October 2016 – Men4Fashion

By Cillian O’Connor20 October 2016

Few men’s hairstyles look just as magazine cover-worthy today as they did in the 1950s. Sure, the buzz cut was floating around then, and the slick side-parting’s been a mainstay for even longer, but the quiff? No men’s hairstyle is as steeped in style.

Sported by some of history’s most stylish men – from Marlon Brando then, to David Beckham today – the quiff started as a hybrid of the pompadour and 1950s flat top. Since then, it’s proven itself a versatile classic for men intent on making a statement up top, able to be adapted easily whether you’re gearing up for date night or delivering a client presentation.

Check out some of the best men’s quiff styles below, and for more on sculpting one – from the cut you need to the products to perfect your finish – take a look at our complete guide to the quiff.

Long Hair Quiff

Sweep-Back Quiff

Textured Quiff

Curly Quiff

Side-Swept Quiff

Textured Quiff With Short Sides

Classic Short Quiff

Wet Look Quiff

Contemporary Quiff

Quiff With Fade

Thickly Textured Quiff

Modern Quiff

Quiff With Short Back & Sides

Quiff With Scissor Fade

Quiff With Tapered Sides

Wet Look Side-Parted Quiff

Slick-Back Quiff

Disconnected Quiff

Long Textured Quiff

Messy Quiff

Textured Quiff With Short Sides

Wavy Quiff

Quiff With Forward Fringe

Side-Parted Quiff

Wavy Quiff With Long Sides

Extra Voluminous Feathered Quiff

Long Hair Textured Quiff

Long Hair Wavy Quiff

Teddy Boy Quiff

High Side-Swept Quiff

High Textured Quiff

Long Hair Short Quiff

The 5 Men Accessory Trends That Should Know

As autumn lands, the usual suspects return to your wardrobe: a warmer coat, thicker chinos, wet-weather boots. Goose pimpled flesh aside, style isn’t compromised by plummeting mercury. The chill brings a new world of layering that is, arguably, better looking than our summer lovin’ months.

But as you pour cashmere atop merino wool, it’s easy to forget that the devil is in the detail. And if AW16’s key accessories are anything to by, the mantra has never been truer.

Put Your Neck On The Line

This season, Christmas debt won’t be all that’s hanging from your neck. Gucci and Dior Homme stuck their necks out with an array of neckerchiefs, from Catholic school bows to 1960s cravats and deconstructed ties.

An oversized pussy bow works at an Oscar Wilde convention, less so at your Christmas do. Continental ties – a piece of black silk that crosses over at the front – are a strong midpoint between runways and realism, says Alice Watt, stylist at Thread. It’s a lesser-spotted choice that bends black tie dress codes, without quite breaking them.

The trend applies to the everyday too. In lieu of a reimagined cravat, try adding a neckerchief to workwear-inspired looks from across the Channel – think Breton stripes, chore jackets and neutral chinos. Just keep patterns and colours simple, lest you look like a Dexys Midnight Runner.

Key Pieces

Key Change

Your juvenile endorsement of Sum 41 is back from the dead. As Prada proved with an expeditionary-themed collection, key chains are a trend to unlock for AW16.

Instead of grungy BMX chains, however, these are leather loops attached to gold-gilted pocket books (well, it is Prada). You’ll still hit the cost-per-wear ratio, though, since they work with anything that’s got a belt loop. Dark denim most readily – a janitorial style move to go with their workwear roots – but tailoring, too, so long as it’s the kind you wear with Cuban collar shirts.

The secret is to keep your look simple. The key chain is a small accessory that makes a big noise, says Watt. Everyone from Vetements to Bieber has appropriated nu-metal typography, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to break out the Linkin Park hoodies.

Key Pieces

Swollen Goods

Unlike the arms of WAGs up and down the country, men’s bags have never offered much choice. But that is changing. And it doesn’t involve swiping your girlfriend’s Céline. Instead of blurring lines, Louis Vuitton and Loewe simply inflated them – the holdall and backpack went supersize for AW16.

Sadly, the morning commute is not designed for a backpack the size of Kolkata, but you can still channel the bloat. Classic leather holdalls are increasingly used as everyday bags and the likes of Herschel offer XL rucksacks on the more affordable (and wearable) spectrum.

But if designer is your first choice, then Loewe’s military slouch backpacks from its seasonal lookbook have been released in a slightly more manageable size (at ease, National Rail ticket collectors).

Key Pieces

Stick To The Brief

Just as oversized bags are tipped for AW16 stardom, so too is their structured counterpart: the briefcase. From Louis Vuitton’s monogrammed uniformity to weatherworn luggage at Thom Browne, it seems the biggest brands were thinking inside the box this season.

“It’s all about hard cases and luxe hardware, and – according to the show notes – future heritage,” says Watt. Which means your nine-to-five accessories now work after hours too.

The secret is to choose versatility. Hard-sided Mr Bean briefcases are difficult to assimilate into everyday looks, but relaxed document holders are as appropriate perched next to your office chair or your bar stool.

Key Pieces

Head Over Feels

Pharrell, it’s high time you ditched the Vivienne Westwood hat: statement headwear has been reinvented for AW16. At Fendi, it was a Kremlin meets Madchester affair, with umber fur-lined bucket hats. And for Topman Design, the regular beanie was oversized, textured and featured a mismatch of stripes and ribbed wools.

Neither of which are easy to pull off, admittedly. But it is possible. Fendi’s abominable snow hat is cushioned by the current trend for all things 1990s but this oversized spin is more forgiving than, say, Hood By Air’s attempts to salvage the Kangol (leave them to the hypebeasts).

Meanwhile, Topman’s slouch beanies should be worn smaller with the focus on texture: more ribs, more stripes, less of the Noddy silhouette.

Key Pieces

6 Autumn/Winter Men’s Style Myths Debunked

Fashion built its empire on diktats. Wear X, or fear ridicule. Don’t wear Y, unless you want to instantly be marked apart as the one who didn’t get the memo. It’s a bit like an algorithm, a series of if statements based on etiquette, weather and what some editor somewhere hurriedly scribbled down in an effort to leave the office on time.

But in a world where fashion’s in flux – split apart by forces like the internet, social media and fast fashion – the rulebook’s been ripped up.

These are some of the most common cold-weather style myths we’ve heard, and why you need to take them all with a generous pinch of salt.

1. You Need An Entirely New Wardrobe For Autumn/Winter

Climate change alone is reason enough to draw a line under this one. There might’ve been a time the shift in seasons meant a wardrobe 180, but in 2016 – when weather patterns are changing fast and trends ebb and flow more than ever – your style needs to be mutable.

“When the cold weather arrives, it’s only natural to start thinking you need an entirely new wardrobe,” says Dean Alexander, menswear stylist at Harvey Nichols’ Style Concierge. “However, I would argue that you should choose a few key investment pieces [and try] layering, which means you can rework pieces that exist in your wardrobe already so there’s no need to start from scratch.” An overshirt, denim jacket, shawl neck cardigan and thermal pieces are all good places to start.

2. Prints Are For Spring/Summer Only

Got a floral tee you’re not ready to retire for the season? An all-over zig-zag shirt you want to squeeze a little more wear out of?

Good news, because according to Giles Farnham, head of River Island’s Style Studio, punchy prints still have a place in your cold-weather wardrobe.

“For a straight-from-the-catwalk look, try a jewel-coloured crew neck jumper or cardigan with a print shirt that has a subtle flash of the same colour,” he says. “Print is working its way into tailoring for autumn/winter too, especially in eveningwear. Try teaming a geometric suit or blazer with white kicks for a contemporary take on traditional partywear.”

3. Sunglasses Are For Summer Only

Unless you’re unlucky enough to live somewhere where the sun literally doesn’t rear its head in the colder months, you need sunglasses.

“Sunglasses are a year-round staple,” says David Schulte, CEO of luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples. “Winter sun can be just as strong as in the summer and it’s critical to protect yourself.” Look for shades that protect you from 100 per cent of both UVA and UVB light, which – despite popular opinion – can come as cheap as the price of your lunch.

Sunglasses don’t just shield your eyes either, they can also be the accessory that elevates your cold-weather looks. “The right pair can be a perfect style-enhancer to a winter wardrobe,” says Schulte. “[Try] a honey-brown tortoiseshell with tweed, or a black-on-black pair with an overcoat and suit.”

4. Layering Is As Easy As Piling One Piece On Top Of The Other

Sure, if your idea of style is a sumo suit; not so much if you’re looking to ape your street style heroes’ multi-layered flair.

“This isn’t a case of just slinging on fifteen jumpers and hoping for the best,” says Farnham. “Think about the structure of each piece, and how they all fit together – like a jigsaw.” The trick, he says, is in understanding fabric structure and weight. “Start with your thinnest layer and then work your way outwards.” So lightweight pieces like tees or shirts go on first, followed by thicker items such as overshirts, knitwear and mid-weight jackets, with heavier outerwear and accessories added last.

“Consider silhouette, too,” says Farnham. “A bomber jacket – which is cropped – lends itself well to longer line pieces worn underneath. Try your longest piece as the first layer (either a shirt or T-shirt), then a hoodie over the top and a jacket over that.”

Think of these more as guidelines than rules, though. Says Farnham: “There can be exceptions – a fitted, lightweight roll neck under a shirt is a great look that oozes 1970s swagger!”

5. You Shouldn’t Wear White In Winter

White fabrics reflect light rather than absorb it, which means they look their best on sun-drenched summer days. But that’s not, according to Harvey Nichols’ Alexander, reason to give your white pieces the cold shoulder come winter.

“This is one myth I strongly disagree with,” he says. “Yes, perhaps our skin isn’t as tanned and glowing as it is in the summer months, but there are ways to wear white stylishly come the winter months. It’s a versatile colour you can mix into your outfit easily, without feeling too bold.”

Head-to-toe white might be too ambitious a look for what winter’s about to throw at you, but a classic white shirt or trainer are workable year-round. “Pair bright whites with contrasting, more muted colours for a fresh take on whites this season,” advises Alexander.

6. Gilets Are For Farmers Only

A year ago, a gilet meant country fairs, Crufts and ads for West Country yoghurt. But thanks to the tireless work of Italian street style dons (and the odd Uniqlo campaign), the gilet has been rebranded a cold-weather wardrobe staple.

“The gilet shouldn’t be reserved for just trekking the Lake District,” says River Island’s Farnham. “It’s one of the most versatile pieces a man can own, giving you warmth in the body but free movement of your arms.”

The key is in how you style it. “Embrace athleisure with a lightweight gilet worn under a deconstructed blazer and teamed with tailored sweatpants and white sneakers,” he says. “Or [go] Americana with a check shirt, distressed denim and chunky boots.”