Spring/Summer 2012 menswear: top trends from head to toe
From straw hats to woven-detail shoes, here is a guide to the main menswear trends for Spring/Summer 2012.
Wear a hat
Hats were big news on the catwalk for Spring/Summer 2012, with Prada and Givenchy favoring printed caps, Roland Mouret going for preppy boater styles and Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Christian Dior offering classically summery straw hats. The latter has been adopted by numerous high street brands, with H&M offering a variety of straw trilby hats.
Embrace statement prints
Although color blocking was seen at the likes of Versace and all-citrus outfits were seen at Costume National Homme and Frankie Morello, it was all about prints at the Spring/Summer 2012 shows. Feminine prints were big at Givenchy, where wild floral motifs adorned lightweight sweaters. Pink flowers featured on shorts and tops at Kenzo, while bright printed jackets made an impact at Prada. It's not just designer names either; high street retailers including Topman have embraced floral prints on short-sleeved shirts for the Spring/Summer season. Other motifs to look out for include summer plaid, following the success of tartan shorts and jackets at the Jean-Paul Gaultier presentation.
Invest in a safari jacket
While bombers and cropped blazers almost stole the show during the Spring/Summer 2012 season, the emerging menswear must-have was the safari jacket. Made popular by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s, the belted jacket was reworked by labels including Marc Jacobs and Joseph Abboud, who teamed a canvas safari jacket with khakis. Roland Mouret offered belted cotton safari jackets, while the global explorer look was also big at Salvatore Ferragamo and Louis Vuitton. Color-wise, khaki, black and navy are the main shades to invest in, although Trussardi presented an orange version.
Ditch the skinny slacks
Gentlemen can breathe a sigh of relief because wide-legged pants dominated the Spring/Summer 2012 menswear shows, making an impact at presentations from the likes of Issey Miyake and Kenzo. Stripy pajama-style pants offered a relaxed aesthetic at Hermès, while Emporio Armani went low-waisted for gray baggy pants. The loose-fitting slacks were made interesting by the addition of pleats at Calvin Klein Men's and Yohji Yamamoto -- who made a nod to the pastel trend with pale blue pleated pants.
Keep feet cool
Gone are the days of sweating it out in brogues or trainers throughout the summer months because the choice of sandals for men has never been greater. The city espadrille was one of the key looks at the Spring/Summer 2012 presentations, with labels including Giorgio Armani embracing the trend with a lace-up variety. Woven sandals feature in the Alexander McQueen menswear collection, while high street store River Island has taken the braided look and added laces for a smart aesthetic. Color-wise, tan dominated many items of footwear at the Spring/Summer 2012 designer shows, although the likes of Vivienne Westwood offered colorful lace-ups in spotty and zebra prints.