Nathaniel Fried
Fashion Expert: Noni Balian
About: Noni Balian has over a decade of experience in the fashion industry and is the managing director of InStitchu North America, the well-priced, custom, tailored menswear brand. Noni was InStitchu’s first employee in North America, spearheading their New York showroom opening and design.
She also oversaw all US recruiting efforts and created local marketing strategies to ensure InStitchu’s US expansion was a success. In addition to running the day-to-day of InStitchu’s North American operation, Noni is focused on big-picture initiatives and partnerships.
Prior to her current role, she was Operations Manager at InStitchu’s Sydney headquarters, where she helped to expand the brand’s showroom locations to 7 worldwide, including their flagship locations of Melbourne and Sydney. Noni also worked on the production side, collaborating closely with InStitchu’s Chinese manufacturing partners and managed a staff of 30 (which has since doubled in Australia.)
Noni graduated from Australia’s renowned Fashion Design Studio with an advanced degree in fashion and apparel.
institchu.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Predictions:
Think Pink
Call it the next wave of millennial pink, but the pink trend is not slowing down for 2018. Once a cause for concern for many men, the pink shirt is back in a big, bold way. How do you nail this tricky trend? Follow the triple P rule: Portion (make the pink shirt the standalone piece in your outfit); perfect fit (opt for a slim -fitted style that’s not too lose or too tight); and palette (when in doubt, go light).
Not Your Dad’s Double-Breasted Blazer
From red carpets to fashion editorials – the double-breasted blazer is back in a big way. Call it part of the larger throwback trend of 80s and 90s style, but today’s double-breasted blazer has gotten a hip upgrade. We will see this trend in new fabrics (wool) and prints (think pinstripes) that can be thrown on with jeans and chinos for an instant outfit upgrade.
It’s In The (Personal) Details
In the past year, we have seen some of our favorite male celebrities go all in on individual style (remember Chadwick Boseman’s epic Oscars suit?!) In 2018, that trend will continue to spread to today’s male consumer who want to experiment with a riskier look, but may not be ready yet for a full bedazzled jacket. Start with small splashes of color in your accessories (a different colored pocket square, a pastel tie, or even bright cufflinks) with matching suit lining. Another trend is to choose a hero to center your look around, but try to stick to one — small dashes of color and a light unique touch are key; you should try to let one piece shine in the outfit.
Workwear Goes Casual
We will continue to see new approaches to 9-5 workwear, as the traditional suit enters 2018. This year, the trend will be mixing and matching formal and causal in way that can take you effortlessly from a business lunch to happy hour. The no-fail approach to nailing the new workwear trend? Invest in neutrals such ass your greys and your browns for blazers, chinos or sweaters and pair with crips, white sneakers.
