It has been a season where all of the major design brands are returning to their roots and in a big way. From shoes to belts to even socks, iconic brand logos have taken over and you can choose to show your brand loyalty literally from head to toe or stick to a subtle hint of logo on one piece, the choice is totally yours but if you are not sure on how and what to do with this logo-mania situationship, you will be finding out in a bit.
While at it, there is a huge difference between that tiny crocodile on your favorite tee and the loudly ornamented sports logo spanning the front of your favorite polo and if you are not careful, you could end up walking around like a real-life billboard and trust me when I say that there is absolutely nothing stylish about that. And, in relation to any style selection, balance is key and you need to understand how branding works, when it is proper to wear a branded piece and how much is too much.
What are clothing brand logos?
Brand logos are symbols, emblem, graphic mark, stylized name, drawing or the combination of all of these used by a company to mark its brand identity which usually reflects the brand value and helps customers identify and remember the product and its quality. Brand logos are expected to look just as good and fit just as well as the clothes or accessories manufactured. In other word, it has to communicate your sense of style and taste at a glance.
Logos on clothing is not a new trend, it is as reoccurring as changing seasons and it gets louder and bolder every time. Wearing brand logos has skyrocketed in popularity in street style wear but it is essential to know why it is yet just another trend and not an authentic style that will remain timeless.
The easiest way to distinguish between trends and style is to consider trends as short-term while style is always long-term.
Trends are:
- Not very versatile
- Fades off over time and is replaced
- More of a fashion statement
- Ever-changing
Style is:
- Very versatile
- Sticks around without fading
- Remains a wardrobe staple
- Timeless and classic
So, does this mean you will look like a trendy Charlie if you wear clothing with logos? Of course not.
Are logos stylish on clothing?
The best response is that it depends, because brand logos on clothing can be stylish but not always. The biggest mistake of this trend is that men literally overdo the amount of branded items they put on coupled with the street wear trend of wearing the logos bold and loud.
The stylish way to wear clothing with brand logos is to find brands that are timeless and classic and have remained in style over the years with a widely recognized and well-established brand logo. The best rule of thumb is that “a tiny logo is always acceptable” but anything more than that, you begin to tilt towards trendy and far away from stylish.
Can logos be worn on accessories?
Emphatically yes! Honestly, this is one of the best ways to keep brand logos in your wardrobe subtly and stylishly. When it comes to style, less is generally more so if you need to rock your favorite brands, you can start by carrying a Louis Vuitton wallet or don a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses as this allows you to wear your favorite brand without appearing as a trendy fan boy. But personally, I would recommend sticking with classic styles instead because overly branding can be overkill. You can also try out these stylish branded accessories: watches, belts, shoes, sunglasses, wallets and fragrances
How you can wear logos stylishly
You can tell a stranger’s personality and taste by the brand they dress in. The type of shoes, glasses or even socks can give you a slight idea about a person’s tastes. You can pretty much wear those recognizable brands in a way that portray class and style having in mind the golden rule of brand logos on clothing which is “less is more” and “more is foolish”. When picking out branded clothing, remember to choose classic and stylish pieces that will remain staples. The best piece this applies to is your polos and tees because of the many recognizable brands that make them. Branded polos with logos have remained a style over the years and you can think of classics like Ralph Lauren or a pair of Calvin Klein underwear which fits the bills as well. The only time it makes sense or is comfortable to break out with bold branding is when it comes to athletic wears for and in the gym. For this regard, you can wear matching Adidas tracksuit and it won’t paint the picture of being a helpless fan boy but wear it to the supermarket and it becomes trendy and not stylish.
What brands are recommended for a stylish man?
Clothing with brand logos can have a comfortable place in any man’s wardrobe when done in a subtle and stylish manner. Bear in mind that it is essential to develop your personal signature style and not just bounce back and forth between trends. To show off brands, the only items in your wardrobe that should have branded logos on are your accessories, athletic wear and sneakers and the occasional logo branded polos and tees. In my opinion, I think you cannot go wrong with these timeless, classic and stylish brands like Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Hermes, Burberry, and Calvin Klein.
Now that you know how to pull off your branded logo pieces in a stylish manner, you probably should know that brand logos have transitioned from being a symbol of just luxury to being more about identity. As you continue to wear your favorite brands on your sleeves or where ever reaffirming who you are backing, consider the logo the strongest fashion message of the future and remember to flaunt your favorite brands in subtle and stylish ways.