The four most appealing trends for spring-summer menswear

After the bright oranges, berets and capes that defined last winter's menswear, we're set to swing into spring and summer in full floral bloom, right? It's certainly a trend on the runways but the average man on the street may not pick it up.

Instead, as we move into summer, menswear will be dominated by a lighter, more relaxed fit for everything from casual shorts and T-shirts to full suits inspired by classic Italian tailoring. That's not to mention the current fascination with 1940s and '50s American masculinity. As for colour, blue, in all its many shades, is definitely a favourite.

Here we run through some trends that will find their way into most men's wardrobes this summer.
 

Given the recent interest in the Beat Generation, it was inevitable the era's fashion would find its way on to the catwalk. The quintessentially mid-century undercut slicked-back hair favoured by David Beckham and Nick Wooster has been around for a while now, but this season there is a full wardrobe to match.

The Italian and French fashion houses were quite taken by 1940s and '50s masculine Americana, and several shows featured high-waisted and loose-cut trousers with wide-open-collar half shirts, with peak lapels resting over jacket lapels.