Take a Walk on the Wild Side This Autumn


09
Aug

With many fashion-forward guys now looking ahead to autumn, now is the time to take a closer look at one of the trends we’re likely to see much more of as the days get colder: animal motifs. Many of the major fashion designers included these in their AW12 collections, from knitted sweaters sporting dinosaurs, whales and fish (Jil Sander, Raf Simons) to more complex fox and owl faces picked out in geometric designs (Burberry).

Animal motifs are nothing new in menswear – who hasn’t received a reindeer jumper or two for Christmas? While it’s not uncommon to see a grown man in a woolly dinosaur jumper, they’re usually considered to be something for the more eccentric crowd. This autumn, expect to see them everywhere – even paired with formal wear like blazers and suit trousers.

The Dior Homme collection featured an even classier use of this trend: a white bird repeated over black trench coats, aviator jackets and blazers to create a camouflage effect, giving a playful edge to what could have been a more severe military-themed collection. Print fan Paul Smith also got in on the act with nautical knitwear: jellyfish, sharks and lobsters all adorned the Smith sweaters.

Some designers have taken a more subtle approach. For instance, the Louis Vutton collection for AW12 incorporated pins made from bird feathers, which hung from lapels and pockets to inject a bit of carefree elegance to formal wear. Of course, others have gone in the opposite direction: the next season’s dinosaur-print polo shirts from Lacoste L!ve are about as bright and bold as you can get!

If you want to get in on this trend early, the first step is to visit a retailer like Jacamo and see what they have in the way of animal designs on sweaters, tees and shirts. You can either keep it super casual and whimsical with knitted jumpers, cardigans, loose-fitting jeans and hi-top trainers, or dress it up a bit with a blazer or jacket over the top – just because this look is quirky and playful, it doesn’t have to be daft!

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