Looking Virile in Velvet

While velvet makes an appearance on catwalks every few years, it is not a material that ever goes out of fashion. Classic and luxurious, you can never go wrong by introducing a bit of velvet into your occasional wear wardrobe- unless of course, you wear it in a tacky rather than stylish way.

Why velvet?

A wholly impractical material, you may well wonder why velvet is being suggested as an addition to your wardrobe. It doesn?t breathe well, it?s heavy, it looks disgusting if you spill anything on it and it?s expensive. Despite the drawbacks, velvet is one of those luxurious materials that you can?t help but fall in love with. The smooth texture is sexier than other heavy materials, and it just oozes royal connotations. Velvet is high maintenance, but if you can carry it off you?ll be onto a style winner.

Not just for winter

As it is a heavy material that doesn?t breathe well, heavy velvet pieces such as blazers are best suited to cooler weather. However, you can bring touches of velvet to your outfit almost all year round. A velvet bowtie or velvet boots is more appropriate to the warmer months. Velvet bowties are possibly one of the best uses of velvet; they have plenty of personality you don?t run the risk of looking lame rather than stylish.

The velvet jacket

The most versatile velvet piece you can own, a velvet jacket is a must for any fashionable guy who wants to deviate slightly out from mainstream fashion. A velvet jacket in a classic color such as burgundy or navy blue is a classy but different piece best paired with formal attire such as dress shoes, fitted slacks and a bowtie or tie. For a slightly more casual look, wear it with a scarf and you?ll look hot during cold weather.
If you want to experiment with velvet but aren?t prepared to make the jump and don a velvet blazer, try wearing a jacket in a different material with velvet accents. Velvet lapels lend a touch of class to any blazer and can easily be worn in a formal or casual setting.

The velvet suit

For the truly fashionably bold, a velvet suit is an out-there statement. Wearing velvet pants is a brave enough move on its own, but combining it with a velvet suit jacket is something else. Wear a velvet suit to formal events, where you will look stylish rather than ridiculous. Combine it with a sprinkling of gold or silver jewelry, but don?t go laden down with so much bling that you look like you think you?re a pimp.

When velvet goes wrong

Velvet was big in the seventies, a time not known for its aesthetic appeal. You don?t want to look like you?re taking far too much inspiration from the retro era. To that end, any velvet in burnt orange or bright blue should never be worn (with the possible exception of going to a seventies themed costume party). Also, don?t pair velvet with other seventies themed items, such as bellbottoms or a handlebar moustache.