• Men’s Fashion Trends

DOs & DON’Ts In SS16 Menswear Trends

Menswear might move at a fraction of womenswear’s breakneck pace – its seasonal shifts more subtle than seismic – but that’s not to say each season doesn’t birth new trends. New modes of dressing. New ideas. Like all ideas, some of these trends are commendable, and some, well, some are crap. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of trends to skip if you don’t want your style to suffer. Thank us later. When you’re returning that puce-coloured embroidered silk suit.

Skip: (Unacceptably) Short Shorts

There are limits to athleisure. While sweatshirts, sweatpants and trainers may be tolerable, nay stylish, junk-exposing 1980s gym shorts most definitely aren’t. That didn’t, however, stop Topman Design from trying to make them happen, showing a series of neutral and neon styles cut so short we feared Dick Owens 2.0. Christopher Shannon, the Scouse designer celebrated for his tongue-in-cheek approach to style, also showed shorts that skimmed groins. And were perhaps a little too cheeky.

Fix: Mid-Thigh Shorts

To air your legs without indecent exposure, opt for shorts with a little more surface area. A mid-thigh chino or tailored pair looks neater than a longer, baggier style but still stops short of baring all. Which is – I think we’re all agreed – best for everyone involved. (Related: The Dos and Don’ts of Wearing Shorts)

Key Pieces

• J. Crew 9 Stretch Stanton Short
• Asos Skinny Chino Shorts In Light Khaki
• River Island Pink Slim Chino Buckle Shorts
• River Island Grey Slim Chino Shorts
• Ami Slim-fit Cotton-twill Chino Shorts
• River Island Tan Skinny Chino Shorts
• Uniqlo Men Chino Shorts
• Next Chino Shorts
• Topman Navy Chino Shorts

Skip: Full-On Floral

Call it the Gucci effect: ever since creative director Alessandro Michele took the helm of the Italian label, menswear across the board has become enamoured of the designer’s lavish head-to-toe florals. Which are, it should be said, fine to wear if you’re an off-duty mafia don looking for something to set off the stuccoed walls of your Tuscan palazzo. Less so if your name’s Derek and you’re looking for something to throw on to meet your mates camped out in the beer garden.

Fix: A Floral Focal Point

Punchy and poles apart from the austerity of athleisure, floral patterns are the point of difference your warm-weather wardrobe needs. But go easy. Limit your foliage to one piece – a tee, jacket or a pair of trousers – and make it the focal point of your outfit to avoid looking like a V&A exhibition gone walkabout.

Key Pieces

• Replay Crew Sweatshirt All Over Floral Print In Black
• J. Crew Short-sleeve Shirt In Spring Vine Floral
• Allsaints Yuka Short Sleeve Shirt
• Freemans Sporting Club Floral-print Linen Shirt
• Reiss Tanner Leather Tote Bag Brown
• Ally Capellino Luke Canvas Tote Beige
• Sandqvist Jordan Leather Holdall
• He By Mango Leather Weekend Bag
• Want Les Essentiels Hartsfield Leather-trimmed Organic Cotton-canvas Holdall
• A.p.c. Jamie Backpack Khaki
• Exclusive Club Monaco Leather-trimmed Canvas Backpack
• Allsaints Flight Leather Backpack

Skip: Unorthodox Accessories

Menswear designers take inspiration from myriad sources, from art to cinema to architecture to, er, pick-up artists? The recent surge in lie-peddling PUAs’ popularity has had, it seems, some very real knock-on effects, with designers offering some prime peacocking material for the season ahead. At Dunhill, for example, regular-sized boutonnières apparently rated paltry on the peacocking scale. In their place? Pins that looked like they’d been treated to a few months’ worth of Miracle-Gro. Elsewhere, at Junya Watanabe, African beads, bones and fetish objects were the finishing touches. Which, if popping bottles of Dom hasn’t managed to do it, will definitely get you noticed at your Mayfair members’ club of choice.

Fix: Classic Accessories

The fact that wearing accessories – jewellery, watches and hats, in particular – is in many ways a statement in and of itself means you should generally steer subtle in your tastes. This season, a decent minimal watch, a leather cuff or a couple of steel rings is all you need to get noticed. For the right reasons.

Key Pieces

• River Island Brown Straw Pork Pie Hat
• Lock & Co Hatters Classic Woven Straw Panama Hat
• Shore Projects Cowes Mesh Bracelet Strap Watch
• Daniel Wellington Glasgow Rose Gold/Canvas Watch
• Paul Smith Shoes & Accessories Woven Leather Wrap Bracelet
• Miansai Half-layered Brass Cuff

Final Word

Do you agree with our list of trends to skip? Or are there others you’d round up for Room 101? Name and shame below.

Cillian O'Connor

Cillian O’Connor is a freelance writer, editor and consultant, best known for his ability to sort the wheat from the chaff in the world’s of men’s style, grooming, lifestyle and design. Once named the No. 1 Blogger by Vogue, Cillian also contributes to The Sunday Times, The Business of Fashion and Metro.