The guide to Summer 2015 Menswear

You see it here, you see it there, you see it everywhere. While fashion trends may have been exclusively synonymous with girls throughout the last generation, the current generation of boys have seen their fair share of fads. Factors like social media and increased menswear advertising have done well to usher in new styles as well as raise the general interest in fashion among men.

First and foremost, if you prefer on wearing longer pants over cliche country club khaki shorts this summer, let your ankles show. Increasingly apparent in the Spring 2015 collections from New York Fashion Week, whether it be Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Prada, or Versace, was nearly 90% of the slacks are cut above the ankle. Even if you don’t have the money for these $995 Dolce & Gabbana slacks (http://bit.ly/1bssA6y) you can still do small things to use this style. For those that would rather spend less than $100, getting a pair of American Stitch joggers from Zumiez will do the trick. Just be sure to get something light two-tone with breathable material. It’s great feeling unique in your floral, leather joggers, but soon it’s gonna be a roasting, sweaty eyesore. Now, if you don’t feel like spending any money or just got a pair of jeans, especially stonewashed, feel free to roll those suckers up. This tactic will revitalize those boot cut cowboy jeans that your sweet-but-a-bit-out-of-style grandparents in Fort Myers got you.

Second on the agenda, shoes for summer can be a tricky. For some people, flip flops are more than sufficient, but if you’re looking for something to add some class for a special occasion, or you don’t like wearing flip flops, purchase a pair of these $49.95 Steve Madden Top-Siders (http://bit.ly/1E13EeC). These shoes are perfect for summer cook outs or boat days. However, if you’re looking for something more modern, turn no further because the Nike SB Stefan Janoski collection (http://swoo.sh/1j1dAiv) looks good with nearly anything. In fact, they’re the most complimented item my own wardrobe. While they’re newer line ranges around $100-$120, you can get a large selection of last season prints for as low as $65 to go with your American Stitch joggers.

Perhaps the most crucial item on this list is the shirt. It cannot be overstated how important it is to have something with a chambray fabric. It may look awkward with denim since the two fabrics are so similar, but chambray fabric complements anything you could think of. A new saying should be, “A man with lots of chambray fabric is a man to be feared.” It is truly the x-factor in anyone’s shirt arsenal. If you yourself are looking for some chambray, I have a few recommendations. Multi color is great, but the simplicity of blue makes it the master key. Also if you get long sleeve, roll up the cuff’s three to four inches, especially if there’s a contrasting fabric underneath. Another idea for shirts is the baseball t-shirt/Henley with a print breast pocket. Nowadays, it’s impossible to walk into a PacSun or Zumiez without seeing one of these. This one from Zumiez with definitely turn some heads for only $38 (http://bit.ly/1cU3Tl5). The best part is (you’ll never guess) it goes well with chambray.

The final thing to keep in mind for this summer is your hair. No matter what kind of hair you have, disconnected cuts are the way to go. For those not familiar with that terminology, a disconnected cut is any style where the sides are significantly shorter than the top. My personal favorite style is the quiff, which is basically hair back and to one side. However if you’re looking for something simple, go with a fringe. Fringes allow you to have swagger without much maintenance. Finally, if you’re just plainly not a fan of hair, get a flat bill cap and wear it backwards. The most popular hat material among designers now, if you still haven’t learned yet, is chambray.

Before you go, just know that whatever you wear, don’t be worried what people think. The most important part of an outfit is the person. If you are confident and feel good, anything works.