4 great contrasting outfit combinations | fashionbeans

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Create A ContrastAs men continue to broaden their outlook on fashion, it’s becoming socially acceptable to be

more experimental with your attire. From loud Hawaiian shirts to double denim, modern gents

are no longer afraid to push the boundaries and make a statement with eye-catching clothing

and creative outfit combinations.

Bearing this in mind, FashionBeans wants to take full advantage of this evolution by exploring

four different ways that you can pair two contrasting (in style) garments. These juxtapositions

really shouldn’t work, but if you get the balance just right, they look superb and will help

effortlessly separate your outfits from the crowd…

1. T-Shirts & TrousersPerhaps one of the less daring combinations we shall be dissecting today, a t-shirt and trousers

pairing has become somewhat of a summer classic. We can understand why; a t-shirt is an ideal

alternative to a shirt when temperatures rise, while trousers are a smarter and more lightweight

option than predictable jeans or ubiquitous beige chinos.

Whether worn on their own or teamed with a blazer/bomber, this refreshingly modish look is

the perfect balance of smart and casual. To finish your outfit, simply add a pair of leather

trainers for drinks with friends or suede driving shoes/loafers for a summer night out.

For those looking for an added touch of style, we recommend going sockless and investing in

some trousers that finish just above the ankle (your tailor will be able to make this adjustment

for you, if required). A slightly cropped trouser shows you are a man who pays attention to the

finer details, oozes continental chic and pairs extremely well with warm-weather footwear

silhouettes.1

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4 Great Contrasting Outfit CombinationsArticle By Billy Webb on 3rd September 2014 | @BillyRWebb

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enough to pair with any trousers you currently have in your wardrobe, they will also give your

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2. Suits & TrainersAlready a go-to pairing for stylish gents attending runway shows across the globe, suits

matched with trainers is set to develop into a key look for 2015. Ideal for those who like to

break the rules (in a considered way) and go against the norm, this brash contrast of styles

offers a simple yet effective way to breathe new life into your formal attire.

However, although we encourage this contemporary trend, it’s important to remember that

there are particular juxtapositions that work well, and others that definitely do not. Asics

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are just too extreme to combine with a perfectly tailored suit.

Ensure you stay on the right side of stylish by sticking to smart, minimal designs like those

produced by Common Projects or Saint Laurent, or eye-catching athletic silhouettes such as the

Nike Free Run or New Balance 524. Leather or suede construction will also bring a

premium/luxe feel to your footwear, helping to further blur the lines between smart and casual.

In terms of your suit, colour and material are key considerations, as certain styles are more

suitable than others. Heavyweight versions in tweed or flannel are a no go due to their

distinctly heritage feel (stick to tan/oxblood brogue boots if you want to create a considered

clash here), yet a navy/grey suit in a summer fabric or wool-blend always looks great with white

leather trainers – see the lookbook below for proof.

Finally, pay attention to your surrounding pieces. A wide spread-collar shirt with a power tie

knot is too business like and will only make your footwear stick out like a sore thumb. Instead,

look to subtly dress down your entire outfit: Oxford/chambray shirts instead of dress shirts;

going tieless or undoing a couple of buttons; substituting your shirt and tie for a roll neck;

opting for woven belts, a bold printed pocket square or textured/patterned ties – these are all

subtle tweaks you can make to help produce a more congruent feel between your top and

bottom half.

Lookbook Inspiration


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Example Outfit Combinations


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3. Blazer & JeansThe ultimate smart-casual get-up, a blazer and jeans combination should be your go-to when

you want to look presentable but not too dressy. Whether worn for a night out on the town or

an after-work dinner, this foolproof pairing is one that every fashion-conscious gent should

have in their repertoire.

Although there are no hard or fast rules when it comes to colours or materials, there are a few

combinations that work better than others. For example, tweed is the perfect companion for

dark indigo denim, while a coloured jacket would look great with white or light wash jeans in

summer. Other classic pairings include black jeans with a grey blazer, and grey jeans with a


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is a timeless combination that looks great on any man.

To complete your look, simply add penny loafers and a ribbed roll neck for Sunday lunch with

the family, switching for a crisp white shirt, knitted tie and tan brogues for dress-down Friday

in the office.

When it comes to getting the formality of your outfit right, remember this simple guideline: the

darker your jeans, the smarter they look. Therefore, stick to shades of indigo or black when

wanting to dress up, and lighter washes if you prefer something more relaxed and casual at the

weekend.

Finally, the fit of your jeans is extremely important, especially when looking to combine them

with a tailored jacket. The key here is to mirror the cut of your blazer: slim-legs with

sharply-cut tailoring and straight legs with more traditional, fuller-cut jackets.



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4. Shoes & ShortsA favourite of FashionBeans style icon Nick Wooster, shoes with shorts is one combination

that’s still very much up for debate. And while many will have their reservations, we believe it

is a pairing worthy of praise.

But before you go grabbing your beloved Oxfords, we must stress that there are a few guidelines

to adhere to. Slimline, warm-weather-appropriate silhouettes such as loafers, brogues and

suede bucks are perfect here, but smart leather lace-ups and ankle boots certainly are not.


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worn with shorts.

In terms of shoe colour, you will never go wrong with shades of brown, tan or oxblood. As this

is a strict summer pairing, we would avoid black footwear as it looks extremely formal and can

jar with the overall aesthetic. For those that are more adventurous, this year’s big pop-colour

footwear trend offers an easy way of injecting life and a touch of flair into your ensemble. White

Derbies, red driving shoes or light blue penny loafers are just some of the options available on

the current market.

As for the shorts, they need to look smart, rather than sloppy. Ensure this is the case by opting

for a neutral, slim-fitting pair that hits just above the knee. These can be dressed up or down

depending on the occasion and will anchor any statement pair of shoes you may choose.

To create an outfit, we suggest teaming tailored shorts with a shirt and suede Derbies for a

summer garden party, switching for chino shorts, a crew neck t-shirt and driving shoes for a

weekend barbeque.



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Final WordThere you have it, four modern juxtapositions to add to your styling repertoire.

But now we want to hear from you – will you be trying out any of the combinations above in the

seasons ahead? Are you a fan of the classic jeans and blazer pairing? And can a suit ever

successfully be worn with trainers?

As always, we would love to hear your thoughts, so please leave your comments below…


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THERE ARE CURRENTLY 55 COMMENTS - AADDDD YYOOUURRSS

Bea Posted On 3rd September 2014:

“Suits & Trainers”

As much as the fashionistas would like to conceal it, they’re going to have to eventually

admit that they got the idea from Tennant in Doctor Who and just run with it. Because men

are going to be wearing pinstripe suits with Converses for the next two decades.

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT

Hassan Akram Posted On 3rd September 2014:

I dont think trainers with smart trousers really is an acceptable combo in my opinion. Why

destroy something good; if you want to go casual, why not wear brogues or loafers? I dont

think ill ever be convinced on that combination. I also don’t understand where you could

wear that combo: it’s too inappropriate for an office environment?

I may be wrong; but I believe there to be, other, more valid alternatives than that one…


Remco Kreuk Posted On 3rd September 2014:

Im a huge fan of the first 3 combinations, wearing them alot. The 4th is one i dont often go

for. Maybe i havent found the right shoes.

Would monk strap shoes match with shorts??

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Ross Posted On 5th September 2014:

Another spot on article, BUT. “Suits and Trainers” are to be avoided at all costs unless your

name is Tinie Tempah, in which instance you are possibly the only man on the planet I’ve

ever seen make this combo look good !


Arthur Posted On 10th September 2014:

I knew people would bring up the Suits and Trainers issue but as you can see from the photos

its a popular look in the fashion industry. Its not new and it will always keep coming back,

this happens when fashion goes very formal for a while. I noticed this being popular with

Americans for a while now, didnt personally like it because we had been wearing trainers for

decades here and I was glad to see all the alternatives and smart shoes coming back. I wonder

if the Trainer suit look is a nightclub look, or semi smart evening wear perhaps?


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4 great contrasting outfit combinations | fashionbeans

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