Style Risks You Should Take This Summer

Image via Complex Original

Did they ever go anywhere? Yes, they did. But all trends are cyclical, and the de facto steez of streetwear's recent past is having a resurgence. Avoid cartoonish graphics and opt for something artistic and geometric. 

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Yeah, we know you got the jorts game on lock. But what about chorts? Bonus points for cutting off a pair of chinos you wore to paint your apartment or landscape your yard. The more lived-in, the better.

Simple math here: Take two interesting patterns, wear them together, and you get an interesting look. Dotted and camo-printed pieces stand out on their own, but keep the silhouette classic and pair them together for an undeniable combo.

The cool thing about color-blocking done right is that it totally complicates the proportions of your outfit in an interesting way. Don't be shy about colors—the less likely the combo the better.

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Men should never wear mandals, but the best part about fashion is breaking all the rules and making bogus shit look awesome. Put together a uniquely fresh look and your weird strappy sandals won't stand out at all—they'll look just as natural as the awesome scooter you're riding.

Tie-dye has been trending for a minute now, but take it beyond T-shirts to pop-overs and oxfords and suddenly you've got a menswear/streetwear hippie-dippie mash-up that is undoubtedly cool. Under a blazer? Yes. With some crisp chinos and loafers? Yes. Paired with your favorite frayed jorts? Definitely.

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It's easy to criticize someone for being too matchy-matchy, but push it to the max with a loud and bright pattern and you've got an unfuckwithable 'fit. Keep the rest simple. White sneakers always look clean, and any other accessories should be as nondescript as possible.

Put your camo chinos on hold for a weekend and try something completely different—floral, paisley, polka dot, whatever you can find. Just go with a subdued hue and keep the top basic. A blue oxford shirt always works.

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Mixing high and low is a classic menswear move, but rocking branded streetwear with traditional tailoring requires a special eye and a knack for juxtaposing ideas. Keep the color palette minimal, and have some fun with it—extra wide lapels and a cut off shirt collar give the whole look some surprising cohesion.

Striped tees and seersucker sport coats are nothing new for summer, but mash them up together with different colors, and stripes of different widths in different directions and you get a unique look. Stick with stripes on white in primary colors and you won't fuck this up.