Top Five with Blueprint 5

Jim Fortier spills on the hottest spring trends for men.

The Style spread in the May issue of Rhode Island Monthly is made for the jet-setting man. In addition to mainstay menswear shops like Royal Male and Milan, the section includes a few picks from new men's clothing store, Blueprint 5, in East Greenwich. I'm still drooling over a dreamy brown leather overnighter featured in the section — a once-in-a-lifetime bag that would last forever (and one I'd steal from my husband in a heartbeat). The bag is made right here in Rhode Island by Loftuff Leather.

I wanted to learn more about Blueprint 5's aesthetic, so I popped in for a visit with owner Jim Fortier, East Greenwich's most fashionable male. Most of the shop's designs hail from Italy, but Fortier handpicks made-in-New-England items, as well.

"The vibe of this store is for all people. It's not just for a dad, it's not just for a granddad, it's not just for a kid," says Fortier, who worked with Marc Streisand at Marc Allen Fine Clothiers before opening Blueprint 5 in November. "And anybody can come in here and pick out a two-piece suit. But most guys have a hard time dressing casually. We try to help them do that well."

Below, Fortier shares five casual trends to keep the fellas looking fashionable this season.

 

Trend 1: Linen Everything. "It's a wardrobe staple," Fortier says. "These are great spring pieces."

 

Trend 2: The Updated Hawaiian. "This is a great spring/summer thing. If you wanted to have something that looks like a vintage Hawaiian shirt, you could pick this up instead," Fortier says. "It's fresh again. It's not done on that nylon, it's not done on silk. It's done on chambray, and a lot of guys can identify with this."

 

Trend 3: The Swanky Cotton Pant. "They're made with double-sided fabric. Do you see the iridescence in them? This is very, very unusual. I think these are so cool and so different."

 

Trend 4: Punchy Undergarments. "We're having a lot of fun with these socks and these boxer shorts. They've been a big hit."

 

Trend 5: The Casual Shoe. "This is just a fun, casual shoe to wear with a jean or a pair of shorts," Fortier says. "And they're comfortable."

 

Blueprint 5 is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the store in person at 631 Main St., East Greenwich.