo stripes to blazers and coats, which were complemented by leather strap sandals in similar shades. A stand-out piece from the collection was the long-sleeved shirt with white, grey and blue block stripes running in different directions – proving that the pattern is able to adapt to more formal occasions: