The "Lighter Look" In Men's Fashions

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 20

The "Lighter Look" In Men's Fashions

The Addington Raceway and other places where men gather will this summer see the latest trend in men’s fashion colours—the ‘‘light and lighter look.” The current emphasis on colour is so strong, in fact, that it will overshadow the normal interest in patterns and models, and perhaps even prices.

Seldom, if ever, has the men’s fashion market moved with such unanimity to a single theme, and the theme in this case is the demand for light silvery grays, backed up by a host of other light grays achieved in stock-dyed and yarn-dyed effects. The terms ‘‘light and lighter” are purely relative. That being the case, they can best be described as follows: last season’s lights are this season’s mediums. This season’s lights are as light, if not lighter, than the lights that dominated men’s clothing immediately after World War ll—before the miasma

of charcoal sullied the style spectrum. Black and navy blue will be, as they should, of continuing importance. However, these darks will now serve only to balance the style scene—not dominate it. Starting now, the look of fashion will be both light and lighter in all segments of the market, traditional lines included. What, then, may we expect to see where men gather in the coming months? Clearer lustrous.

blue-hued iridescents and gray sharkskins, along with no-glare compound mixtures, will edge most patterns from the scene. Colours will all be spiked with fresh clay tones. Sports coats are bursting with colour and pattern. Cool grounds of whites, wheats and tans back up many-sized plaids, stripes and checks. The lightening trend strikes blazers with natural, beige and parchment shades. Pewter and clay tones are

among the favourites. Extremely important in the fabrics used in “contemporary” as well as in many of the middle-of-the-road models are the iridescents. The rage for iridescents ranges from some modest grays containing percentages of mohair and/or silk and worsted, to some absolute “screamers” with golden hued warps and bright blue fillings.