Why more guys should experiment with colour. Style Editor Ashleigh Stern explains. 

‘Pink to make the boys wink’, well quit winking and grab some for yourself!

Just because the skies are grey (especially in Leeds) that doesn’t mean you have to make your wardrobe match.  During the winter period, black, grey and brown are usually our go-to colours just for comfort and ease before we face the great winds of the north on our trek to University.

When shopping around for guys clothes, I noticed how dull men’s clothes were in comparison to women’s. However, the men’s autumn/winter catwalk was filled with brightly coloured raincoats and suits, and the men looked great. I shopped around long and hard to find a selection of five key and colourful pieces for this winter to make life a bit easier (See page 12).

In the styling of our shoot, we decided try and clash against the grey and drizzly weather with some bold colours that will make you feel good. We wanted to create guys’ looks that incorporate colour in a wearable style, and have fun making guys feel more included in the Fashion section.

Our first model, Medicine student Guy, features blue and green hues to brighten his black jeans and white trainers look. Although the saying goes ‘blue and green should never be seen’, I think this look proves that wrong as the clashing colours work perfectly together. The trick with clashing colours is to use colours of the same hue, so blue and green, red and orange, pink and purple etc. Our second model Law student Benji, uses pink and purple hues, matching a mink pink jumper with a baby pink scarf, to show that pink isn’t just for Barbie. Both models loved the styling and said they felt great working different colour combinations.

Ashleigh Stern

Style Editor Beatrice Rae questions society’s view of what is ‘manly’. 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that pink is a girl’s colour. Right? Wrong.

In today’s society, issues that affect men can often be overlooked. Men suffer pressure to look and act a certain way, and often this has to do with a single word: ‘Manly’.

For many, it is not seen as ‘manly’ for a guy to wear colours such as pinks and purples, or wear bright colours together, leading many men to stick to muted colours such as grey and black. In this shoot we wanted to show how guys can wear colours that some wouldn’t normally dare, and emphasise that colour does not need to be gendered.

However, I am aware that fashion is only one part of a wider movement tackling the concept of ‘manliness’ putting pressure on men. The ‘Man Up’ campaign is encouraging men to speak up about their feelings, teaching that it is okay for men and boys to show emotion. With suicide being the biggest killer of men aged 15-44, now more than ever it is important to tackle the stereotype men fall victim to.

The campaign video states: ‘Why do we tell boys to stop crying? To harden up? To grow a pair? Well F**k that’

‘It takes guts to show pain. It takes a man to feel. It takes balls to cry’

As a Style Editor, my job is to look at fashion. However, I believe that fashion is often influenced by social issues. Therefore, I believe it is also part of my job to not only challenge stereotypes within fashion, but to challenge why those stereotypes exist.

So guys, remember this: It’s okay to cry, and it’s okay to wear pink.

Beatrice Rae 

Green Puffer Jacket: Urban outfitters £76.50 (with Student discount)

Blue knitted Jumper: Primark £9

Purple Velvet Jacket: Topman £35

Pink Jumper: Topman £28

Pink Scarf:  Topman £10

Photography by Louise Aron

Models: Benji Royal and Guy Leigh