Bring out the pinks, pastels and florals — not you ladies… this time we are addressing the men, because fashion is now moving away from colours that were once deemed “feminine” and is adopting a much more softer and extremely stylist approach to men’s wear.
From bandhgalas to shirts, shoes and other accessories, the metrosexual man is not shying away from embracing colours or patterns that they never thought of including in their wardrobe earlier. Designers, too, believe that the colour palate must be for men. Kunal Rawal who has designed for several celebrities says, “In today’s time, no colour should be blocked for men, however one must keep the tone of the colour in mind. I personally tend to choose a deeper tone to make the look more masculine.”
Colours that are “in” today are salmon pink, light blue and varied shades of light yellow among others. And the best way to get the look right is to mix and match. However, one needs to tread carefully with the more feminine hues. “A colour like salmon that can be quite feminine must be paired with a strong colour like deep wine, probably in the form of embroidery. This will not only make the piece stand out, but it also gives it an overall edgy look. The idea is simple — use a contrasting darker shade of colour when you are using some soft shades,” explains Kunal.
Floral prints is something that men usually shy away the most from. If you feel that a floral shirt is too flowery to handle, mix and match it with a jacket or a bandhgala with a shirt to go in for a cooler look — something that can be worn at an office and at a party too.
Designer Sakshi Mehra who designs clothes exclusively for men, under the label Project Bandi, has been working with these feminine colours and prints for men. She says that the best way to wear florals is to team it with a subtle colour. “With florals, style it with a complimentary colour. You can also keep it super simple and team it with whites, creams, navy blue or black,” explains Sakshi.
Kunal believes that florals are a great choice, but there are a few things to keep in mind. “Don’t choose very large floral prints as they make the look more feminine. Go for smaller and tighter motifs instead. Also, opt for something that is not too flowery and incorporates the use of grass in the prints,” suggests Kunal.
