The kind of diamonds I wear

During the course of the history of fashion, there have been garments and trends that can instantly be connected to certain eras and social classes. Time proved that fashion brands were able to extract the original connotative meaning from those to adapt a new, much broader symbology that is in keeping with the current. We have seen them all our lives in our grandparents' wardrobe and possibly in our very own too, forced to wear when we were little. I’m talking about the filthy-rich college, Hollywood aesthetic (personal favourite) being one of the most distinctive representatives of preppy style. Its return brought back some of the most iconic trends with it, the argyle* sweater, yet in a totally different way. While the said is staging a comeback into our wardrobe, it breaks away from its well-known strict/refined aesthetic with much more oversized and casual designs that take us away from the classic looks we were used to seeing. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Harry Styles know how to contribute to this shift! The latter, has proven he knows how to pull it off in his music video, “Treat people with kindness”, in which he appears wearing diamond-patterned vests signed by Gucci. Records showed that the styling in the video-clip triggered interest in garments with this pattern by 39% more than the previous month. Similarly, to others, there aren’t rules about how to wear this type of garment, but this season its versatility suggests that we play with high contrasts and risky combinations yet always go with what you feel most comfortable.

The rhombus sweater is a piece that in the 70s marked a milestone and was also an emblem of various social groups such as the so-called 'snobs', the 'nerds', and then the clumsily early attempts for an introduction to colour and pattern in men’s ‘office' style. For a time, these strong associations made many people hate this motif, but the truth is that currently there is neither a local clothing store or big fashion brand, or a wardrobe for that matter, that does not have it on its shelves. The wool sweater with the unmissable print has championed a multitude of causes ever since it was created in the west of Scotland in the 17th century as a transformed alternative of the popular tartan. In the 1920s it graced golfers, led by the Duke of Windsor, and in the 1950s and 1960s it was paired with khaki parkas to outfit stylish members of the mod** subculture. While the English youth revolt was taking place, the diamonds or rhombuses travelled to the United States to acquire new purposes.

To keep it up to date, avoiding it look as though it jumped straight out of 1976 it's best to keep in mind this friendly advice: There are combinations they work one day work and then they just don’t anymore. That’s fashion for you right there. This has been the case for the corduroy and the rhombus jersey together for example. Separately, they were two essential trends this past fall, but together they represent an unnecessary trip to the past. Try denim, wool, or cotton. Don't be afraid of ‘extreme’ combinations. Moreover, the more exaggerated they are, the more they’ll reflect this era. But(!) forget about the checks pattern if you don't want to look like an interpretation of its Scottish origins. Dare a pinstripe, the Prince of Wales (Glen plaid) or animal print even. There are firms that have not exhaustively followed the trend, allowing this “diamond” print to take on other geometric shapes.

My choice was moderate but fresh. I am wearing a rhombus print; a navy, knitted vest tucked in the pleated trousers in contrast with the red and white of the geometrical figures. This went with a blue, Oxford shirt and a navy bandana inside the lapel. The double-breasted blazer in beige gives some contrast to the outfit with matching Derby shoes. A beige tartan print in the vamp of the shoe reinforced with tan leather on the toe and heel cap matched the pouch creating a smart and sophisticated look. The vintage watch in the same leather colour along with the details in gold goes beautifully with the classic Raybans which complete the look.

*The Argyle, which usually refers to that pattern of rhombuses on which lines are superimposed that create the same geometric figure, giving a sensation of a certain three-dimensionality and texture, is a derivative of the famous Scottish tartan. The print became very fashionable in Great Britain and the United States after the First World War promoted by the firm Pringle of Scotland, to which its authorship is attributed, although it is now used by many brands. The Duke of Windsor, a fan of the pattern, popularised it at the time, also triggering the brand's fame.

**Mod (from English "modernist") is a subculture that originated in the late 1950s in London and rest of England reaching its peak in the early to mid-1960s. Its sophistication defined the youth revolt of that era. The "mods" were middle-class boys who dressed impeccably, since they were tailor´s sons, so they had access to clothing and trends. They showed an interest in new fashions, such as tailored Italian suits, and musical styles such as African-American soul, modern jazz, and rhythm and blues. You’d often see them on a Scooter, Lambretta or Vespa motorcycle.