There’s a common misconception that religiously adhering to trends equates to good Dressing. In our humble opinion, this is not the case. Blindly following each and every seasonal trend is a recipe for poor style. Not to mention an easy way to bankrupt yourself.
The key to retaining your sartorial self-respect lies in the ability to successfully differentiate between the fleeting fads and the future classics. And in order to give you a nudge in the right direction, we’ve created a carefully selected edit of the menswear movements worth incorporating into your wardrobe this year.
From the return of florals to the continued widening of silhouettes, these are the men’s fashion trends to embrace in 2021.
Summer 2021
- Florals
A return to the 1970s has been one of the overarching trends of the last five years, and it shows no sign of slowing down in 2021. For the spring/summer season, it manifests itself as floral prints a la grandma’s curtains, which is actually a lot more wearable than it sounds.
Everyone from Tom Ford to Burberry has been at it, splashing bold florals onto shorts, vacation shirts and tailoring amongst others. But we’d suggest keeping it to one statement piece per outfit and, as always, ensuring the rest of your look is nice and muted.
- Bermuda Shorts
Who likes short shorts? Well, not D&G, Gucci and a plethora of other tastemaking high fashion houses. Not if their SS21 shows were anything to go by. This season we’ll be seeing the return of longer, wider shorts, echoing a broader shift that has been taking place across all areas of menswear for some time now.
The key to nailing it is making sure you get the length just right. Aim for a couple of inches above the top of the kneecap and opt for tailored styles that can be paired with either casual or smarter pieces with ease.
- Relaxed Tailoring
As we move further into the 2020s, breezy silhouettes will continue to eclipse slim, form-fitting cuts. It’s a resurgence of the styles popular in the 1980s and 1990s that has been on the up for some time now and while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it can look great when executed well.
If you’re thinking about taking a walk on the wide side yourself, our main advice to you would be to pay your local tailor a visit. Relaxed cuts can still be flattering, but only when they fit properly.
- More Gorpcore
High fashion and the great Outdoors began flirting a few years ago. Now they’re shouting from the rooftops declaring their love for one another. Fashion journos labelled it ‘gorpcore’ (gorp being a colloquial term for trail mix, or ‘good old raisins and peanuts’) but whatever you want to call it, it looks like it’s here to stay.
Recently, we’ve seen collaborations like Palace x Arc’teryx and Gucci x The North Face, further cementing fashion’s relationship with outdoor gear. But if you want to get involved, we’d suggest working the odd outdoor inspired piece into your outfits here and there as opposed to going full cosplay mountaineer.
- Vertical Stripes
The reasons for embracing the vertical stripe trend are twofold: firstly, it looks great and presents a simple, refined way to experiment with prints; secondly, it has the nice added bonus of shaving a few pounds off your appearance, making you appear taller and slimmer.
For bonus points, opt for styles with stripes of varying width. Or simply stick to classic stripes, or even seersucker, if you prefer to keep things subtle.
- Get Nautical
Menswear has long been looking to the seas for inspiration. You only need to look at the peacoat for evidence of that. But this year it’s going to go to the next level as fisherman beanies, Breton tops and other dock-worker staples creep further into mainstream men’s fashion.
It’s a subgenre of workwear that fashion journalists are already cringingly referring to as “shipster”. But while you may not want to dress in it from head to toe, a couple of its key pieces here and there is a good way to bring your wardrobe up to speed.
- Mid-Wash Denim
Dark or raw denim is a bona-fide menswear staple. But when the weather turns hot, it ceases to be practical.
Luckily, this season there is a solution to the problem. It’s a few shades lighter, it’s casual and it goes with almost everything. Mid-wash denim was everywhere in the menswear collections and this time it looks as though it could be here to stay.
- Warm-Weather Layering
Piling on layers when the sun is shining may not sound like the most practical move to make but it can still be an option if done cleverly. Swap out the heavy outerwear for light weight jackets and overshirts worn over plain tees, polos or summer ready shirts. This way you can remove them if you get too hot. Then simply tie them around your waist, shoulders or torso to retain the visual element without the added warmth.
- Camp Collar Shirts
Classic collar short-sleeve shirts can carry with them some unwanted “lads down the pub” connotations for some. This breezy summer option offers a stylish way around that. Camp collar shirts have been big for several years now, meaning you can rest assured they have some longevity in them and aren’t just a fleeting fad.
The flat, lapel-style collar adds a touch of something different to what might otherwise be a bland outfit, creating a subtle focal point to tie a look together. Perfect when worn with tailored swim shorts for a light lunch at a beachside restaurant. This year, keep an eye out for long-sleeve versions for a twist on the norm.
- Banishing Bare Ankles
Old habits die hard, but if your ankles are still on constant display, this is your last chance to get them covered. Bare ankles were one of the overarching trends of the 2010s, but a year into the 2020s they’re beginning to look more than a little dated.
If you must brandish the lower portions of your legs while wearing trousers, we’d advise limiting it to the summer months. Nothing looks more out of place than a pair of exposed ankles peeping out from under the cuffs of a pair of jeans on a frosty winter’s day. There are some really nice socks out there. Why not treat yourself to a pair?
- All White
One of this summer’s biggest men’s fashion trends is a tricky one to pull off. Get it right and you’re king of the Riviera; get it wrong and you’re Andy Murray on match day.
Despite the risks, going all white is one of the best men's style moves you can make. It’s also a sure-fire way to keep cool in the heat. Try pairing a crisp white T shirt with matching chino shorts and a pair of tonal leather sneakers. If it’s all looking too much, throw a navy overshirt on top to tone it down.
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