As the new decade is here we can almost guarantee men’s fashion and style will continuously go through changes at different points, just as it did during the previous decade.
In the previous decade men’s style went through massive changes, for example, the rise and popularity between streetwear and high end luxury brands merging together.
Virgil Abloh being the poster child for this movement took a stance when it came to changing an industry by creating apparel for Louis Vuitton using streetwear aesthetics.
Virgil’s influence led over to brand such as Prada, Chanel and Dior creating its own streetwear. Read about it – HERE
Something that would have been hard to predict at the start of the decade
Or
The huge push for sustainability around fashion. Towards the end of the last decade we saw many conversations around eco-friendly fashion within the industry and for brands and designers to keep this in mind.
In addition to this brands such as Uniqlo and H&M even have sustainability mission statements which sees them promoting the planet, people and community.
Therefore it will be very interesting to see the new changes that happens within the fashion industry and in particular men’s fashion!
This particular piece is very interesting due to the fact that I was able to get the opinion and thoughts from leaders within the industry. From influencers to brand owners, I wanted to find out 3 things
- How they see men’s style evolving this decade
- The power of the internet and its impact on the industry
- Favourite and worst men’s style trends
Check out their responses below
1.Scott Purcell – Man of Many
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
I see a strong focus on sustainability and recyclable clothing over the next decade. The current processes in fashion tend to be very unsustainable so it’s great to see a focus on long-lasting and quality materials.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
I think AR and VR will have a huge impact in the fashion space over the next decade. Picture trying on a pair of shoes before you buy them with your phone (something adidas is already trying out).
3. What were some of your favorite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
I think my favourite trend was the focus on fit. The 90’s and 00’s saw a lot of larger baggy and ill fitting clothes. Not saying that clothing can’t be big but it’s nice to see men being more concerned about tailoring and fit on their bodies.
2. JOHN – The Everyday Man
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade (For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc)
There’s no doubt that people’s attitudes are switching to a more sustainable way of buying fashion. Fast fashion is starting to head out of fashion (finally) and sustainability is in! I think that’s a great thing. I’m a fan of personal style and that’s something that never dates or goes out of fashion.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
I imagine that we will see more use of try on tech that allows the user to see themselves in an item of clothing prior to them purchasing it. Who knows though, I’m sure there is a lot of new tech on the way!
3. What were some of your favorite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
I was big into the 90s trend and also the military look. I’ve never been a big fan of the oversized look as I don’t suit it so I’d say that was probably my least favourite.
3. Brock – The Modest Man
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
I see men’s style evolving in three ways:
First, we’re going to be post trend. There will still be fads and trends, but they’ll be so fast that we won’t look back and be able to define a whole decade, for example. This is kind of already happening — just look at the 2010s. This basically means you can wear whatever you want, regardless of what’s cool right now.
Second, athleisure will continue to grow. Technical fabrics and four way stretch will permeate all aspects of menswear, from suits to streetwear. Since the focus is on increasing comfort, I consider this a win for men everywhere.
Third, we’ll see more and more options for finding better fitting clothes. Made-to-measure will work its way into casual wear (t-shirts, hoodies, etc.). Body scanning tech will improve to the point where we’re less reliant on self-measurement or going to a tailor. On demand manufacturing will make it easier for brands to produce unpopular sizes, and we’ll see more niche brands focusing on specific body types.
In my opinion, men’s style has a very bright future!
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
Instead of big stores, we’ll see more online first brands opening small boutiques and “fit shops” where customers can figure out what they want before they buy it online.
3. What were some of your favorite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
4. Sam – The Man Blueprint
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
We’ve already had all the 90’s stuff come back in and even a bit of 00’s stuff too, so they’re a bit stale now in my opinion.
If I had my way, we’d see a lot of 40’s/50’s stuff come back in where it becomes acceptable to wear all sorts of mad tailored garms and rock hats, etc. I doubt the trilby is ever going to really come back in to play properly but I would like to see that.
There’s obviously gonna be loads more sustainable efforts like recycled clothes made from all sorts of discarded materials. Adidas and Parley done it with a pair of shoes made from plastic bottles from the ocean – who knows where we’ll be in 2030 progress-wise.
We’ve got people ordering loads of different clothing in their online shops, wasting time and resources, imagine if we did some sort of delivery service but for stores. For instance, you could pay a fee, then a Reiss truck would come round, you’d try on the clothes you’ve selected and if you don’t like them, the van keeps them – if you do, you can take it straight off the rail. No waste packaging, no double trips for delivery/collection. Logistics would be difficult and my ideas are usually a bit weird but I reckon that would be sic
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
We’re definitely going to see virtual try-ons.
So, you’d put your exact measurements in and you’d be able to see what you’ll look like (ish) with the clothes on.
Apart from that, I’ve got no predictions – I don’t think anyone could have possibly predicted where the internet would have taken the industry back in 2010, so I won’t pretend to be in the know lol.
3. What were some of your favourite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
Faves:
– Smart knitted polos
-White sneakers with smart pants
-Smarter tracksuits (and tracksuits no longer being labelled as *chavvy* – because I love a good trackie and now I don’t have to feel guilty!)
-More well-made goods built to last – death to fast fashion!
Not-so-faves:
– Really, really high cut trousers (too much ankle…)
-Dad shoes, seriously wtf? Anyone who wears them should have to wear a nonce tag on their shirt
– Apart from that, I’ll give most things time to win me over, so I don’t really have a gripe with much else!
5. Khoi – The Gentleman Within
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
Over the next decade I see classic menswear making a return. It will be a shift back to more classic silhouettes; think less skinny jeans and more relaxed, yet clean drapes. In contrast, streetwear will still be emphasized, but not as strongly as in the past decade. I also see trends like minimal sneakers enduring and sustainable fashion continuing to rise.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
The internet has made affordable, quality clothing readily available to more people. As the internet continues advancing in the 20s, more and more people will have access to better and more affordable options than what the big retail chains offer.
3. What were some of your favorite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
Some of my favorite fashion trends over the past decade were athleisure style, minimalism, and sustainable fashion. While some of the worst trends were chunky dad sneakers, overly distressed denim and bucket hats.
6. Sara – Flush the Fashion
How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
Fashion is cyclical so all decades will have a resurgence eventually. For example, the recent LFWM in London showcased collections reminiscent of nineties rave- with psychedelic prints. Grunge was resurrected with bondage harnesses, belts and straps on tailoring and there were grossly oversized shoulders on eighties style suiting. Streetwear fans will snap up puffa coats and baggy trousers in shades of neon. The shows were op ed and showcased a much more diverse range of models, which is in keeping with fashions inclusivity.
With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
Everyone is an influencer, and Instagram will continue to be a great marketing tool for brands and stylish men
Shoppers will buy more online, and via communities and brands will need to encourage their customers by being more transparent in their production processes, as consumers are now being much more ethically aware.
What were some of your favorite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
I’ve always been quite experimental and am a big fan of charity shop clothes and customising so I never really followed trends. However, my tip is to invest in a couple of key pieces which you can wear and wear again, and mix and match with your high street finds.
7. Simon – Off the Cuff London
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
The next decade could be very interesting indeed. Without getting too political, the silver lining of Brexit may be that British fashion and made in England menswear seize a rather unique opportunity to flourish.
Brands such as Private White, Grenson, Paul Smith and Oliver Spencer really do have a unique opportunity to double down and cement their brand identity in a country that rightly, or wrongly, wants to ‘be more British’.
On the flip side, London, for me, will always strive as a multicultural fashion hub and is arguably the capital of the world when it comes to fashion. I have faith that this trend will continue however I expect to see a rise in Made in England menswear and, as mentioned, core British fashion to enter the decade strongly.
Sustainability will certainly play a huge role in how the fashion industry develops in the near future. More and more gents are looking into the sustainability of their clothes before purchase and over time will acquire fewer pieces but pieces of higher quality. Price will reflect this; it goes without saying that production costs are higher for quality garments but the full transparency and traceability of brands are rapidly coming into question. Fast fashion may well have had its day, and in my opinion, rightly so.
Retail has the potential to change beyond recognition, as technology continues to improve at an astounding rate, the way in which we shop may change completely. Reading up on what Amazon have planned is truly scary, the potential for growth within the industry is remarkable if we continue to advance at such an impressive rate… sadly for the nostalgic among us, the high street may well continue to decline as generational shopping habits continue to evolve.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
Following on from my previous point, the internet ties in well with the generational change we will see in retail. Mobile and voice activation seem to be the way forward providing astonishing access to information and opportunity. For example, you could have your suit measurements saved within the device. ‘Alexa, order a navy linen suit from Hawes & Curtis’.
More and more guys will have access to men’s fashion at their fingertips at an earlier age and their knowledge will far surpass that what we possessed. With such accessible material on offer, we’ll be able to make more informed choices around the industry, and this can only be a positive factor for growth.
3. What were some of your favorite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
As you may already have deduced, I look to champion Made in England menswear wherever possible. I would say the classic British overcoat has remained a strong, striking piece within men’s fashion over the last few years; paired with a rollneck and a smart pair of trousers, you’ve got a timeless outfit that exudes smart casual sophistication.
Moving on to my least favourable choice, although I do enjoy the variety and uniqueness of street style, I feel that there were times it went too far. I remember spotting 16 (yes, I counted them) on a jacket a little while back. The jacket was littered with pockets and zips and it just crossed a line for my personal taste. But hey, I suppose you can’t argue with the practicality of the piece!
8. Carl Thompson
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
The next couple of years is going to be a very telling time for fashion and the high street in general. If you talk to the likes of Matthew Drinkwater, Head of Innovation Agency at the London College of Fashion he’ll tell you that garments will be composed of electro polymers with interchangeable colours.
Effectively you’ll only need one shirt, one tee etc as we can digitise our wardrobe, even sync it to our calendars.
However, as much as I’m an advocate for wearable tech, it’s been a false economy for many years now. We had NIKE do electric shoelaces in Back to the Future 2, that was 30 years ago.
I’m never in the market for predicting trends. It’s just not an area of interest for me. I deal and create classic styles. My brand, Hawkins & Shepherd, was built on a design aesthetic of the 1920’s. That’s mad to think that’s now 100 years old but has never gone out of style.
The classic looks, the full cut, the cut away collar, the grenadine ties, the Prince of Wale suits have always been implacable staples in a man’s wardrobe.
The sustainable element has really been on my mind for a long time. My background is I.T for oil conglomerates and exploration and now it’s fashion. The irony that these are now two of the biggest world polluters is not lost on me.
I can only do my part, make garments that are built to last. I’m also not in the market for buying 10 pound plain tee’s from Zara anymore. The world is moving on. Companies will need to be more transparent with their supply chains. Consumerism is demanding more from their brands and they must be feeling the pressure.
For a long time I thought the bottom of the Luxury watch market would fall out with the advent of brands getting crowdfunding and showing some odious mark ups in manufacturing and distribution. But if anything it’s gone the other way. The luxury goods market is bigger than ever because people with disposable income want quality. They want familiarity and money is not an issue.
You only have to visit Dubai to see how much money is sloshing around right now.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
The market is going to have to keep an eye on Amazon. We live in a world where Amazon is king because Amazon is frictionless. It’s fast, it’s slick and it’s all encompassing.
Brands looking to do anything in this space need to have a model that will allow for enough margin for delivery and returns, distributions etc.
I feel like the emphasis on having an e-commerce store can’t be underestimated. What it does do is allow brands to build a digital following and enter the market with less risk than they would with old fashion bricks and mortar. They won’t be tied into leases and will benefit from lower overheads in general.
So what does all this mean? Everyone is in with a shot. People can make a go of things although we need to get back into the habit of making things, not just standing next to things that look pretty and pretend we know anything about it.
There is a disparate balance between creators and content creators currently. But that’s a different conversation.
3. What were some of your favourite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
Again I don’t like to judge trends. I think people are entitled to discover their own style and it’s something I’ve picked up from David Gandy actually. Whenever he gets asked that question he says each to their own.
For the sake of argument I am a fan of brands bringing back the classic style. The fuller cut, allowing for drape and fluidity.
Brands like King and Tuckfield& Thomas Farthing tick all the boxes for me in this current market. British made, with some great minds and humans behind the designs.
9. Manny – WELL BUILT STYLE
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
I think the big shift we’ll see with men’s retail over the next decade is a movement back towards smaller, niche brands. The focus will be less on churning out large quantities of cheaply made garments (made famous by fast fashion mega retailers like H&M, Zara, Gap etc.) and more on environmentally conscious processes, sustainability, and ethical manufacturing.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
As the internet continues to grow rapidly and more consumers jump online around the world I think we’ll continue to see these smaller companies pop up under the direct to consumer (DTC) model and provide high quality garments and accessories for a fraction of the cost of larger luxury brands with their bloated sales and marketing operations. It’s one of the big changes I’ve seen with men’s footwear over the last 5-10 years. Seems like every day there is a new DTC style company offering quality footwear at bargain prices. I don’t see this slowly down any time soon.
3. What were some of your favourite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
I’ve been a big fan of the athleisure trend over the last 5-10 years as well as the casual suiting trend (suits paired with sneakers and t-shirts etc.). Whether or not these trends stay or go remains to be seen. One trend I haven’t been able to get on board with is the “hypebeast” look. Streetwear continues to gain more and more traction and while I do like some it, a lot of it is just way too over the top and silly for my tastes.
10. Michael 84
1. How do you see men’s style, fashion and retail evolving over the next decade ( For example predictions on certain nostalgia coming back this decade, sustainability, innovative retail experiences or anything else etc )
When it comes to men’s style trends in the near future, it looks to be exciting. I think smarter casualwear will become more fashionable, including tailored joggers.
I think we have become less uniformed in what we wear, for example a less strict dress code to work, so people’s individual style has came through. I think we will see more of this in the future.
As there’s more thought into sustainable living these days, there could be more of a shift to sustainable clothing. I think this will be quite niche, as there’s still sadly a big demand for cheaper clothing in the mainstream.
2. With the internet becoming more advance daily what are some of the biggest impacts you feel this will have within the market.
It’s hard to imagine what’s to come next from online in terms of the fashion market, it’s already quite advanced. A lot more online retailers have tools to ensure you get the perfect fit first time, which is important for everyone.
From virtual fitting rooms for the best fit, to hi-res images and videos of the clothes you want to buy, there’s not a lot more to be done.
The internet age has allowed new fashion brands and ecommerce stores to open up and compete with the traditional high street shops, and in many cases they’re winning. But I think that there’s now a saturation, and with costs (for things like retuns) going up, and prices coming down to compete with each other, it’s hard to see how they’ll be able to sustain that business model.
A lot of business is done on social media these days too, especially Instagram with influencers. Fashion retailers and brands are putting a lot of money into it, with varying degrees of success. I think that this will be a bubble for many, but that’s a story for another day 😉
3. What were some of your favourite fashion trends and styles over the past decade and some of the worse you didn’t like.
My favourite trend over the past 10 years has to be the re-emergence of the 90’s trends. I loved them back then, and I still do today. They have that nostalgic look and feel which takes you back to that great decade, not to mention they’re really easy to wear.
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