We often talk/show you all the latest, upcoming designs that we personally like from a wide range of designers and brands. Often we are showing you individual pieces from a particular collection that has grab our fancy as we see it being part of a wider range of style and cool. However, we rarely have the opportunity to see these individual items stylist with other clothes or outfits from another brand, so it is always a great privileged to have the opportunity to see the pieces that we talk about so much, in person.
Recently we had the opportunity to see a sneak peak at the upcoming Spring 2011 collections at Harry Rosen in Toronto. For those that don’t know Harry Rosen is one of Canada’s leading quality men’s wear retailer (they account for 40 percent of the Canadian market in high-end men’s wear), who are currently celebrating their 57th year in business.
From what we saw, and there are pictures below, the Spring 2011 collection is going to be “A Season of Elegance and Fun” with a sense of relaxed sophistication. There are four key looks for Spring 2011 as described below, and will be available at Harry Rosen stores in February 2011:
The New Cut Suit
The modern and contemporary silhouette of a suit has stood the test of time, and looks best on any man of today. Brands such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Canali, Brioni, and J.P. Tilford by Samuelsohn offer a slimmer silhouette: the suit fits close to the shoulders, hugs the collar, has higher armholes, a well balanced lapel, proportionate button stance, and an appropriate length. Pants must be flat front and are cut closer to the leg with little to no break – cuffs are optional.
Suits this season are in shades of grey, tan, as well as tonal checks. The New Cut suit can take a man from day to night with minimal effort.
Key items:
- Z Zegna drop eight suit with a shorter rise and updated jacket length
- Canali new city body grey check suit
- Armani Collezioni metropolitan charcoal suit
Military Khaki
In sportswear, the military trend continues to influence spring fashion with subtle pocket details and epaulettes, as well as replicas of field jackets and desert boots. Utility fabrics have been upgraded with soft and sophisticated elements.
Jackets are in earth tone checks, linen, sand-coloured field jackets with multiple pockets, or washed distressed leather bombers.
Chambray shirts, light weight knits, and jerseys are complementary in soft muted pallets of off-white, sand-blast, navy, clay and toffee.
The desert boot is the shoe of choice to complete the military look.
Key items:
- Stone Island military jacket in army green
- Brunello Cucinelli suede jacket in olive green
- Allegri trench coat in tan
- Canali leather desert boot
Globe Trotting Equipped
Spring offers many items to help ease travel worries such as lightweight, wrinkle resistant, and breathable fabrications, as well as those that wick moisture and repel water.
Travel blazers are versatile must-haves, featuring high-performance fabrics, and multiple interior pockets to keep important belongings in check.
These items are the perfect marriage of fashion and function.
Key items:
- Ermenegildo Zegna zero weight suit
- Z Zegna twenty-four-seven suit
- Allegri travel overcoat
- Eton easy-care collection shirt
Washed Prep
The preppy lifestyle trend continues to take on a more relaxed approach – sun-bleached and carefree. Plaid shirts are soft and laundered and polos have fresh new colours, tipping details, and embroidery treatments.
The straight-leg jean remains on trend, in everything from dark and clean to bleached and very soft. For the ultimate relaxed look, jeans should be rolled up. Shorts have become a strong fashion statement and are offered in everything from solids to plaids, and flat front to cargo.
The boat shoe is the perfect complement to this look and is available in a rainbow of colours. Socks are optional and a carefree attitude is required.
Key items:
- Gant by Michael Bastian deconstructed multi-plaid soft jacket
- Paul & Shark nylon bomber
- Michael Kors plaid shorts
- BOSS Green perforated leather boat shoe
Here are some more pictures of other pieces that I love, especially those Canali shoes!
