Spring into Fashion: gear up for a sultry spring

With Colorado’s gorgeous spring weather, we know you’ll be spending plenty of time in athletic pursuits at Cheesman Park. And, yes, we all love you shirtless, but this season’s sports-focused fashion will have you looking haute even if you don’t take it off. This season’s style is all about having fun in the sun – and many designers are going coastal.

Out Front Colorado checked in with H&M and Soul Haus, and both weigh in on what to wear in the coming months.

“It’s all about the modern mix for men at H&M this spring with pieces that are all business – combined with casual wear – to create a masculine wardrobe without boundaries,” said Jennifer Ward, H&M spokesperson. “Colors and fabrics are crisp and optimistic, like the fresh blues and khakis combined with wide stripes for a nautical feel. Vivid yellows and oranges act as accent colors in urban harmony for the modern man. The collection is highly influenced on sports and athletics with a high-tech parka or anorak as the essential outer layer.”

In keeping with the coastal look, casual shades of linen and sand are the popular neutrals. Chris Bacorn, co-owner of Soul Haus, said that the Panama hat with layered summer neutrals is appearing on runways, along with blaring bright prints and obnoxious ’80s beach throwbacks.

“Ocean blue hues are also haute for 2012, from lapis to sky and indigo to navy, the whole spectrum is on (read: anything azure rules),” he said. “Pair it with white, and the Mediterranean mood is complete. We suggest just a splash of that trendy summer bold tucked neatly underneath the sleeve or collar of a basic beige for a sophisticated but still stylish look.”

Additional trends to watch include crosshatch denim (but it’s stepped-back, more simple and clean), softer tailoring and suits with a relaxed feel, as well as sleek monochromatic looks. “The tailored look that started to show itself last summer is still desirable, as a man should look like a man, but this season the tailoring is a little less structured,” Bacorn said. “Pants continue to return to a masculine width, and some designers are pushing the widths even wider. There is no more leggings look for the modern man, and that dirty hippy look is just for the gutter. Spring 2012 is a clean, well-pressed and fresh breath of airy layers, atop a masculine shape and style.”

Today’s men are blurring the line between dress casual and innovation. By infusing sports-influenced pieces, a man’s updated wardrobe really begins to shine. “This silhouette is key, with a mix of slim lines and volume, long and lean with cropped, and neutrals with blues that are matched with bold accent colors, that make a real statement,” Ward said. “To update the staples in their closet, men should focus on accessories. This season’s key accessories include knit hats, deck shoes, leather bracelets, round sunglasses, card holders with straps and brogues with contrasting soles.”

Some of the other trendy pieces to be found at H&M include double-breasted navy blazers in cotton, a nautical striped pullover, cropped chinos, a short orange parka, a wide-striped chunky knit sweater, khaki blazers, acid-bright t-shirts, and the tailored-but-relaxed seersucker suit. H&M also recently started carrying David Beckham’s Bodywear collection (a line exclusive to H&M) with nine underwear styles for men. The focus is on fit, function, comfort and design, and the line consists of briefs, trunks, boxer briefs and woven boxers, vests and Henleys, t-shirts, pajamas and thermal underwear. Trust us: If Beckham is wearing this stuff, you should be too.

While Soul Haus offers apparel that can’t be found at other mainstream retailers, Bacorn makes sure to stay on-trend. “Soul Haus has been buying men’s clothing for 13 years,” he said. “We have traveled and developed trade sources all over the globe. We aren’t trying to impress anyone or be someone we’re not, and neither are the guys that shop here. We know who we are and we know our customers. People come to Soul Haus, and, more importantly, come back to Soul Haus, because we’re not spoon-feeding everyone the same trend or style.” Soul Haus also recently expanded and is now offering women’s clothing, gifts and accessories as well.

Regardless of where you choose to shop, just be sure to keep H&M and Soul Haus in mind. Both of these stores offers oodles of styles that will fit right in with all of the spring trends. And while you’re out there playing in the sun this spring with all of your trendy apparel, the spotlight will really be on you.

Plus:

OFC 20120 Spring Fashion Photo Shoot

Take an in-depth look at some of the new spring styles of 2012 modeled by Denver’s Eric Lunsford and Cody Engler, with clothing by Soul Haus and H&M.

Watch a 4-minute behind-the-scenes video of OFC’s Spring Fashion Photo Shoot in local photographer Norman Dillon’s studio.

Bonus pics of our models that didn’t appear in the print issue!