When it comes to fashion, we all have a sense of style. Well, on second thought, I suppose there are some who are truly unaware of what they look like in clothes. Last week, I passed a gentleman on his way to the beach. He was promenading in what he may have thought were fashionable tropical prints. Yet, to my eye, the garments clashed to the point of creating a visual shouting match. It reminded me of a photo created some time ago by a photographer I know. It was a highly memorable comic image of a golfing foursome decked out in a riot of loud colors and patterns.

This morning, I came across an article in The Wall Street Journal that prompted me to reflect on my own sense of style. It was drawing attention to a current men’s fashion trend—an updated approach to the classic tennis sweater. The iconic V-neck knit was made popular in the 1930s when clubs mandated all-white clothing on the courts. Originally, they were heavy wool knits that sported loose, cabled designs that allowed for a full range of motion. The author of the WSJ article, Jacob Gallagher, declared that with today’s tennis sweaters one doesn’t need tennis skills. This is because leading designers are keeping the features of this classic tennis attire while creating a fashion statement by adding their own personal refinements. Gucci and Dunhill are using new, unique color combinations and creating a more tailored fit, while Belgian designer, Raf Simons, is going for an edgier look in an over-sized sweater with torn V-neck collar and frayed hems.

Thankfully, my sense of style has evolved over the years as I experimented with looks ranging from safe classic men’s wear, a la Brooks Brothers, to high-risk, trendy ideas that fortunately came and went rather quickly. My experimentation has informed my approach to designing men’s knitwear kits that is a modern take on classic designs. Examine my linen dress shirt-style cardigan, sporty sweater reminiscent of letter jackets or an all-over cable sweater in lace weight alpaca.

How do you define your style? You can share on my Facebook page at facebook.com/jamescoxknits where this blog appears as a post.

If you’d like to read the full Wall Street Journal article click here: http://www.wsj.com/articles/with-a-tennis-sweater-men-dont-need-actual-tennis-skills-1459885836