Refresh Your Wardrobe

Whether you’re suffering from a seriously depleted bank balance or carrying a few extra pounds post-Christmas, there are several reasons why your personal style may be taking a back seat at the moment.

But it’s time to buck up and look sharp – 2015 is just around the corner and the start of a new year is the perfect time to re-evaluate and refresh your personal style. After all, our wardrobes and looks can quickly become stale if we don’t experiment and push ourselves to try new things.

With this in mind, we break down six easy ways you can switch up your style game this year…

1. Put A New (Striped) Spin On Tailoring

Striped tailoring is a key 2015 trend that can be easily adapted to your personal taste and confidence level. Classic tailoring devotees will appreciate the return of the pinstripe suit (as seen on the SS15 runways of labels such as Dior Homme), while those leaning towards the casual end of the spectrum can choose from boating blazers covered in colourful block-stripes, cricket-inspired designs, as well as sleek and contemporary monochrome versions.

Early adopters have been spotted flouting traditional sartorial rules on stripes, clashing horizontal and vertical styles for an eye-catching contrast – something we’re not averse to, so long as you bear in mind basic colour matching principles and vary the thickness of the stripes to provide clear definition between pieces. For example, try your pinstripe suit with a vertical striped (mid-width) dress shirt and diagonal/horizontal block-striped tie.

For those who are a little more cautious, but still eager to try this trend out, why not opt for a classic button-down shirt with stripes that are slightly wider or in a more striking hue than what you’ve stuck to in the past?

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

1. ASOS SLIM FIT SUIT JACKET IN FINE STRIPE

1. M&S COLLECTION LUXURY PURE NEW WOOL STRIPED SUIT

1. TOPMAN SELECTED HOMME HYDE BLAZER

1. M&S COLLECTION BEST OF BRITISH PURE WOOL STRIPED SUIT

1. AUSTIN REED SIGNATURE CONTEMPORARY FIT BLUE STRIPE JACKET

1. AUSTIN REED VIYELLA BOATING STRIPE JACKET

1. JOE BROWNS ROCK STAR STRIPE BLAZER

1. M&S COLLECTION LUXURY NEW LINEN RICH TAILORED FIT 2 BUTTON STRIPED JACKET

1. BAND OF OUTSIDERS SCHOOLBOY KNITTED WOOL AND COTTON-BLEND BLAZER

2. Rediscover Denim

Your jeans – those trusty wardrobe staples that serve as a blank canvas for virtually any look you may decide to come up with – will be taking centre stage this spring/summer.

The coming months will see many of us using our denim pieces – which go beyond jeans and trucker jackets to pea coats, blazers and even full suits for SS15 – in a slightly different way. Instead of anchoring your outfit, these items will become the focal point, as seen on the runways at Prada (where exaggerated jeans stitching and detailing made an impression) and Dior Homme (where denim came washed and paint-splattered).

As far as silhouette is concerned, although we’re seeing slightly more relaxed cuts than in previous seasons, anything from slim to straight fit is your best bet for 2015.

With designers continuing to re-interpret denim each season, it’s high time we started viewing this fabric as more than simply the makings of a sturdy jacket or pair of jeans.

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

1. ALLSAINTS BROOKS DENIM JACKET

1. CHEAP MONDAY DENIM BOMBER JACKET

1. ALLSAINTS FUME RAZOR JEANS

1. HE BY MANGO SLIM-FIT NAVY TIM JEANS

1. REISS ROYCE WASHED DENIM SHIRT INDIGO

1. RIVER ISLAND BLACK SKINNY STRETCH SHORTS

1. MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA WASHED-DENIM OVERSHIRT

1. HENTSCH MAN BENNY WASHED-DENIM SHIRT

1. OFFICINE GENERALE SLIM-FIT SELVEDGE DENIM SUIT JACKET

3. Soften Your Tone

A welcome departure from the dark, sombre colours of winter, soft shades of green, blue, yellow and pink will soon be dominating stores in anticipation of improved weather. If you’re looking to give your casual outfits an instant lift, opt for washed or garment-dyed pieces in pastel tones and lightweight fabrics such as cotton or linen.

Remember that these are best teamed with neutral, warm-weather hues such as beige, white and light grey. Investing in a few key pieces now will set you up for spring/summer well in advance.

For the (transitional) time being, what about a pale pink button-down shirt or a powder blue cashmere jumper, worn under your suit? If you’re game, then be sure to combine these pastel pieces with accessories that complement their soft and summery nature. For example, swap your dark brown brogues for a lighter tan pair, or try a tonal neck tie that’s a single shade darker than your shirt.

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

1. POLO RALPH LAUREN OXFORD SHIRT IN SLIM FIT

1. POLO RALPH LAUREN SWEATSHIRT

1. PAUL SMITH JEANS BLAZER IN WASHED COTTON

1. REISS ALTO V-NECK MERINO WOOL JUMPER PINK

1. HE BY MANGO GARMENT-DYED TWILL CHINOS

1. MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA SUEDE ELBOW PATCH COTTON AND WOOL-BLEND SWEATER

1. BROOKS BROTHERS COTTON-PIQUE POLO SHIRT 186482

1. RIVER ISLAND PALE GREEN CHINO SHORTS

1. ACNE STUDIOS STANDARD COTTON-JERSEY T-SHIRT

4. Neck It

Neckerchiefs, cravats, foulards… whatever you want to call them, they’re a great way to individualise your casual wear. Whether printed or in solid colours, these once comically flamboyant accoutrements are now legitimately wearable accessories, provided everything else in your look is on point.

For ways to wear, look to Hermès, long-time proponents of the neck scarf, whose SS15 collection saw vivid, printed scarves draped around the neck to brilliantly set off looks in beige and navy.

Contrary to the popular opinion that neckerchiefs only work with tailoring, they in fact pair well with knitwear, tees and casual shirts, as long they’re tied and placed correctly.

Make sure your neckerchief looks 100 per cent effort-free, even if it did take you an hour to get the knot right. Whether you pick an oblong, square or diamond-shaped scarf, remember that size matters: the more fabric you have around the neck, the more skill it takes to tie.

Try to find/create a knot that’s personal to you, or channel your favourite reference – be it cowboy- or French Riviera-inspired.

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

1. ASOS SMART NECKERCHIEF

1. ASOS NECKERCHIEF WITH POLKA DOT