The Pantone Color of the Year is Marsala: Why Menswear Designers Don’t Give a Shit

Pantone describes Marsala, their 2015 color of the year, as “a rich burgundy shade, sophisticated with earthy tones which translates perfectly into many walks of life”. While this may be true, it certainly reads somewhat irrelevant for menswear designers.
“I MIGHT throw an oxblood shoe into my collection to stay relevant in the ‘supposed trend’ of this color, but in the end baby, it’s all about celebrating the male physique and creating beautiful, well tailored clothing for it…I do this every year in all colors.” A bespoke clothier responded when we asked how Marsala would affect his 2015 collections.
Show-stopping menswear is borne out of one specific character trait: meticulous, beautiful tailoring. For example, the updated basics like dress shirts and polos, or the more refined statement pieces like the winter coat. For years bespoke clothiers have been letting their beautiful pieces in and out, adding pleats, creating a flat front, working with single and double breasts and vents, and accentuating these pieces with smashingly bold details in terms of pocket squares, neck ties, suit linings, socks and even shoes.
The Marsala Mania of 2015 will do nothing more than give a few accent colors for most menswear designers.
With that said, I’ll be jet setting in my beloved IRO burgundy Han Motorcycle jacket. Marsala Mania has me tightly in its grips indeed.
Image Credits: Boston Design Guide