Office Wear for Men - Spring 2009 Fashion Trends

Menswear for the office doesn't have to be stuffy or regimented. Now that winter is winding down, here are some trends to look for when getting a spring wardrobe in order for the office.

Double-Breasted Suit

Double-Breasted suit jackets come in many different styles, but they all have one thing in common: double-breasted jackets have buttons on the outside and inside and cross over to close. Depending on your silhouette, choices for a double-breasted suit include a tapered waist, deeper V-shape opening in the front with longer or wider lapels. It will be also important to look at the details like the fabric and the pockets.

Three-Piece Suit

A classic three-pieced suit consists of a jacket, a waistcoat or a vest, and a pair of trousers. Try a three-piece suit for the office in modern shades of gray and dark blue, matching the pieces together rather than contrasting the waistcoat or vest against the jacket and trousers.

Choices for a modern three-piece suit for the office include all the pieces separately. For the jacket, depending on your tastes, choose either a tapered-waist or one that is loosely cut. For the waistcoat or vest, look at the shape of the V in the front and where it lies against the opening of the jacket. Trousers can be matched exactly for a great look, or choose a color just to the left or right of the overall color but in the same color pattern.

Color in the Wardrobe

Color will be a big thing for the spring, and can really break up an otherwise boring wardrobe or even an outfit. Consider a different colored vest or waistcoat, or a different colored tie to contrast.

Ties are always an important accessory to look for. If you are in the mood for stripes, try one from Victoria Richards. Thick, bold and full of life they will make a clean statement in the office. Her ties can be found on PatrickMcMurray.com and in textile gallerys in the UK.

Contrasting Collars in Shirts

While color will be important in office wear, whether in casual or dressy environments, the contrasting shirt will be popular. Look for shades for the shirt that go with the jacket and trousers. Contrasting colors for the collar can be plain white, cream or blue and match a basic element of the suit, or the color can be all by itself and pop giving the outfit definition.

Façonnable Contrast Collar dress shirts are a great find and can be found in Nortstrom department stores, and on Nordstrom.com. Try a classic pinstripe in a navy color set against light blue for the shirt and a contrasting light collar.

Shoes

Of course, shoes should not be forgotten. Shoes should be looked at as an investment, and since they are the grounding for the outfit, choose a pair that will be long lasting, comfortable and match in a way that will help tie everything together. The leather should always be top-quality to get as much use from them as possible.

Shoe care includes proper storage and cleaning. If possible keep a shoe rack handy for regular dress shoes and loafers. Use a good quality shoe cream or wax for polishing leather shoes. Suede shoes will need a different cleaner, so look for cleaners specially made for suede leather.

Kenneth Cole not only makes quality shoes, but also sells great shoe care products. Try wax-free Kenneth Cole New York Leather Lotion for cleaning all kinds of leather except for suede and nubuck style of shoes. For polishing and buffing black leather shoes, try Kenneth Cole New York Black Magic. It comes with its own brush and is sold in a container enough for polishing up to 20 pairs of shoes.

Looking at the above trends, it will be easy to add to a wardrobe simply and stylishly.