The Dopest Style Risks Taken During New York Fashion Week: Men's

Image via Complex Original

If you're not doubling down on printed gear, then don't bother. Considering that the warmer weather makes wearing light, patterned gear in different silhouettes almost a necessity (we're looking at you short suits), there's nothing remotely out of place with doubling down on printed gear. There's definitely a fine line though. The best choice is to keep it subtle. There's nothing that weird about a dark, fairly un-cluttered pattern covering your body—compared to one that's screaming for attention at every glance. Keep it simple, like the kid in this picture, and you'll look as confident as he does wearing pattern head-to-toe. (Seriously, who is this kid!?)

Yes, spring seasons are about the florals—this is obvious. But when it comes to summer time, the weather's only gotten hotter. Naturally, if the thermometer's going up, then so do the florals. While April and May are host to a deluge of pastel colors and light flowers, the summer months have the prints skyrocketing to even more colorful levels. Whether the hues get more saturated, or the florals just get bigger, there's a definitely a difference between spring and summer floral prints.

Oh you though this movement was #dead when Jared Leto cut his hair? FOH bruh. Yes, with so many dudes rocking the “long on top, short on the sides” haircut, the consequence is more man buns. Let's be honest, guys are way too busy during NYFW: M to deal with styling their hair every day, and thus topknot styles become the next practical solution. Is this for everyone? Well, it's definitely going to take some guts to walk out of the house with one your head. But if it comes down to confidence, then there's no hurt in giving the look a try...right?

This one, comes down to sheer practicality. Maybe it's riding off the bucket hat wave that's been sweeping across menswear for the past year or two, but wide brim hats are the new move in headgear. Now, we're not saying you have to go full OFF-WHITE, but to be honest, you don't want to come across looking like you're crushing the Wal-Mart trilby vibe either. While guys have opted for fedoras (which surprisingly work, depending on the context), a simplified wide-brim is something that's been seen across the board at NYFW: M; front front row basketball players, to lurking fashion photogs. It's hot out there, and incorporating built-in shade into your kit is a smart look.

Who gives a f**k if black isn't the best color for sunny summer days? NYC is a tough place, and fashion guys have feelings. Sometimes wearing black is how we deal.

But in all seriousness, there's something clean about rolling up in a triple-black getup—sweat be damned. Besides, while other guys are peacocking with pattern and color, the dopest parts of blacked-out looks is in the details. Be it a breathable fabrics; careful layering; or thoughtful piece pairing; guys wearing all black just seem to have this “fashion” thing together. Well that, and black is always going to be a fashionable color. Period.

NYC guys aren't afraid to speak their minds, and logos are just an extension. Sure Jeremy Scott's work over at Moschino is a popular (and eye-grabbing) selection, but brands like Hood By Air take the logo'd look and sync it with a distinctly New York flavor. Now most guys would admit that coming in logo'd to the floor is anything but easy (and we can't blame them). But if you're going to wear something with a wild ostentatious logo, it's best to go all or nothing. Considering that one giant logo on a rather modest-looking kit could throw off the whole vibe, why not put the entire team on your back (legs, and head)?

The best know that you've got to suffer for fashion, and what's more tortuous than wearing a full suit on hot ass summer day? But like the gawds of Pitti Uomo will tell you, there's nothing that compares to getting suited and booted when clothing design is being viewed on the international stage. But before we go any further, it's worth noting that these likely aren't your father's suiting. Sure, guys are “sprezzing-out” (and they always will). But for a distinctly “NYC” perspective, the look is decidedly more relaxed: sneakers, unlikely fabrics, and unstructured blazers are commonplace. When it comes to short suits…well, that's another issue altogether.

Maybe it's that fashion nerds are multiplying in the menswear world; maybe we're catching influences post-Father's Day, but no matter how you slice it, dudes are tucking their shirts in. Whether it's a white cotton T-shirt, or true shirting (aka with a collar), it's never been a better time to be caught tucking in. Now, just sliding your shirt into your trousers isn't the end all, be all to this wave. Usually this look works when the top is light and clean, and the bottoms tailored and dark. Remember, you're accentuating your lower half as much your upper half when you're tucking in. You're not going to look good if you're not keeping the whole image sharp.

Speaking of our fathers, sport caps (colloquially known as “dad caps”) are almost as common as the pro sport-team snapback. Sure, snapbacks are always going to have a part to play, but there's something charming about rolling up with a canvas cap—complete with a curved brim. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe guys just want their head wear to be subtle, but to dismiss the style as distinctly “dad style” may not be doing justice. Sure, it's an old-school silhouette, but if a well-worn hat with luxury label connotations (cough…Ralph…cough), looks so right, how can it be wrong?

If you haven't realized it by now, warm weather = prints. We've already discussed the wilder prints that are running amok on NYC streets—NYFW: M's or not. Sure guys are taking florals to the tropics, or incorporating fully-printed kits. But as for printed pants, that's another story altogether. Sure, brands like Engineered Garments are leading this charge in the New York menswear scene, but there are plenty of guys importing pieces from abroad to wear everywhere from Lincoln Center to Basketball City. Like any outfit advice, proportion is the key in all things; don't wear vibrant bottoms if your top is just as loud (especially if it's not in the same pattern).