Spring/Summer 2017 Menswear Trends You Need To Care About
Photo courtesy of Z Zegna
Discover The Menswear Trends You’ll Be Rocking This Spring
By Corey Kelly for AskMen.com
New York Fashion Week: Men’s, a four-day event showcasing the latest collections from the best and brightest in American menswear, marked the finale to a month-long circuit of fashion shows in London, Milan and Paris. Each city buzzed with a frenzy of models, press and buyers converging to discover what designers will have in store for Spring 2017. As the dust begins to settle, fashionistas are buzzing about what you — the consumer — will be wearing next spring.
Understanding why voluminous silhouettes have been on-trend for the past few seasons or why sheer garments are about to become the next big thing requires some expert knowledge. In between shows, we chatted with Patrick Michael Hughes, a fashion and style historian at the Parsons School of Design. His expertise regarding fashion trends can add a little prep to your sartorial step.
He says that appearing like you keep up with trends makes you appear in touch with current culture. “I believe there is nothing worse than making a first sartorial impression that says 'I have not had a new thought in years'. Looking relevant in a fast moving, image-driven, digital-age means paying [close] attention to trends," he says. "Anyone can scan through several looks very easily on a number of sites and get the vibe of what is happening.”
Whether you want to elevate your fashion game or update your current wardrobe, we’ve done all the dirty work for you by researching every collection to bring you next spring’s most wearable trends. From bold shoulders to bomber jackets and from high-performance sportswear to jungle-inspired prints, here are the most important trends you'll be wearing next spring.
Photos courtesy of EFM, Z Zegna, Todd Snyder and Versace
Be A Good Sport
For Spring 2017, advanced technology has allowed designers to create high-performance sportswear for the man on the go. We saw a stylish selection of sporty garments from a variety of brands, including Versace, Todd Snyder and Z Zegna. However, we particularly took notice of EFM’s office-ready activewear, recently on display at New York Fashion Week: Men’s.
“We've incorporated some fabrics that are lightweight and durable, while still being visually appealing and comfortable for the user,” says EFM designer Donrad Duncan. “Through our garment construction methods, we’re applying high-tech laser cutting and an ultra-sonic application for seam improvement and clean lines.”
To inject some sport into your current wardrobe, we recommend these athletic-inspired Crete shorts by Publish. Available in white, blue and black, they’ll take you from the gym to drinks with your buddies. — $92.00 at PublishBrand.com
Photos courtesy of Tiger of Sweden, Vivienne Westwood, David Hart and Linder
Tanks A Lot
For Spring 2017, the ubiquitous tank top received a high-fashion upgrade. Seen layered over dress shirts at Tiger of Sweden and perfectly tucked into unzipped onesies at Vivienne Westwood, this barely-there garment is a reliable alternative to any basic t-shirt. Ideal for layering under light cardigans, the tank is a great way to beat the summer heat while remaining office appropriate. The tanks on display at Sandro, Ami and Linder won’t be available until next year, but we recommend getting your hands on the selection of stylish – and super affordable — options at H&M. — $6.99 at HM.com
Photos courtesy of Lanvin and Public School
Shoulder Room
From Balenciaga’s boxy blazers to Public School’s Roman-shouldered pullovers, squeezing through crowds might not be a great idea next spring. Bold shoulders – quite an unexpected surprise on the runways — add structure and clean lines to formless silhouettes. But easily executing this trend won’t be an easy feat, especially for those of you with top-heavy physiques. We recommend sticking to structured blazers pared over easy separates for an effortless, minimalist approach. To get in on the action now, we recommend the Jetsetter blazer by Bonobos for its structured cut and easy-to-wear silhouette. — $345.00 at Bonobos.com
Photos courtesy of Issey Miyake, Private Policy and Woodhouse
High Times
From high waters to higher waistlines, pants are being lifted to new heights. We recommend taking the minimalist approach with this trend. A well tailored, three-quarter length pant always looks best with a nicely tucked t-shirt or very light knit. This past month, Issey Miyake and Woodhouse nailed this trend on the runways. We suggest slipping into these cropped trousers by Asos for an easy and effortless look. — $36.00 at ASOS.com
Photos courtesy of Ovadia & Sons, Chapter and Krammer & Stoudt
Welcome To The Jungle
For Spring 2016, menswear designers — including Ovadia & Sons, Chapter and Krammer & Stoudt — caught a serious case of jungle fever. From leopard spots to zebra stripes, animal prints popped up too many times to be ignored. Tropical motifs showed up in head-to-toe looks, injecting lightweight garments with summer zest. We recommend building your wardrobe around statement pieces like Zara’s animal-printed jacket. — $40.00 at Zara.com
Photos courtesy of Oliver Spencer, Hermes and PLAC
That Jacket Is Da’ Bomb(er)
The bomber jacket — seen at Oliver Spencer, Hermès and PLAC amongst others – is an ideal outerwear option for spring. Not only is it practical and pares easily with most items in your wardrobe, it can be worn year-round. We highly recommend getting your hands on this olive-toned bomber jacket by Forever 21, an affordable knock-off to purchase before designers release their Spring 2017 models early next year. — $22.90 at Forever21.com
Photos courtesy of Andrea Pompilio, Missoni, Parke & Ronen and Todd Snyder
The Right Stripes
Stripes in every shape, size and color dominated the Spring 2017 runways. This is probably the easiest trend to wear next spring, and we love the variety of styling options designers featured in their collections. Andrea Pompilio and Missoni went over-the-top — mixing stripes like nobody’s business — while Parke and Ronen and Todd Snyder took a simpler approach. We love this J. Crew striped t-shirt as an option to wear now. — $39.50 at JCrew.com
Photos courtesy of Faith Connexion and Ovadia & Sons