Menswear Style Series: The Polo Shirt

As a slight change here at The Hero Piece we have decided to branch out into the world of men’s fashion to create our very own menswear series looking at statement pieces every man should include in his summer wardrobe this year. The series will range from the staple basics to the more fashion-forward items, all while remaining focused on pieces that can help any man to develop a real sense of style this summer.

To kick off the series we have decided to look at the Polo Shirt, although already a mainstay of most men’s wardrobes with so many brands and differing styles to choose from the polo shirt is still the perfect piece to complete your outfit and help to get your individual personal style across. 

One of the great things about the polo is just how versatile it is but it’s also important to remember not every polo suits every occasion. In recent years there has been a somewhat changing of the guard within polo shirt design, the classic and original players, namely Ralph Lauren, Fred Perry and Lacoste have been over taken by some new faces, some of which have decided to ditch the chest emblazoned logos and let their slick style do the talking instead, making them more ideal for certain occasions than others.

To give you a helping hand this summer we have chosen three different social situations and picked out the style and type of polo we think works best for each. As when it comes to  picking any item of clothing when given so much choice price tags can differ greatly. Like all key pieces we cover on The Hero Piece we firmly stand by "buy less choose well" but as the polo can be a real work horse wardrobe piece we have also included options from high street as well as top end retailers depending on the differing occasions we feel each polo shirt is suitable for. 

The Chilled Afternoon

Whether you’re still recovering from a late night and simply looking for a quick outfit to throw together or you’re meeting friends for a bite to eat and to just chill for the afternoon, a plain short sleeved polo is the perfect go to. Leaving it plain keeps your options open on whether to team it with jeans or coloured chinos while if you wish to add a speck of individuality you can even go for a button-less option with the zip down polo from River Island featured incorporating a bit of on trend 70’s style into your look.

                  Left - Montego Towelling Polo Shirt from Reiss | Right - Dark Red Knitted Polo from River Island

Day at the Office

As a slightly different social situation from a chilled afternoon with friends, a day at the office calls for a slightly different polo. Depending on where you work it may be best to keep it more reserved in terms of colours with the office maybe not the ideal place to experiment integrating new colours into your style. A long sleeved choice with traditional buttoned down look delivers the perfect balance of smart/casual needed for an office environment. 

                   Left - Sphinx Wool Polo from Reiss |  Right - A.P.C Knitted Cotton Polo from Mr Porter

Dining Out

After relaxing with friends and then working hard it’s now time to treat yourself by getting dressed up for a fancy meal. Whether for an important date in the diary or a family celebration we all take pride in our appearance to ensure we make the right impression but to prevent you spending too much time sweating over what to wear the polo is once again the ideal wardrobe companion. For this type of social situation we would go for a nice fitting polo with buttoned down collar. The collar makes sure that not all sense of formality is lost with the choice of shirt while the fit still shows off the polo when worn underneath a blazer adding to the tailored looked which can be achieved with jeans or full suit. 

             Left - Brunello Cucinelli Dutton Down Colllar Polo from Farfetch | Right - Boss Playster Polo from John Lewis

With the polo shirt such a versatile piece it really should be a key component of any man's wardrobe this summer, not only is the polo suitable for just about any occasion but they also give you unlimited options when it comes to completing your outfit, equally well matched with jeans, tailored trousers or shorts. 

Fashions New Wave

Farfetch have got in touch with this rather visually exciting infographic entitled  Fashions New Wave ...

I really wanted to share it with you guys because I love the bright colours and the unique appeal of this piece. It's a fun way to tap into this seasons emerging underground trends which have been depicted in the most beautiful illustrations.

The infographic showcases 10 new ways to do style differently, where Farfetch documented emerging trends and styles that have been developing within the luxury fashion sector over the last few years. These styles have not yet caught on in the mainstream, and are hence fashion-forward styling concepts that have been adopted by fashion leaders rather than followers, I hope you enjoy!

Image source: www.farfetch.com

Denim: Above and Beyond the Skinny Jean

If there’s one garment we have mastered the art of wearing, it will be our jeans. The relationship we have with our jeans is almost as intimate as the relationship we have with our underwear and selecting the right pair can be as specific and individual as selecting the right bra size. Not only do we know what size jeans we are in each and every different store, but we will know what shade of indigo suits us, which colour is the most slimming, what wash is most flattering on our thighs and what rise we find the most comfortable or fitting to our shape. We will know what brand, what elasticity to cotton ratio works best and so on and so forth. And once we have found our perfect pair we come to rely on them, for both adornment and protection.

This spring summer 2015 brings us a catwalk awash in a sea of blue denim. The jeans we know and love and have mastered the art of rocking week in week out will unfortunately no longer have us looking ‘super on trend’ and it doesn’t matter how many rips are in them or how frayed they are at the ankles. You see, statement denim is exactly as it says – it’s the denim that’s going to turn heads and it isn’t necessarily specific to the denim you’ll wear on your legs.

The new denim trend has forced us to re-think how we wear denim and has dared us to find new and interesting ways to wear this hard-wearing and enduring fabric more creatively than our bob-standard jeans, shorts, shirts and jackets. Admittedly, we all have different relationships with denim and it will of course be our relationship with the sturdy fabric that will determine how we incorporate the statement denim trend into our spring summer wardrobe. For some the smarter and more tailored approach of Gucci will be more appealing than the embellished and bejewelled denim at Dolce and Gabbana or Stella McCartney. But from Gaucho pants, to jumpsuits, wide leg jeans to dungarees, dresses to jackets, there’s a new denim out there for any and every one that wants to be super on trend for the season. The key to nodding our heads towards the trend is simply to be as original as possible.

Here’s how to shop and style the trend…

1. No Ordinary Dress

Most will opt for a denim shift dress, when entering this new trend. Yes, it’s denim and yes, shift dresses are great for hiding any lumps and bumps, but the sturdiness of the denim means that the fabric will have less movement and might not fall and hang the way you want it to. A denim too sturdy will have you looking boxy, as opposed to slim. A denim shift is just a little too fail-safe anyway, push the boundaries a little more and go for a shirt dress, a maxi dress or a more structured denim for a sharper look.

2. Say Hello to Lyocell

Lyocell is incorporated into denim to create a lighter, softer and more pliable denim than that of the jeans we’d typically wear. Because Lyocell denim is more fluid and slightly sleeker, opt for this type of denim when you are going for a more refined look, but still want to nod towards the season’s trend.   

3. Know how to Work the Jumpsuit

The denim jumpsuit is the ultimate denim statement maker. However, worn incorrectly and it can end up looking a little too boyish or like coveralls! So, instead of going for a tapered leg jumpsuit, opt for a wide leg and wear with a pair of wedges or for that seventies look, go for platforms. For a sharper look, choose a jumpsuit in a darker wash denim that leans more toward a tailored style of design.

4. Shine in Embellishments

If you like your clothes loud and proud then you won’t struggle to incorporate the bold and embellished jeans of the season into your summer wardrobe. From giant polka-dolts, metallic jewels, smiley faces, there’s no end to the embellishments that can transform an everyday staple garment into a head turner. Wear with a white tee and some barely there sandals and you are good to go.

5. Denim Skirting

So, it would seem that the A-Line button down denim skirt is the go to skirt of this new trend. To up the denim game, avoid this and go for a denim pencil skirt. The denim fabric makes a pencil skirt slightly edgier and more fashion forward. However, stay clear of acid wash denim, as this can come across a little trashy.

6. The Canadian Tuxedo – Wear it like it’s NO Thing!

Double denim isn’t a THING anymore, so for a super statement look wear your denim head to toe. Rock your denim pencil skirt with a denim shirt, or your wide leg jeans with a denim shell top. However you piece together your double denim, rock it and you will make a statement – it really is that straight forward. The Canadian Tuxedo - brilliant in its simplicity!

7. Make Skinny Jeans Your LAST Option

OK, so the boyfriend, the girlfriend and the Mom jeans have all given skinny jeans a run for their money, but they still don’t seem to be able to replace them. They are worn as an alternative to skinnies, not as a staple.  Flared or boot-cut and wide leg jeans can be just as fail-safe as skinnies and in most cases are far more flattering than skinnies. They can take you from day to night, from work to the bar and from casual to dressy. So, to mix up your everyday denim silhouette, add some flares and wide leg jeans into your wardrobe in different washes and styles for an effortless approach to statement denim. 

How will you make your denim pop?!