Suits in spring? Strange but stylish

When I think of the warmer months, the first thing that pops into my head isn’t suits. Shorts, BBQ’s, flip flops even, but not the formal wear that causes panic a few times a year for most men, and more for the high-flyers among us.

It’s come to my attention, however, that suits are big news for spring/summer 2013. I’ll explain…

GQ’s recent Most Stylish Men of the Week was dominated by respectable male celebs in equally respectable occasionwear – from actor Luke Treadaway’s midnight blue ensemble (with matching waistcoat and tie) to professional paintball player and model Alex Lundqvist’s surprising burst of colour courtesy of his silver-grey jacket, teamed with dark blue trousers. On the more classic end of the scale, you wouldn’t need to be a world-famous detective to deduce that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Spencer Hart suit is the mark of a well-dressed man.

The spring/summer catwalks have been all about the formalwear, too. One great example is Louis Vuitton, whose S/S collection featured sharply-tailored suits that wouldn’t be out of place at the most serious of gatherings; however, they were photographed in the heat of the East African coast to show how they could transform into easy-to-wear, slightly nautical summer-worthy outfits. Now, you might not want to make a suit part of your everyday wear, but their S/S lookbook is sure to give you a new view on suits in the sunshine.

Giorgio Armani is another fashion house delivering the goods when it comes to suits for the coming season: in featherlight materials and tiny geometric prints, the brand’s collection was a testament to the sheer versatility of grey suits.

So, could it be time to invest in a new suit or two? I’m thinking yes, not only due to all of the pretty convincing inspiration that’s about right now but because you’re always going to need a suit, aren’t you? As a good suit is a lasting rather than quickly-disposable element of a man’s wardrobe (I’m conjuring up images of that trend for shorter-length shorts that had its shudder-inducing reign not so long ago), I’ll be opting for a well-made ensemble from a brand that knows what it’s doing. Hackett is a favourite of mine, so I’ll be checking out their offerings.

But it’s not just the most formal events that benefit from spring’s penchant for suits; even smart/casual looks can be treated to a tailoring injection. Coloured blazers (which in the world of suits can mean white, too) can be added to jeans or chinos for easy-to-pull-off style.