Top 5 Things to Do to Up Your Spring Style

As we come away from another frigid winter and its dark, monochromatic colors, one of the best things you can do for your wardrobe is brighten up the color palette. Nothing feels like spring more than the colors that represent it. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear colors that might stop traffic, but feel free to escape from the grays, browns, and other dull earth tones of winter.

The color experts over at Pantone present a very appealing color palette (shown above) for men this spring. There are many different options for integrating these types of colors into your outfits. The easiest being with your shirts: t-shirts, polos, and solid color button-ups. Go with a solid, vibrant color up top, then a color more subdued for your pants/shorts. You don’t want to overdo the amount of bright coloring your outfit has.

If you’re feeling a bit more daring, get a pair of colored chinos. Both Bonobos and The Gap have great options. And they work in many different occasions, from going out in the town at night, to being good wedding attire.

Denim jackets are a great way to jazz up the spring wardrobe. They’re cool (even Bond wears one), but they’re not too cool. In fact they’re warm enough to be worn as your only top layer.

And they’re quite versatile: you can wear one with a tie and some chinos for a more polished look, or throw a hoodie on under one if street-style is your thing. They’ll definitely look great on top of your favorite, high-quality t-shirt.

As the weather warms up and you start shedding layers, add your undershirt to that list. Button ups and polos have a much better look when there isn’t a t-shirt underneath to distract from the color/pattern of your outer shirt. Don’t be too shy to show some skin.

Some people have sweating issues, and want that undershirt to be a layer between their sweaty skin and their shirt. In this case, grab a few of Uniqlo’s AIRism v-neck t-shirts. They’re extremely lightweight (you hardly tell you’re wearing one) and have a nice deep v-neck that won’t show under your top buttons. They also whisk moisture away from your body. A win win.

The transition can be tough. By now you’re used to wearing layers – sweaters, hoodies, cardigan, blazers, and jackets with button-ups. With the rising temperatures, it may seem like this option is no longer available to you, if you want to be comfortable in warmer temps. However, there is an option.

Wearing these items and switching out chinos and pants for their shorter-legged cousin is a great way to deal with the rising temps, while maintaining layers as a viable clothing option. A clean, classic pair of shorts matched with a clean, classic pair of shoes will pair nicely with a sweater and a button-up or even a blazer and shirt. It’s a great way to continue wearing some of these tried-and-true combinations you wore in the winter, while keeping it season appropriate.

Spring is white sneaker season. This almost goes without saying. You no longer have to worry about walking through dirty snow, salt, and slush (Once the snow finally melts and dries up, that is). This is the time to break out your favorite pair of classic white sneakers and pair it with your favorite items – whether you’re talking well-tailored chinos, jeans, or shorts. They’ll go quite nicely with a spring blazer, sweater over button-up, or even a blue jean jacket.