It is an exercise in careful fashion ponderings and considerations when fashion weeks in Europe and the US start setting the trends for the seasons to come. With women, one considers whether hemlines can be lengthened or shortened? Last season’s clutch with this season’s prints? But with menswear, especially with regards to the latest offerings on the New York and Milan runways for Spring 2010, some trends and styles would be simply eccentric to strut on the streets of Cairo.
Shiny SheenTake for example the metallic silk suits that appeared on Gucci and Moschino’s runways. It’s not enough that sheen is in for women, but men too are being urged to jump on the bandwagon. But would it not seem odd, regardless of the suit’s beautiful cut, to wear bright shiny red or turquoise be it by day or by night? It might take a confident man in Europe to sport such a trend, but I doubt anyone would dare it here in Egypt, even at upscale venues. It’s too loud and too daring.
Pockets everywhere and not a bag in sight Trench coats, suit jackets, cargo pants, and shorts have been riddled with pockets. The effort is perhaps geared to accommodating all the stuff men have to carry nowadays (ipod, blackberry, etc) without lugging their school books in a messenger bag. It saddens me to see those beautiful large leather messenger bags off the runways, and the pockets would look too bulky once filled on any man, slender or not. But the Egyptian man does carry around quite a lot (cigarettes, wallet jammed with dirty one pounds notes, ipod, phone) and so perhaps yes, it might be time for pockets. But to keep the look elegant, opt for maximum two pockets, and not the six that Burberry had going.
Sporty cuffs and rolled up trousersThe Egyptian man likes to look disheveled. Whether premeditated or not, the trend now is suitable for an audience here. Brands such as Bottega Veneta are rolling out trousers already rolled up and crumpled from the bottom. The result? Disheveled is quite chic. The trick to rolling up trousers at home is to roll the hem to one’s ankle. And shirt cuffs are to be messily pushed back. It is an overall cool look, literally. Rolled up cuffs and trouser hems are great for alleviating the heat.
Animal Inspired LooksI find it hard to believe that any man will wear animal print on anything. Leopard print tops and alligator embossed jackets from both Burberry and Giorgio Armani might not find an audience here. But I must say, a confident man might be able to pull off some element of it in small quantities.
Grey SuitingMiuccia Prada played with the ubiquitous working man’s grey suit. Sleeves were altered or altogether torn off, those usual white suit shirts were replaced with grey cardigans, perforated shirts and patterned layers of constant grey on grey. The whole play of monochrome grey on grey is not very spring in terms of color but it might find an outlet here in Egypt where men like their suits dark, and hate their shirt and tie ensembles. The question is, will the boss understand the new fashion leanings and allow grey t-shirts rather than a proper collared shirt and tie?
Bright Blues and RedsReds and blues are everywhere on the catwalk for men. Whether it be suits, shorts, swimwear, or sportswear, a nice bright shade of navy and a good tomato red color is perhaps a counter reaction to Prada’s greys. A summer pair of shorts with a white shirt cuffed up might do the trick between balancing out such fierce colors. It’s a good look for both younger and older men.
