Men's Trend Toolkit - SS '23

S/S 2023

Men’s Trend Toolkit POWERED BY : Anna Shvets, Pexels

The Renewal

Consumer Driver The ever-cha nging nature of t he pandemic has ca used the co ns umer perceptio n o f brands, pro ducts a nd experiences to s hift, redefini ng global co nsumptio n a nd priorities. Whet her it be retur ning to t he office or socializing with friends, t he need for human interactio n will motivate a return to nor mality. After nearly two long years of disruptio n fo cusi ng on t he likes of casualwear and the need for comfort, cons umers will begin to unleash pe nt-up buying power as t he demand for newness coincides wit h the need to dress t o impress wit h more social freedoms o utside o f t he ho me. In co ntrast to t he reinvigorated demand for o ccasio n dressi ng, work place wardr obes will conti nue to be casually rooted as peo ple co ntinue to exist in hy brid work environments.

As we settle into cha nge and follow o ur ha ppi ness in 2023, the belief that thi ngs will get better, a nd t hat i ndividuals can play an i mporta nt role in driving t his change, is ins piring cons umers to fo cus o n w hat a renewed w orld will look like. Comm unity is key, so brands t hat e nable people to co nnect aro und aut he ntic a nd respect ful lo cal and global stories, shared aesthetics, and values will have a stronger impact. Pro ducts a nd experie nces t hat s upport wellness, self-care, and healing rituals will not o nly feel more appealing – they will also feel more necessary.

As sustaina bility becomes a more urgent co ncer n, bra nds need to ramp up t heir efforts to reflect customer values in t heir assortments, supply chains, and ways of working.

Consumer Stat

59%

Industry Stat

$

of consumers

By 2026

in Britain have bought from local stores and services more regularly during lockdowns.

The outdoor clothing market was was forecast to reach a value of 19.6 billion U.S. dollars by 2026.

Deloitte

Statista

Category Stats

27%

+34% YoY

Neutral tones

Cut-Out Tops

new-in volumes of neutral coloured apparel are growing across all market segments, especially within premium (+43% UK, +27% US, +22% Germany) and mass-market segments (+98% UK, +13% US, +42% Germany)

During Men’s Fashion Week ‘22, “sexy” outfits were spotted on many runways. Shoppers have been looking for similar pieces, with cropped (+21%), cut-out (+34%) and mesh (+29%) tops being especially high on male shoppers’ wishlists.

WGSN Insight

Lyst 2

19.6bn

“

After years of rapid industry, technological and social acceleration, 2024 ushers in an era of realignment: with ourselves, our workplaces and the planet.

Though we may chase new metaeconomies and run towards new industries, post-pandemic recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. Businesses that are investing in consumer road-maps, multi-level product development testing and social science survive the long-haul.

Think fast commerce but embrace slow.”

Andrea Bell, Director of Insight, WGSN

Cottonbros, pexels

Introduction

Trend Narrative As the dust settles from t he upheaval of t he past few years, t his seaso n calls for t he ex ploration of how we find bala nce a nd ha ppi ness, bot h individually and collectively. There is a growing expe ctation and dema nd for pr oducts, experiences a nd systems that are smarter, simpler a nd more sustainable, as organizatio ns a nd individuals explore how to build a more equitable world.

After a lo ng period of restraint, t he urge t o reco mmit to life beyo nd t he living room will take on different forms. The de mand for smarter products begi ns to pick up once more, be ready with so me clever pieces that deftly traverse from dressier, hybri d work- home mome nts to vacation style.

Color is used e motively, balanci ng both confidence a nd clarity. Aim to incor porate bold a nd even hyper brig ht colors to amp up t he joyful fact or. Brig hten up basics and volume lines with some retro- butnew colors a nd combi nations t hat no d to the '60s, '70s or '80s.

Prints/patterns and graphi cs, under pinned by a sense of meaning, e ncompass a range o f styles: abstract a nd painterly, sundrenched pri nts are i mporta nt, w hile tro pical i nspiratio ns avoid the more obvious motifs in favor of foliage-heavy or tapestry inspired, abstract designs or retro geometrics and che cks. Punctuate predi ctable items wit h highly individual pri nts t hat co nti nue t he wearable art t heme that re mains popular in mens wear and gives co nsumers a reaso n to buy. Materials should be textural and sensory, but not overwhelming.

This seaso n presents a clear-eyed and respo nsibly minded vision of w hat good design can be a nd do, where pro ducts and processes are intelligent, thoughtful and full of optimism.

Cottonbro, Pexels

4

Men’s Trend Toolkit

Big Ideas

Cottonbro, Pexels

Big Ideas

Edward Berthelot, Getty

01 The Desert Rider

6

Edward berthelot, Getty

02 The Business Casual Savant

Peter White, Getty

03 The MidCentury Modern Man

Peter White, Getty

04 The Guerrilla Gardener

Victor VIRGILE Getty

05 The Future Hedonist

Estrop, Getty

06 The Coastal Explorer

Stefani M. D’Alessandro, Getty

07 The Summer Chaser

01 Big idea

The Desert Rider The latest iteration of utilitarian themes takes us to the desert, in a modernist context. The story sees technical fabrics and details share space with unpretentious, natural fabrics, putting a spotlight on neutral colors and sandy or papery textures. This is where the desire for slightly smarter dressing and the need to reconnect with nature converge. We expect this S/S 22 catwalk theme to expand well into S/S 23. As well as the nods to safari style, influence comes from more modernist camping and survival kits.

Bleached Cotton

PANTONE: 11-0103 TCX

Bay Leaf

PANTONE: 16-0430 TCX

Parchment

PANTONE: 16-0928 TCX

Zinc

PANTONE: 17-3802 TCX MilanStephan Fashion Isabel Marant Schmid, Week, A/W Unsplash 20/21

Silt

PANTONE: 18-1027 TCX

Key Items: The Safari Jacket, Knitted Set, The Resort Shirt, The Patchwork Short Key Footwear: The Lifestyle Runner, The Flat Sandal Key Details: Modular Trims, Straps, Tie details and Removable sections, Layered look, Sandy Textures

Peter White, Getty

Key Prints: Painted Botanicals, Ancient Carving Motifs, Natural Dyes Key Collections: 1017 ALYX9SM, Diego Zuniga, Robyn Lynch, 18 East

Edward Berthelot, Getty

7 Cottonbro, Pexels

02 Big idea

The Business Casual Savant Work- and career-wear come to exist in the blurred boundaries between working from home or in the office, and dressing for work-time and social-time. Work-leisure trends are set to evolve and mature. Designers seek to find a nuanced balance with pieces that owe their comfort and aesthetic to sports and leisurewear, as well as slightly sharper, more serious items that give out the right message about professionalism. This will mean different things in different cultures, as it always has, but what is consistent is how younger consumers are reclaiming smart looks and tailoring as a message of subtle power.

Optic White

PANTONE: 11-4800 TCX

Midnight Blue

PANTONE: 19-3932 TCX

Digital Violet

PANTONE: 17-3920 TCX

Atlantic Blue

PANTONE: 18-4034 TCX

Palm Leaf

PANTONE: 18-6018 TCX

Key Items: Single Breasted Blazer, The Band Collar Shirt, The Shorts Suit, The Wide Leg Trouser, The Short Sleeve Cardigan Key Footwear: The Slingback Mule, The Penny Loafer, Lace-Up Shoe

Edward Berthelot, Getty

Key Details: Sporty Fabrics, Knitted Textures

Key Prints: Color-blocked Solids, Tech-inspired Pixels Key Collection: Acne Studios, Jacquemus, COS, Nanamica, L'Échoppe, Uniforme Paris Edward berthelot, Getty

8 Mihis Alex, Unsplash

03 Big idea

The Mid-Century Modern Man Nostalgia and the lure of the familiar will continue to influence menswear, calling to mind the hedonism of bygone eras and a rosetinted view of when things seemed less complicated. As remains the case in automotive design and entertainment, reinventing and rebooting the classics has proven to be a winning formula.

Cirrus Blue

PANTONE: 14-4318 TCX

Rooibos

PANTONE: 18-1354 TCX

Sepia

PANTONE: 19-1220 TCX

Satin Brass

PANTONE: 17-0210 TCX Isabel Marant A/W 20/21

Vintage Pink

PANTONE: 16-1710 TCX

Key Items: The DB Suit, The Shorts Suit, The Sport Coat, The Varsity Jacket, Polo, Knitted Vest, Chinos, The Printed Scarf Key Footwear: Color-blocked Loafers, Leather House Slipper, The Plimsoll Shoe

Key Details: Wider Lapels, Generously Cut trousers, Blocked and Spliced Color Accents, Statement Making color

Edward Berthelot, Getty

Key Prints: All-over Monograms, Ombrés for Button-down Shirting, Playful Plaids Key Collections: Casablanca, Lacoste, Casablanca, Lacoste, Bogey Boys, THATBOII, Rowing Blazers, Todd Snyder, Tommy Hilfiger's Adaptive

Edward Berthelot, Getty Peter White, Getty Images

9 Markus Spiske, Unsplash

04 Big idea

The Guerrilla Gardener

Palm Leaf Vintage Pink

PANTONE: 16-1710 TCX

Tranquil Blue

PANTONE: 17-4139 TCX

Honeycomb

Driven by consumers wanting to reconnect with nature, this theme centers on the mindful pleasures of gardening - from tending a pot on a terrace to the subculture of guerrilla gardening. With growing interest in where our food comes from, consumers are also paying more attention to the journey of their clothing, so keep looking to more sustainable resources and practices. Pieces that are utility-inspired or derived from streetwear form the basis of this story and are decorated with floral and botanical motifs. Gardening is a key inspiration, whether it be small and specialized brands that have made this their raison d'ê tre, or high-profile collabs such as JW Anderson for Uniqlo.

PANTONE: 18-6018 TCX

PANTONE: 13-0942 TCX MilanStephan Fashion Isabel Marant Schmid, Week, A/W Unsplash 20/21

Sepia

PANTONE: 19-1220 TCX

Key Items: The Chore Jacket, Straight Leg Trousers, Premium Hoodie, The Baseball Shirt Key Footwear: The Artisan Slip-On, The Plimsoll Sneaker

Victor Boyko, Getty

Key Details: Bast Fabrics, Minor Embellishments, Utility or Streetwear Inspired Details, Oversized Workwear, Sustainable Materials Key Prints: Botanical and Floral Motifs, Painterly and Splattered Effects, Artworks of Woodblock Techniques, Vegetal Tone Tie Dye

Key Collections: Stüssy, Holzweiler, Krost, Aries Arise, Paul Smith, Aimé Leon Dore, Lad Musician

Cyrus Lopes, Unsplash Peter White, Getty

10 Eva Elijas Pexels

05 Big idea

The Future Hedonist

Golden Beryl Papaya Smoothie

PANTONE: 15-1245 TCX

Green Fig

PANTONE: 15-6317 TCX

Wild Rose

The ‘70s has worked as inspiration for countless designers over the last few seasons. This take on the trend moves away from the expected gentle retro palette and subtle sophistication, and instead incorporates hyper bright colors, exaggerated silhouettes, and soft masculinity touches to bring a futuristic, surreal element that has one foot in the past and the other in the virtual world. This is a celebratory look, designed with the mindset of someone looking to make a statement as they start attending parties, clubs, and gigs again.

PANTONE: 14-0750 TCX

PANTONE: 16-3118 TCX MilanStephan Fashion Isabel Marant Schmid, Week, A/W Unsplash 20/21

Digital Lavender

PANTONE: 15-3716 TCX

Key Items: Silk Button-Downs, Flared Trousers, The DB Jacket and Trousers Set, Long Sleeve Cardigan Key Footwear: RetroPenny Loafer, Rocker Boot Key Details: Bold and Bright, Laid-Back Wearability, Statement Pieces, Shine and Shimmer Finishes

Matthew Sperzel, Getty

Key Prints: Gentle Retro Florals, Bright Color Blocking

Key Collection: AMI Alexandre Mattiussi, Berluti, Celine, Diesel, Casablanca, Pigalle, Iago Otero, Walter Van Beirendonck

Victor VIRGILE, Getty

11 Sebastiaan Stam, Pexels

06 Big idea

The Coastal Explorer

Midnight Blue

PANTONE: 19-3932 TCX

Optic White

PANTONE: 11-4800 TCX

Satin Sky

PANTONE: 18-3949 TCX

Luscious Red

Originating from womenswear, this theme quickly blew up at the S/S 22 men's catwalk shows, evolving to include more than the muted, classic pieces that looked good on a northern European shoreline backdrop. The theme's translation to menswear brought with it a higher-octane element of modern sportiness – an ode to the preppy lifestyle brands that are currently so important – without losing its original charm and nod to the many times nautical themes have been around the block. This story is as much about Macintoshes for bleak, windswept days as it is for dining alfresco in the sun.

PANTONE: 17-4139 TCX MilanStephan Fashion Isabel Marant Schmid, Week, A/W Unsplash 20/21

Honeycomb

PANTONE: 13-0942 TCX

Key Items: The Resort Shirt, Short-Sleeve Cardigan, Pattern Matching Short Sets

Key Footwear: Artisanal Slip-On, Textured House Slipper, Court Sneaker Key Details: Toweling Textures, Nautical Motifs

Claudia Lavenia, Getty

Key Prints: Breton Stripes, Wearable Art Theme Prints

Key Collection: Balenciaga, Daniel Fletcher, Erdem, Todd Snyder, LRNCE

Estrop, Getty

12 George Desipris, Pexels

07 Big idea

The Summer Chaser The renewed desire for simple but joyful experiences lead us to make the most of sunny days, look for wellness in the everyday, and to express a more carefree side of ourselves through dressing. Take the luxe lounge theme in a new direction by re-styling shapes that promote relaxation and an ease of movement in a more rustic – but no less comfortable – way.

Setting Sun

PANTONE: 17-1361 TCX

Honeycomb

PANTONE: 13-0942 TCX

Oat Milk

PANTONE: 14-1208 TCX

Terracotta

PANTONE: 18-1354 TCX

Bloodstone

PANTONE: 19-1652 TCX

Key Items: Drawstring Trousers, The Lightweight Tunic, The Safari Jacket, The Paperbag Short, The Striped Tank Key Footwear: The Soothing Slide, The Boat Shoe, The Flat Sandal Key Details: Lightweight Fabrics, Toweling Trims, Simple Drawstrings

Key Prints: Summer Stripes, Faded Florals Key Collection: Jacquemus, Percival, SMR Days, Wales Bonner

Peter White, Getty

Stefania M. D’Alessandro, Getty Images

13 Shadab, Pexels

Seasonal Must-Haves The Desert Rider

The Business Casual Savant

The Mid-Century Modern Man

The Guerrilla Gardener

The Future Hedonist

The Coastal Explorer

The Summer Chaser

The Knit Polo

The Summer Suit

Lightweight Shacket

The Camp Shirt

The Flared Pants

The Paperbag Short

Cropped Straight-leg Jeans

The Slingback Mule

The Square Tote

Chain-Link Accessories

Category to Watch Based on trend-led retail

36% New-in, Based on retail data

45% of Newin Based on retail data

Category to Watch Based on trend-led retailers

+71% YoY, Based on social data

Category to Watch Based on trend-led retailers

49% of NewIn Based on retail data

Category to Watch Based on trend-led retailers

Category to Watch Based on luxury retailers

Category to Watch Based on trendled retailers

14

S/S 2023 Big Ideas

These Big Ideas sit on a spectrum ranging from Commercial to Conceptual The Desert Rider

Mid-Century Modern Man

The Coastal Explorer

The Future Hedonist

Commercial

Conceptual

Business Casual Savant

The Summer Chaser

Guerrilla Gardener

S/S 2023 Big Ideas

Trend Checklist 01

02

Many of the trends here have evolved out of joyfulexpression, which emerged as an uplifting counterpoint to the darker and protective trends surrounding initial fears around the pandemic. Look for opportunities to add youthful levity to ranges, incorporating statement-making primary colors, maximalist designs, and playful occasion-wear for consumers who are looking to celebrate self-expression.

Don’t forget to have fun

16

Explore new genderinclusive themes

03

Build in longevity with timeless design

04

From floral-printed workwear and utility styles to openwork and sheer fabrics in feminine shapes, the widening spectrum of masculinity is inspiring designers and brands to cater to many more kinds of consumers. As well as gender-inclusive collections, brands can adjust their parameters around color, fabric and shape to reach a wider and an even-more visibly diverse audience. Men come in all shapes, sizes and kinds, after all.

Many of the classic themes that are important for menswear ensure that key items don't change too often. With that in mind, play to the inherent qualities of those items and make sure your offer provides pieces that will endure well beyond the S/S ‘23 season, either because they are unique and covetable, or because they are carefully developed evolutions of timeless designs.

While there are plenty of opportunities here to work with more sustainable materials, there are also other ways to increase sustainable design practices.

Consider upcycled materials for trends that have crafted details. Also, interest in regional style and designs affords you a chance to work as local as possible, decreasing your carbon footprint.

Think about responsible practices

The Next Step…

Are you a buyer?

Register to shop menswear trends (and more) at our upcoming dedicated market events:

PROJECT New York

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Are you a brand?

Learn more about how you can showcase

your menswear collections at our upcoming market events:

PROJECT New York

17

PROJECT Las Vegas