What is it about chinos that make them such a good choice for menswear this year? With the Summer soon approaching, or at least hopefully given the weather, it’s worth thinking about the benefits of chinos, and how you can make the most of them - what trends should you focus on, and how can you best wear chinos with other items? Moreover, what are some of the things you should avoid when wearing chinos?

The style associated with chinos is generally laid back  and capable of being adapted to different occasions; the more casual chinos you can find on the high street have visible stitching, and are mostly to be worn when relaxing - they can still be paired, though, with Oxford shirts and smart blazers, as well as with printed T shirts. More high quality chinos, which can be found through brands like Officers Club, are designed to last longer, and to be suitable as work attire.

Remember, you don’t want to look too casual - part of the appeal of chinos is their versatility, and their ability to add a smart touch to most outfits - if you’re going for a more traditional look, than black and navy chinos are best, as they can fit in well with a smart suit jacket or blazer; brightly coloured chinos, by comparison, give you a lot of room to experiment with different styles, and can be paired with T shirts and most other outfits without drawing too much attention away from items.

The choice available for chino styles and colours is broad, and you can go with rust colours and mustard, or with regular fit and tan shades - chino shorts can also be worn, and are a particularly good idea for the beach. Regular and boot cut chinos can similarly be combined if you want a sharper look that’s more similar to the lines you can get with a good pair of slim fit jeans, and can be paired with smart shoes.

It’s worth, then, thinking about having a few different pairs of chinos that you can mix and match; brighter coloured chinos can be paired off with neutral shirts and boat shoes, while darker and less striking chinos are ideal for wearing with leather jackets. Try to avoid clashing colours, and always get your sizing right before settling on a pair of chinos. Striped shirts and plenty of colour can make chinos can stand out, so consider adding a few pairs to your wardrobe this Spring and Summer to see whether you can get out of the habit of wearing the same old jeans styles.

One of the best items you can go for if you want to complete different Summer outfits, espadrilles are a lightweight form of footwear that can be worn as a slip on shoe for heading to and from the beach. Espadrilles are flexible enough to be worn as an alternative to flip flops, and as a harder wearing choice of footwear that can be paired with chinos and cropped trousers, as well as with casual shorts and dresses, depending on the circumstances.

Espadrilles, and canvas espadrilles in particular, were first worn by peasants as an easy to wear slip on shoe during hot weather; they’re actually a bit like slippers or loafers, and can be found in harder wearing canvas styles, as well as lighter cotton versions; canvas espadrilles are best for wearing day to day, while cotton versions are more suitable for trips to the beach, and for avoiding damp weather - they’re also a good way to mix up flip flops with more stylish options.

Canvas espadrilles can be an ideal item to finish off a Summer outfit - being more hard wearing, they can be worn as a comfortable shoe for different outfits, and can be paired with denim and cargo shorts, as well as with white t shirts and blazers for men; the European style of espadrilles also makes them anessential item for a Mediterranean holiday, where they can be combined with fedoras and sunglasses. However, you can also wear them just as well with jeans and chinos.

For women, espadrilles can be worn in plain styles, or with open toes and in wedge versions with strips - again, you can wear espadrilles as a good alternative to flip flops, and as a practical and more inexpensive way to mix up your collection of ballet flats and boots. In terms of colour and style, it’s possible to find espadrilles in brighter prints, as well as with softer, plainer cotton that can make them ideal for the beach.

It is important to remember, though, that espadrilles are primarily Summer footwear - wearing them in the rain or at a muddy festival probably isn’t the best idea, as they’re liable to get ruined if you’re not careful - take the same sort of care as you would with Converse sneakers, and consider having a few different pairs of espadrilles handy if you want to experiment with colours and styles.

Designer Handbag

Spring Summer Autumn and Winter, any season is a great excuse to look at your favourite brands bags as each demends a different kind.

What are some of the best new designer bags available? Leading designers like Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg are present as usual, while there are some excellent new bags from brand such as Celine, Valentino, and Chloe to consider; some of the best new designer bags include clutches, totes, and some more unusual creations, such as Stella McCartney’s gem-embellished clutch. It’s worth looking at these designer bags, and more, in some extended detail below.