Men's trends: spring/summer 2021

Luca Castiglione

As we lay the skinny jeans to rest, we experience the resurrection of previously adored silhouettes. This spring/summer 2021 season we can expect a resurgence of more loose fitting and utilitarian silhouettes — with a sharper focus on comfort. With a style that expresses effortlessness, some claim this to be a resurgence of the popular suit style of the 90s. The re-introduction of more loose fitting, comfort-focused garments may be a derivative of the disruption to everyday attire caused by the pandemic. When the world shut down, companies quickly adapted to having their employees work from home. This shift in everyday life most closely impacted many industries, including fashion. Athleisure continued to grow in popularity, fusing the essence of comfort with acceptable style. We also notice an uptick in workwear apparel companies like JW Andersen and Carhartt WIP. These two brands in particular uniquely combine elements of contemporary streetwear and workwear, which elevates the brands’ creative abilities in the public’s eyes. Gearing for the warm weather, Bermuda shorts are now the go-to. With this season’s trend being big and bold prints with pops of color, the role of shorts has completely evolved. What used to be perceived as simple garments allowing for breathability, now serve as statement pieces on their own. As expected after the year we have had, this season is intended to be uplifting, filled with optimism and a noticeable focus on the pastel color palette. As the recent trends of lessbeing-more continues, we will see minimalism take over more than ever. Companies are straying away from large logos and branding elements. This focus on consistent brand style in a minimal logo-less way has been done by brands like Rick Owens, Issey Miyake, and Raf Simon since their brands’ inceptions, but is now being emulated by other players in the industry. Military inspired jumpsuits were seen on the runway by many brands, but most notably by Lemaire, which presented this pocket-heavy design in a monochromatic color scheme. SWM