Green : From Spring Trend To Auspicious Colour 

On the cusp of the Sinhalese and Tamil new year, everyone is scurrying for any traditional or non-traditional clothing in this year’s auspicious colour of green. You can see it in every clothing store window, every advert attracting your attention to their unbelievable discounts; green is the colour everyone wants to cash in on, but fortunately I am quite excited to see this local trend keep up with an emerging trend for menswear globally as the spring summer showcases of every fashion week and celebrity sighting is talking about the emergence of the green colour palette. 

Let’s look at some key pieces you should consider adding to your wardrobe to keep things green in the new year. 

The Green Suit 

The colour of the year was announced to be an ink blue, but Colombo has been going through a minor obsession for blue suits since the wedding season last June. Now in full force, I feel Colombo Fashion Week and every other wedding was the prime example in this story. How about you break the ice and consider the green suit as your next tailor-made option. 

Don’t go with the flow, put a little spring trend in your step and add a little olive, camouflage green and even hints of emerald, grass green. The Races in Nuwara Eliya would be the ideal location for a debut to a new green suit, but green patterns might be too much; avoid a full suit in plaid or windowpane, just a jacket or a waistcoat in a three-piece ensemble should do. 

The Green Pants 

The corporate world in Sri Lanka doesn’t seem to know any other colour besides grey, black, blue and the darkest shade possible of any colour. Who made this rule I’m not sure, but almost the whole of the corporate sector adheres to it. Mix it up with an olive pair of work slacks, or even a pair of chinos (even if you give in to the peer pressure and end up bringing them out on a weekend or casual Friday). 

Also, consider green in jogger pants; there were a pleasurable surprise when shopping at D.blaq, especially the stippled camo print. Noticed some green denims in almost all large-scale retail stores (in skinny and straight cut), and the next big thing; tailored shorts that should only be worn with loafers or high end sandals. 

Green Shirts And Outerwear 

Now there is a massive trend for Hawaiian print shirts and Cuban collar casuals; and if the latter went over your head, those are the shirts look like they should be accompanied by a matching pair of silk pyjama pants. But they will not. Also, bomber jackets and anoraks are still on the rise. Get your hands on one for the rain-cold Colombo nights that follow the most humid days of spring in Colombo. 

Green for shirts that are not casuals seems like something you should avoid by my expert eyes. But speaking of green for casual shirts, go for the prints, especially if you are planning on pairing it with denims or chinos, or even a coordinated green on green look. 

Green Footwear 

For me, green is not a preferred choice in my wardrobe. But it is a consideration I am making especially with my footwear. Green is a colour that wouldn’t show dirt soon and makes for a strong contrast with browns, whites and reds which I already own. When someone would go with a predictable brown or grey option, opt for a green loafer or Plimsoll such as the ones on offer by Arugam Bay and Hameedias. 

The writer is a Stylist and Menswear Evangelist for Daily Mirror Life. Follow Jude Gayantha Perera (www.instagram.com/stylistlk) and find his best recommendations online, especially on Instagram.

By Jude Gayantha Perera