Written and Produced By James Vincent

As spring finally takes a more firm stance – it’s time for you to firm up your wardrobe for the coming nice weather. Whether it’s for work or play, it’s time to freshen up your wardrobe for the season ahead.

The easiest and most basic choice for a wardrobe addition is a blue suit. But not just any blue suit. A good navy suit should be in every guy’s wardrobe – it’s great for a solid business day. But when you want a blue suit with a little more pop to it – especially as the weather is warming up – go with a brighter hue of blue. Brighter blue suits are making the menswear news, and for a good reason. They’re definitely good for a confident guy to wear to the office – and definitely a good idea for a night out on the town or a special occasion.

Suit, Saville Row Co. London; Shirt, Michelsons London; Tie, Michael Kors; Tie Bar & Pocket Square, Vintage;  Belt, Nautica; Shoes, Kenneth Cole; Socks, Model’s..

And what’s great about a fashion suit look such as this is its ability to totally transform itself into a whole different attitude by subtracting and adding a few things. One minute you’re at the office and a few minutes later, sans dress shirt and tie – and by substituting a tee and sneakers and adding a weekender bag and you’re ready to go to the gym or for anything  else the weekend has to offer.

Tee, Polo Ralph Lauren; Sneakers, Tommy Hilfiger; Bag, Duchamp London.

For an early spring season that can still be quite chilly at times, some good wardrobe investments can be several sport jackets that can double as outerwear with the addition of lightweight sweaters. But first and foremost pick some jackets that have some style as their main component. Secondly – add in a few new shirts. A blue and white plaid shirt is fine at times for the office but advance your fashion spirit a bit and pick one of the newer shirts that have more dense, smaller and more complicated patterns. They read darker and are a perfect foil to pair with a preppy knit tie in stripes that might not ordinarily work – but with the more dense shirt pattern being much smaller in pattern and by keeping the tie in the same color family – it’s a casual fashion look that works.

Sport Jacket, Cavani; Jeans, Paige,  Shirt, Jones New York; Tie, Polo Ralph Lauren; Tie Bar & Pocket Square, Vintage; Sneakers, Tommy Hilfiger.

For another great sports jacket option – pick out something that you might not ordinarily pick – be daring if even you only wear it for funky, special occasions. Pick out a bright, turquoise gingham jacket – it’s not something you see everyday. And as long as you’re on a roll with the bright colors – go all out for a shirt – knock ’em out with a hot pink shirt – just because you can – it’s not the end of your fashion world and you just might start a trend.

Sport Jacket & Belt, Penguin; Shirt, Bugatchi; Jeans, AG; Sneakers, Tommy Hilfiger.

There are times, of course, that you will need just the right suit for work and other special events. A good, basic gray suit is going to fit those occasions every time. Get an all season lightweight fabric that will get you through the entire year. A gray suit also gives you more tie/shirt options than a stark black or a dark blue suit will offer. And by all means – please don’t wear black shoes with a gray suit. For one – it’s too expected. Save the black shoes for the black suit. Get a good pair of brown dress shoes. Not just any ‘ole pair of brown shoes – but a nice medium, warm brown. Whether it’s an Oxford style, Monk strap, basic tie or slip on – is up to your individual taste. But they will look stylish with the gray suit as well as any blue suit.

Suit, 14^th & Union; Shirt, Lorenzo Uomo; Tie, Michael Kors; Tie Bar & Pocket Square, Vintage; Shoes, Kenneth Cole.

And finally, because  every spring has it’s chilly days, and for knocking around on the weekend – don’t get caught out in the cold and rain in a drab gray or black jacket. Get something in a bright color to – at the very least –  appear to be in a bright and happy mood. Who knows – the sun may actually come out later in the day and you’ll be in just the right shade of brightness.

Track Jacket, Tommy Hilfiger; Polo, Boss Hugo Boss; Jeans, AG.

*Photography, Alejandra Guerrero, http://www.alejandraguerrero.com/; Model, Justin For Ford Models Chicago; Grooming, Ashley Condron, http://www.rcbeauty.com/; Styling, James Vincent, https://www.tradeshowoffs.com/. Shot on location in and around the Edgewater neighborhood, Chicago.