The Handbook - How To Guides
 
 
 
31 Days: Style Tips and Tricks
 
Volume 5
 

All the tips and tricks needed to shape up for 2013. Each day brings new, expert advice on how to look your best and live life to the fullest, while having a little fun doing it.

Clothes
Day
29

Classic Patterns

Eight timeless menswear patterns—used for everything from suiting and trousers to overcoats—that every discerning man should be aware of now that these old school styles are being resurrected.

Windowpane
 

Exactly what it sounds like: a simple, large-scale plaid with squares that resemble the panes of a window. Good for office appropriate jackets that also work off-duty.

Glen Plaid
 

This plaid has a broken check pattern, with a base of black-and-white stripes under subtle lines color. (The Prince of Wales plaid is a glen-check with a blue over plaid.)

Blackwatch
 

The signature tartan of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland (known as The Black Watch), this black and green plaid isn't subtle, but it is classic.

Houndstooth
 

This eye-popping two-tone pattern gets its name from the toothy checks and usually has a rough texture that is the result of different yarns being woven together.

Chalk-Stripe
 

These spaced-out stripes literally look as though they've been drawn on with some sharpened tailor's chalk. Usually found on flannels for hearty cold weather suits.

Pinstripes
 

These superfine stripes (often seen in navy or dark grey worsted wool) run vertically and have a reputation as a solid business choice and for making you appear taller.

Bird's-Eye
 

Subtle and textured, this is a pattern of small diamonds, each woven with a dot in the center. It's a style that stands out from other suits, which is good if you're looking to get noticed.

Herringbone
 

Often a hearty fabric, this chevron pattern is formed by threads woven in opposite directions. Because of the heft, it's good for casual blazers and cold-weather trousers.

How to wear them

The key to pulling off a lot of pattern—be it in a suit or a coat—is to keep the rest of your look simple. This mutes the loudness of an overall pattern.

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