Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette! Today's video is all about florals in
menswear; we discuss five ways to incorporate floral patterns into your
wardrobe, as well as the do's and don'ts.
Floral pattern fabrics have become increasingly popular in Italy yet it can
be difficult to pull them off because most people are too loud when they wear
it. I really needed to stock up on floral patterns for this video because
traditionally, it's not part of this men's style canon. Now that doesn't mean
that you should never wear florals because they can be incorporated into
a classic wardrobe in a tasteful way but it's not always easy. In general, floral
patterns are very bold and so they were traditionally reserved for eccentric
wallpapers or upholstery fabrics. You could find them in women's wear but now,
they've made their way into menswear as well. If you're into the latest trends, by
all means, go and wear floral sneakers and bomber jackets. Now, when you come to this
channel chances are you like classic things and so today, we want to show you
how you can incorporate floral patterns with a modern touch while still looking
like a classy gentleman. First of all, don't wear floral patterns out of season
because it is specifically something for spring and summer. The other winter, I saw
a gentleman wearing a really flowery shirt on a pink background in the midst
of winter and just looked entirely out of place. Second, do wear floral accessories
throughout the year if they are subtle. Yes, this is an exception to number one
but as with any good rule, there's always an exception. Now, if you have floral
patterns that are very subtle, you can wear them maybe even in the winter, even
though I still think they probably look better in the summer. A good example of a
floral item that you can wear year-round is a pocket square, in my opinion, because it
oftentimes comes in Paisley patterns or playful patterns. It's not always easily
discernible as a floral and because of that, you can incorporate it year-round. Just
look at this pocket square, for example. I could probably incorporate into a winter
outfit despite its rather bold color. Three, don't pair florals with tweed because it
just clashes historically and stylistically. Tweed is traditionally a
country fabric that is rich in colors and patterns and as such,
it would clash with a floral pattern that is likewise really bold and vivid
and comes in many different colors. Four, do wear just one or two floral patterns
at a time. If it's a bolder pattern, it should be just one pattern. If you have a
more subtle pattern, such as this tie, you can combine it with another more subtle
pattern that's just a pocket square. Also, don't mix a floral pattern with another
bold pattern such as a Glen check or a strong rope stripe because it's just
over to the top and the other person doesn't know where to look at first. Five,
when in doubt, opt for smaller floral patterns because they're always more
easy to combine in a harmonious way into your outfit than those big bold patterns.
Tiny florals can also be worn like a Paisley or like polka dots.
For example, this tie here is very neutral and it could be just like a
summery paisley tie. I suggest you don't wear big floral patterns because
otherwise, you look more like a wallpaper. The only exceptions to those rule are
likely swim trunks which are known for big orchid prints or for some people
even Hawaiian shirts. Now, this bring us to our next point, what are the five best ways
to wear floral patterns? Personally, I think the easiest way is to wear it in a
swim trunk. Because it's a very casual garment, you only wear it when it's warm
outside, when it's summery then it's
a perfect time to wear florals. It's definitely fun and playful but at the
same time, smaller flower petals in swim trunks are easier to pull off than
those big chunky contrasting ones. The second easiest way to incorporate
florals into a classic men's wardrobe is with a pocket square. Pocket squares are
traditionally printed and so are most floral patterns. Also, pocket squares are
often a little louder than their necktie counterparts and so people are in
general, more used to louder pocket squares and also to patterned pocket
squares and when you fold a pocket square, the floral print may not always
be immediately discernible which makes it very easy to wear. Also, you'll
probably never find a suit jacket or a sport coat
made out of a floral pattern and so the pocket square will stand out in an
elegant way. Also, it's a small enough accessory that it doesn't
overwhelm the entire outfit, it merely creates a tasteful accent in your
overall ensemble. The third easiest way to incorporate florals is by wearing
socks. In recent years, crazy socks have become really popular and whether you
should wear them in general or not is something we discussed in this video
here. If you want to incorporate florals, socks are a good way. Again, if you keep
smaller patterns, maybe on a darker ground such as Navy so you can wear it
with navy pants just like I'm doing it right now here. On the flip side, if you
were a really bold flowery sock, it's really difficult to combine with a
classic men's wardrobe that makes you look more like a clown than a
well-dressed gentleman. The fourth way to wear floral patterns is through ties.
Neckties are a classic staple of a man's wardrobe yet in recent years, they've
become increasingly unpopular. If you don't want to go with classic stripes or
maybe checks, you can add a little casualness to your outfit by going with
florals in your neckwear. That being said, most florals out there are really
crazy, in my opinion, and so they don't lend themselves to a more neutral office
appropriate outfit. On the other hand, if you go with something more subtle like
this one here in pastel tones with a small floral pattern, it's not even
discernible as such from afar and therefore, office appropriate for more
casual office environments. Muted floral neckties are also okay for modern
business casual events but definitely do not wear them in a formal setting.
Because they're a bolder pattern, even if the colors are muted, I suggest you keep
the patterns low on a jacket, ideally you pair it with solid jackets or suits and
maybe a very thin faint stripe in the shirt but ideally, with a solid as well
because it makes it look more harmonious overall. Definitely stay clear of any
striped suit or any other bold pattern on your jacket. Five, a really popular way
to wear florals has been shirts. Personally, I think it's
a little more difficult to pull it off properly simply because it's a
relatively large surface. Even though some people wear short-sleeved shirts
with floral prints, I suggest you stick with button-down shirts with long-sleeve
shirts because that's traditionally part of a classic man's wardrobe. If you take
a pattern that's out there, at least, stick with a classic cut. Also, if you want a
floral shirt, I suggest to go with something that has a white or light pink
background and little flowery items rather than an all-over floral print
shirt because that just looks a little weird with a navy blazer or a business
suit. If you wear a floral shirt with smaller prints, stick to solid colored
jackets or sport coats such as a navy blazer or more a pastelly colored sport
coat for summery outfits. For example here, I chose a light grey jacket with a
light blue shirt that way, it's not such a bold combination but it works
altogether because the tie also has these pastel tones. Of course, if you're
traveling to Hawaii, a Hawaiian shirt is in order and that has short sleeves
and that's okay. Maybe if you want to go to a theme party, that's okay as well but
in general everyday life, an Hawaii shirt is probably not something a
gentleman would wear. Now if you like the idea of flowers but you find the printed
floral patterns over-the-top, think about a traditional boutonniere which is the
lapel flower that is worn through your lapel buttonhole. we've created extensive
guides about a history of boutonnieres how you should wear them and we even
created a whole range of real-looking silk boutonnieres that you can buy in
our shop here they will never wilt they will always look stylish and compliments
are guaranteed to come your way. So in conclusion. if you want to add
florals to your outfit, try to stick with small patterns in muted colors. You can
wear them as part of a swim trunk, as a shirt, as a tie, as a pocket square,
maybe a bow tie, otherwise, stay clear of them. Some people
also like them for socks but you should definitely stay clear of things like
floral shoes or jackets. If done right, meaning you just wear one or two
floral patterns at a time, they can even be office appropriate. Also remember
to always wear a floral pattern against a neutral solid color, that way, the
overall look is more advantageous. in today's outfit I of course incorporate
more floral patterns than I normally would simply because it's a subject of the
video it starts with a floral tie which is a small pattern nice lavender green
and white tones because of that I chose a light blue oxford button-down shirt
which is a good base for it combined with this light gray fresco sport coat
the pocket square is a hibiscus flower print and it is larger in scale which is
why I combined it with this tie the next flower I have is my boutonniere and I
chose it in a light blue and it's a delphinium which is small it picks up
the blue tones of the shirt and therefore works together with the outfit
even though there are already a lot of floral patterns for my slacks I went
with a pair of dark chinos because I already have a lot else going that being
said my shoes are a dark olive green and so is my belt
they pick up green tones from the pocket square as well as from the tie and just
work well together they are not too flashy and dark and let the floral
patterns shine because this video is all about florals I also wore floral socks
which is not something I would usually wear but just for you I did it normally
I would wear a pair of shadow striped socks which you can find in our shop but
for today's video I wore some floral socks to be on topic