T SHARTS &SUITS

suit jacket style

Cotton and other natural fiber suits are certainly being seen more and more in spring/summer collections. I find that there is something romantic about them, perhaps a nod to another era. High-end designers like Giorgio Armani, Paul Smith and Etro added cotton suits to their collections. This could be a trend we will see for years to come. I hope so since it is a look I love.

cooL T-shirt classic

The ease of a cotton suitWhat’s more, cotton suits are such a great alternative to summer weight wools. They are easily incorporated into a wardrobe as they can be worn with a tee (but please, not in a Miami Vice sort of way) as well as a shirt and tie. A pair of fabulous dress shoes or fashion sneakers, what ever your style, will finish off this cool summer wardrobe essential. Also keep in mind that the cotton suits offered now are more sophisticated making them better suited for the office or an evening out as opposed to the the country club look found in years past. But let me remind you, if you are still building a basic, functional wardrobe, stick with classic suit fabrics such as worsted wools.

suit jacket

people are sayingLauren Deatherage, Cotton Incorporated’s product trend analyst for menswear says, “cotton suiting is a key-trend for spring/summer 2006. It can be incorporated into all men’s trend themes. From preppy to edgy, it’s all about personal style and accessories. A khaki-colored, twill suit with a bright polo is perfect for Sunday brunch, while a slim-fit suit jacket can be worn with the season’s must-have skinny jeans and a T-shirt for a downtown, rock and roll adaptation.” And American designer Daniel Silver of Duckie Brown says “cotton suiting is perfect, not only for summer, but the transitional months before and after. To add to the versatility, a cotton suit can easily be broken into individual pieces.”

FULL DRESS

Everyone’s on boardAccording to research conducted by Cotton Incorporated, 56.8% of men will pay more for higher quality clothing and 58.7% think natural fibers are best fabric option. And as to be expected, the renewed interest in cotton suiting has “trickled-down.” Mid-priced designers like Penguin and Brooks Brothers have cotton-twill and seersucker options. Lower-end companies such as Banana Republic and Target have their own versions as well. So no matter what your price-point or personal style, there is a cotton suit out there for you.