The Style Files: Spring Fashion

Spring into the warmer season with a fresh wardrobe

Mark Twain once said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” And with that in mind, you may as well dress as nicely as you can (you want to have some influence, right?). Like it or not, clothes are a reflection of you, so work to make the outside match the inside. “Go out there with a bang and just really impress people with the way that you dress,” says New York–based style consultant Alice Kim, founder of Veritas Image Management. “All they’re going to see is how you present yourself—people will take a second look at you if you learn how to present yourself in a certain way.”

Here, Kim offers her top five picks for spring and summer:

1. Double-breasted jacket
You may be thinking, “Double-breasted jacket? Isn’t that the clothing item du jour of mobsters and other old people?” This look has been gone a while, but it’s back, and as all the trends that cycle through again, it’s been updated to fit with the times. “They’re not like your dad’s or your grandpa’s double-breasted suit,” Kim says. “Everything has been very shrunken.” Think ultra-slim silhouettes, a la the gents on Mad Men.

For fancy occasions like a wedding, having a full suit in this style is a smart idea. “If you do wear a suit, makes sure it fits you properly, is tailored, and fits close to the body,” Kim says.

2. Unstructured blazer
“It’s spring, so it’s looser; things are going to be much more free,” Kim says. “We’ll see a lot of unstructured jackets and blazers that are crumpled up, unpressed, unlined—just throw it on and it still looks like a blazer.”

To keep this look put together and not messy, pair with something more tailored on the bottom (see 4 and 5 for examples).

3. Color-blocked tee/polo
This season, look to make a bold statement with the classic polo, that springtime staple that never goes out of style. Now, “it’s got big chunks of colors or stripes that have a big pop of color,” Kim says. It’s all part of the ’80s new wave trend that’s been on its way back in for some time now. Colors like purple, green, and blue will show up, but look for red to be the big one.

4. Slim-fit pants
No dusting the floor with these pants—this style doesn’t drag on the ground the way pants of yore did. “They’re kind of cropped, and there’s not that much of a break between the pant and the shoes,” Kim says.

5. Slim-fit shorts
Just like their big brother, the slim-fit pant, the slim-fit short is a little shorter and less baggy than past incarnations. Don’t worry that you’ll be treading into 1980s basketball player short shorts territory, though (let’s hope that’s a trend that never comes back).

“Shorts have been making a comeback, but they’re not like the Bermuda shorts—they’re much more tailored and slim,” Kim says. “They’re a couple of inches higher, a skinnier short that’s a little shorter.”

The End Result

When you take the above building blocks and hem it all together, you can get all the looks you need to take you through these easy, breezy months. Here are two to get you started:

• Ivy League prep: Take a navy blazer with gold buttons and those tailored shorts and pair with a gingham or plaid button-down shirt, loafers, and aviator sunglasses.
• Brat Pack: Get your ’80s on with a color-blocked tee, athletic warm-up jacket or unstructured blazer, retro sneakers, and a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers. It’s all very James Spader and Andrew McCarthy circa their teen stardom days, but with an updated twist. (Too young for the reference? Add Pretty in Pink and Mannequin to your Netflix queue.)

For more ideas, visit Kim’s style blog. And keep in mind that above all else, you should be comfortable in the clothes you’re wearing. “It’s okay to make a statement,” Kim says. “Figure out what works for you, and try a little harder to be above the pack and be an individual.”