The Dopest Style Risks Taken During London Collections: Men

All images by Marc Richardson for Four Pins.

*Deep sniff in* Ahhhh, do you smell that? Yep, that's right. Fashion season is in full bloom. And you know what that means? An inordinate amount of people traveling to and from exotic places wearing the crazy shit you've seen since Prince was serenading Apollonia. Fashion week(s) is truly a time for people to revel in their individuality and take the style risks they've been waiting all of 3 months to try.

Style risks are hit or miss, really. I mean, most of them are ultra-trendy with an extra side of try-hard, but the ones that have staying power are the ones that truly stylish individuals tend to gravitate towards. Some of those individuals are showing up in full force in the U.K. to showcase the Dopest Style Risks Taken During London Collections: Men.

The mewelry trend has died down a bit, but that doesn't mean you have to completely forgo it. Rings are a subtle little reminder that you can put some unique shit together without trying to be super-gaudy. Or you can go full Slick Rick, whatever floats your boat—as long as you own the look.

Tailored and pleated trousers are all the rage, even for casual wear, but raw hems are still an easy way to show your wild side. Cut those hems on your denim and let the fray fly. In order to get the loose thread look, cut first, then muss the threads at the end around with your fingers, then stick them in the dryer on low heat for about 15 minutes to loosen the threads even more.

I think the saying goes “suede makes the pain go away.” Even if that's inaccurate, you can't deny the buttery essence of that inside-out cow carcass on an outerwear piece. Sure, it requires more upkeep and maintenance than leather, but it's also ten times the amount of flex.

It's too damn hot to be holleratin' at some slim, grown-grabbing jawnz in this dancery. It's just as much a style risk as it is a style necessity to rock a pair of loose fit trousers in a lighter material like cotton poplin or chambray. Let the boys below breathe easy in the summer heat.

The wide-brimmed hat trend isn't just a Fall/Winter wool and rabbit fur fixture. It's made its way into summer with the straw variations. The trick to not looking like a farmer? Keep the silhouette classic and don't wear it with overalls, a plaid shirt, and a piece of wheat sticking out from your teeth.

Good outerwear in general will never falter, and casual outerwear with some sort of graphic treatment has always been at the forefront of style. Lately, being able to throw on one with a brazen or ostentatious print on the back has proven to be more fashion-forward, sort of like the mullet of jackets. Business in the front; party in the back.

I mean, Harry Potter wore round-rimmed glasses and he's the GOAT wizard, so... that's gotta be worth something right? Beyond the lighting-scarred literal wiz kid, these frames add a vintage rock appeal to any look (you can thank The Beatles), especially one that's suited up.

Looking like you're a part-time Jackson Pollock is what's up, but you have to make sure it's tasteful if you want your style to shine through the old “starving artist” look. It's also pretty damn awesome the way this particular style maven rocked his paint-smattered LGBT-supporting Pride Pack adidas Superstars for the world to revel in.

Being able to pull off vertical-striped trousers like this gentleman, at the risk of looking like a fugitive, is really what being stylish is all about. But let's be real: Jail stripes are kind of swaggy and prisoners wear solid colored coordinates nowadays. At least, that's what Orange Is the New Black would have us believe.

The threshold between fashion's weird/ugly sneakers and the real world's version is thinner than Cleveland's chances of winning an NBA Championship without LeBron. But being able to pick up a pair of $500+ sneakers that can make someone's nose turn up in disgust or stop someone in their tracks, seconds away from asking you WTF you're wearing, is true stylish talent. These kicks will pique the interest of early fashion adopters while everyone who hates right now will be the same people co-signing feverishly a few months down the line.