For many of you, September means returning from a long vacation, and therefore returning to the office and everyday duties. It's usually a stressful time, and if you've had your fill of sweet drinks, barbecues and ice creams in the summer, well, getting back into smart clothes can be tough. That's why we'd like to show you other options on how to easily and stress-free adopt smart and comfortable attire before our minds (and silhouettes!) readjust to more strict uniforms.
We have often discussed the topic of mismatched ensembles, because it is a great way to dress comfortably and elegantly. It makes us look well-groomed but without the stiffness that can accompany suits. What is it about? It's simple - the top and bottom of the outfit are made of different materials and are of different tones. It's easy even for people who have problems combining colors, you just have to stick to a few rules and start with the basics which is a navy blazer. This would be the first thing we recommend to every man regardless of age or complexion. A navy blazer is the height of classics and combines easily with many colors of pants and shirts, which makes the task much easier. You're probably saying it's deja vu, and rightly so, but this isn't about reaching the heights of fashion, but about surviving the difficult return to work in an elegant and comfortable outfit.
Let's start with the fabric, which is very important if we want the jacket to breathe, not crease and not absorb unwanted odors. Of course, the first choice will be worsted wool, but you can try to choose a material with a more visible texture. The blazer will be more interesting and elegant at the same time. There are also materials available with a very loose weave, intended only for jackets, which give an interesting almost transparent effect. An example is “Fresco” by the English manufacturer Huddersfield. Another English brand, Holland & Sherry, offers in its “Mesh and Hopsack Blazers” collection mixed materials with wool, linen and silk, also with a loose weave. The effect is captivating, because the use of fibers of different origin gives lighter and darker translucencies of the same color, and silk adds a slight shine. Another method of obtaining texture is seersucker, which looks creased. The fabric is traditionally made of cotton and in the weaving process the cotton threads are interwoven in a more stretched and looser way, which gives a waved effect. This is a great material for summer jackets that can be easily worn until the end of September.
Let's take a look at Christoph's jacket made of seersucker material from the “Proposte Giacche” collection by Loro Piana. The jacket's very interesting pleated texture combined with a miniature check in a classic combination of black and navy blue makes the whole look very elegant. To give the blazer a more sporty cut, Christophe decided to add patch pockets and a smalto collar. The trousers are made of denim from the “Washed Denim” collection in lighter blue for a good contrast. In order to break the classics, Christophe opted for a pink shirt. Note that a delicately checked shirt would also work well in this outfit.
The next suggestion is a monochromatic look broken by a jacket in a different color. The same pants were used here as in the previous outfit, which proves that it is easy to mix tops and bottoms, so we can create many outfits. This time, a denim navy shirt makes the whole look very sporty. It's the jacket that adds elegance and its beige color breaks the monochrome set. It is worth paying attention to the material used, which we have already discussed in previous articles. The mixture of wool, linen and bamboo fibers gives an interesting texture and the surface shimmers with brown and beige threads.
Xavier's look is maintained in a similar monochromatic tone - here the main color is blue. The sports jacket is the strongest element of the whole due to the expressive check in copper and light blue colors. Made of a material from the “Sherrykash” collection by Holland & Sherry, which is a blend of wool and cashmere, it is a great option for colder autumn days. The outfit is finished with accessories that respect the accent color of copper and orange, but with this type of jacket a tie may be an unnecessary addition.
Mismatched ensembles are a convenient solution for returning to work after the holidays, especially since they provide many possibilities for combining, for example, one jacket with many trousers or vice versa.
It is a convenient way to dress neatly, especially after a long holiday break after which it is difficult for us to fit into a suit.