UK: 'Today's a loud day'

All over Britain, men are embracing their inner peacocks and swapping grey suits for bold brights. Hannah Pool tracks down the new dandies.

Hannah Pool's new dandies. Photograph: Asadour Guzelian/Sarah Lee

A quiet fashion revolution has been occurring among our menfolk. Take a look around, and you'll notice that among the grey suits, khaki trousers and blue jeans, something more lively is lurking. Once the preserve of rotund golfers and pink-faced television presenters, colourful menswear is suddenly everywhere. And what's more, British men are actually embracing it. From pastel knitwear to neon trainers, men at last seem to be discovering that colour needn't make you look stupid. In fact, done well it's actually rather stylish.

"It's a look that has come directly from the high street. It's a really democratic trend," says Jeremy Langmead, editor of Esquire. "Uniqlo is a big instigator, with pastel pink trousers, pastel blazers, bright polo shirts, and bright accessories. Topshop has got bright neon ties, Asos has also really gone for colour."

In fact, the neon polo shirt as sported by 16-year-old Vincent Mann is on the cusp of becoming ubiquitous, thanks to Japanese retailer Uniqlo flogging highly wearable versions for £12.99. High-end labels are also producing some beautiful, bright, colourful menswear. Calvin Klein recently did neon green and orange suits, Gucci, Lanvin and Bottega Veneta all had cobalt blue in their spring/summer menswear shows, and even Giorgio Armani (who notoriously lives in navy T-shirts and perpetuates beige suits) has branched out into purples and pinks.

What can it all mean? "There is definitely a feeling that colour is more acceptable, and attitudes are beginning to change; it's no longer confined to the barbecue Hawaiian shirt, thank goodness, instead it can be worn every day, at work and at the weekend," says Nick Thomas, menswear designer at classic British label John Smedley. "Colour can be quite medicinal, I think. Even if the weather is dark and gloomy, wearing colour rather than blending in with the clouds is much better - escapism even. A great colour can help lift your mood."

Langmead agrees. "It cheers you up when everything else is depressing. It's a reaction to bleak times and having to dress more soberly." But he has a warning. "Don't have too much of it. Stick to one bright colour. You don't want to look like Rod, Jane or Freddy".