(See what we did there? Like the love child of ‘Got milk’ and ‘You’ve been tangoed’)
Laura Reynolds looks at the hype surrounding the collaboration.
Just a week to go until the man in red arrives...
This is all perfectly fine of course if said male happens to be of the city banker variety; in which case his colour co-ordinated, alphabetised, walk-in wardrobe should conveniently provide you with a supply of pinstripe trousers, waistcoats and shirts so extensive it’ll see you right through to next season. If, however, you happen to find yourself traipsing around campus only to be confronted by a disheartening stream of unreasonably petite men, all seeking to merge into one homogenous mass through the obligatory student uniform of grotty hoodies and grubby jeans, then you find yourself in a predicament unprecedented by the fashion world.
Of course you could always go for the extreme version and raid the dressing up box; embracing the bowler hat, walking stick and pocket handkerchief, however, this approach may leave you looking a tad more on the Charlie Chaplin side of things than you had envisaged. Or alternatively you could adopt the mantra: clean-cut and well defined, in order to achieve a look which is smart, fashionable and very wearable.
Gone is the straight leg and skinny jean, this season is all about loose wide slouchy trousers and flares. Don’t get too carried away though; this is trouser volume done in an attractive way. Most high street stores have opted to preserve a feminine element with quirky styling additions such as buttons and turn-ups, yet have achieved the fundamental Mannish impression through wide cuts and heavy dark fabrics. Head down to Miss Selfridge whose slouchy, wide-leg, tie-detail trousers come in at £35.
Or alternatively check out the internet, ASOS is a website which offers designer styles for reasonable prices and they have the ultimate Mannish trouser, not only are they wide legged and striped but they also come complete with detachable braces (£60).
If you’re feeling particularly daring then you may wish to take the recent trend for ‘city shorts’ to the next level and invest in a pair of shorts with a waistband that is as high as they are long. The widest selection can be found at Topshop, where there are a plethora of Mannish shorts ranging from Herringbone City Shorts (£32) to Grey tweed hot-pants (£28).
You can layer your shorts with shirts and fine-knit jumpers, but bear in mind that tights are always preferable to bare legs. Wear boots with your shorts for a more casual look or dress them up in the evenings with platform heels.
If you prefer to stay wrapped up in this cold Northern clime, then try not to overdo it by teaming wide-leg trousers with overly masculine jackets and ties. In fact I’d say leave the jackets to the middle-aged and make your way to Gap instead, where you’ll find the ultimate masculine white shirt for £28. Oversized yet fitted, with large cuffs and a huge collar it ticks all the right boxes.
As for accessories, there really is no better place than H&M. For true authenticity take a slight detour around to the men’s section, where you can pick up trendy ties and smart satchels for less than you’d pay in women’s wear.
Thus whilst throwing on the nearest pair of low-slung, dirt encrusted jeans may have once screamed style, achieving true Mannish style this season is going to require a tad more effort.
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