Piece by piece

Needless to say, that easy is safe yet safe is not necessarily much fascinating. A plain, solid coloured suit is pretty much a no-brainer; it rarely fails as long as it fits nicely, but it still feels as though the fun is missing?! Whether you wear a suit every day for a formal or a work setting or just occasionally for special reasons and events, why not try something with a little more personality? A pinstripe suit is a stylish way to stand out from the crowd without looking like you've tried too hard. Now, should you not be the keenest suit-wearer then blazers are an infallible piece in one’s wardrobe. Blazers are so versatile that leave room to create formal outfits in no time if simply combined with a set of pleated trousers and brogues, or more sporty options if worn with a pair of wide-cut jeans and trainers. Garments as such in monochrome, have several credits in their favour, amongst them being easy to combine and matching many occasions as well as how long their fashion lasts whatever the trends at the time may be. That is why they continue to be reinvented every so often and designed anew. On the other hand, alternative designs such as the likes of printed patterns, although they are more difficult to wear, give a lot of play; they automatically become the centre of the outfit and can be worn along with other patterns or with colours of single hue. Beyond the endless options they offer to be combined with, blazers also adopt one of my favourite trends: adjusting the garment in the waist with a flattering belt. For a few seasons already, we have been seeing it on the most important male catwalks enhancing the look with an effective military-like touch.

Another one of my favourite trends is Piet Mondrian’s artwork reference, combining two or more colours (complementary or contrasting) in a single garment as part of its design. This is called "colour-block" and it's found in any type of garment and accessories. The way in which we apply this trend in our day-to-day looks will depend directly on the style. If the aim is subtle then add small touches with a sweater or a sweatshirt, but if your thing is to be daring, you can always opt for a total look of colour-blocks and hit a 10 out of 10. You may still remember some collections from Spring 2011 that made colour-block one of the most viewed trends of that year. Gucci by Frida Giannini and Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs took to the catwalk the looks that would define this trend during those seasons. They combined in the same look or same garment of different shades, prints or fabrics thus creating new combinations. Today perhaps we have already got used to this peculiar mix in street style and the strident colour-mix no longer surprises as it did before. Perhaps this makes more and more people join this trend. In an era in which the versatility and timelessness of the garments prevail, maybe what is truly interesting is that the new colour-block that has emerged recently, which consists of the juxtaposition of autumnal colours seems to belong to the same palette, thus generating a harmonious result and suitable for all cabinets.

I am wearing a colour-block blazer belted around the waist. I love how classy and contemporary it looks with the half pinstripe print, the other half beige check print with the green fluor belt. As this garment is the predominant piece of the look, I wanted to keep the rest quieter with a black roll-neck tucked in the tailored trousers and the smart black shoes. I find this footwear lovely mainly withdrawn by their see-through detail giving the chance to play a little more with the socks showing; mine have the word “WHATEVER” printed on them matching coincidentally exactly the colour of the belt. The black trench coat elevates the whole look and it matches perfectly with the biker gloves, the pouch and the sunglasses.