Men’s fashion in 2018 set for lustrous details and sporty vibes
Stephen Doig is men’s style editor and assistant luxury editor at The Telegraph
The men’s style world is, thankfully, a tad less fickle than the merry-go-round realm of women’s fashion. The concept of “trends” doesn’t really resonate with most men, which is why they tend to buy more expensive items but less often.
That said, for spring/summer 2018 there are subtle tweaks the style-literate fellow-about-town can make, should he want to add a dash of modernity alongside the standard pieces.
I love an exceptionally cut navy-blue suit as much as the next man, but it pays to update your baseline style formula.
Soft shell
Suiting gets the stuffing knocked out of it by a host of designers for spring – and that’s no bad thing.
Heavyweight brands Ermenegildo Zegna and Berluti are demonstrating airy, lightweight, float-from-the-body jackets and trousers that are unstructured and soft-fitting. This needn’t be as scarily high-fashion as it sounds – pair a patch-pocketed, soft-shoulder blazer (less formal) with a T-shirt for example, or opt for lighter, more flyaway fabrics.
Retro styling
Gucci has long championed its own kind of lavish, high-octane, 1970s-tinged maximalism – next season is inspired in part by the madcap stylings of Elton John back in the day – and a host of brands have opted for nostalgia at a time when the world is a scary place to be.
This year, 1950s-style Elvis Presleyesque Hawaiian shirts dominated the catwalks of Louis Vuitton, while bowling shirts dotted the Prada catwalk and 1980s, American Gigolo-style long blazers appeared at Dries Van Noten.
Rich pickings
Leave the decoration to the girls, they said. That has been the tried-and-tested approach in fashion until now.
This season, the boys are muscling in with discreetly lustrous details – Bottega Veneta proposes iridescent silks for men, while Dolce & Gabbana has added bullion and heavy-duty hardware to sweaters and shoes as a masculine way to interpret embellishment.
Sports direct
Bondi Bay surfers appeared on the catwalk of Louis Vuitton with beach-hut shirts topped off by cycling shorts.
Hi-tech mountaineering attire reigned at lofty Parisian house Lanvin – with cagoules dangling with toggles, zips and cords. And elasticated jogging trousers at Berluti pointed to a dynamic kind of guy. Possibly not ideal for yomping up Snowdonia, however.
Logo mania
The 1990s trend for all things logo-centric permeates high fashion, with big, brash branded logos across T-shirts or dappled along the seams of trousers.
Perhaps it’s wisest to opt for Dior Homme’s discreet approach, which was to add its chic Paris address to scarves and tops.
Fresh perspectives on 2018
A lot happened in 2017 – but what lessons can we take from it into 2018?
The Telegraph and Invesco have teamed up to share predictions for the New Year, written by our respected journalists and expert commentators.
Find out the 2018 forecasts for money, politics, style, sport, science, travel, lifestyle, food, drink and culture at tgr.ph/predictions.
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