Introduction
Menswear is most often seen to be much simpler than womenswear. However, this does not stop the fashion forces to create newer trends, changing styling norms and bringing forward fresher ideas to the forefront of menswear. This article will discuss a few of those rising trends and how we as the common consumer can learn from them or even be affected by them.
The return of tailoring
Custom-fitted clothing always stands out. While a majority of consumers prefer to tailor only for big occasions, technological changes have made it much easier to access custom-fitted menswear for most occasions. An ironically contemporary rise of what is being called "Old Money" clothing has had consumers giving sudden importance to being better fitted rather than being better designed.
In a world of rapid machines and fast fashion grouping sizes to the highest extent, a shift to tailoring might be heavier on the pocket but will definitely give pleasure to the eyes.
Quiet Luxury
The HBO show 'Succession' recently had heads turning at the thought of quiet luxury which is simply defined as well-made designer clothes with minimal or no branding. Big brands are always going to hold prime fabrics and have top-tier quality but what quiet luxury essentially stands to portray is the fact that openly expressive branding is more so for those who are trying to look rich rather than those who are.
This brings back the concept of plain hoodies and tiny embroideries of logos on chests in comparison to heavier prints and all-around logo tees.
Fashion Fluidity
Just as gender norms become more fluid, their effect on the fashion industry becomes clear as well. We’re seeing more and more gender-fluid collections, which are not designed nor marketed toward any specific gender and refrain from splitting any item, colour, print, pattern, fabric etc., into gender binaries. And while fashion fluidity is nothing new, markets have begun to realize it openly just as time progresses.
Conclusion
Simply put, blue is not a boy's colour anymore just as pink isn't one for girls. While the notion transcends colour and can be noticed in the silhouettes of most designs as well, it primarily stands as being a single product for a common consumer with no limitations. And just as fashion fluidity gains momentum, the norms of "what is for who to where" are thrown out of the window.
While most trends are considered to be fads that do not last, these are predicted to be the new norm of styling and fashion in general. To conclude, striving to understand and apply these trends better is all we wish to achieve.
19th July . Shivansh Gogia