Summer 2011 just barely started and the fashion world is already revealing the trends for next spring.
Some collections had very literal inspirations, such as Prada’s golf caddys and Moncler Gamme Bleu’s fencing players. Others had very subtle themes, telling a story through texture, color, and layers.
Most of the collections took one of two turns: they were either 1) loud with outrageous colors, patterns, and layers or 2) muted, with a minimalist palette and an abundance of textures.
We’ve picked our seven favorite trends from the runway to help you make an impression when the warm weather returns. Not keen on waiting until next spring? Inject some of these trends into your wardrobe now to get a head start on the rest.
The Top 7 Men’s Fashion Trends for Spring 2012
1. Over-sized suiting. Sharp tailoring isn’t the name of the game anymore. There were a lot of baggy, almost ill-fitting suits, pants, and sports coats. It can give your look a more relaxed feel, and it is certainly more comfortable.
2. It’s all about the man purse. There were some seriously wicked shoulder bags and totes on the runway.
3. The trench will never die. Some pieces are forever timeless. The trench is one of them. There were a lot of trenches paired with shorts and worn open, giving it a refreshingly disheveled look.
4. Plaid might outlive the trench. Similar to its other timeless brethren, plaid keeps coming back season after season. You’ll notice a lot of plaids from across the spectrum, including both large and small patterns in an endless combination of colors.
5. Two breasts are better than one. There was a lot of double-breasted sports coats hitting the runway. Whether it was for a casual frolic in the park or a formal dinner party, there was a double-breasted coat for every occasion.
6. A color story. This year we saw a lot of warm, rich earth tones—like clay, brass, and burnt orange—muted by wheat-y and organic neutrals. We also saw a lot of bold, eye-catching colors, with a focus on electric blue.
7. It’s all about the shoes. We saw A LOT of amazing shoes. They completely stole the show in some cases! There was a lot of worn-in lace-up dress shoes and colorful boat shoes.
1. E.Tautz Double-Breasted Blazer – $602.50, 2. BED:STU Men’s Uncle Boat Shoes – $70, 3. Apolis Global Citizen Tote – $198, 4. Neil Barrett Ash Trenchcoat– $482, 5. Nautica Plaid Silk Tie – $35
These are the highlights from the Spring 2012 Fashion Week. Want to see more? Visit GQ.com to see all the collections.
Want our opinion? We loved Corneliani’s show. It was very wearable, relaxed, and had a nonchalant elegance to it. It really stood out for us as an example of the designers who told a story through textures and an organic aesthetic, rather than bold, chaotic colors and prints. Also, we have to shout out Ermenegildo Zenga’s muted pastels mixed with wheat-y neutrals. Also very wearable.