Paris Fashion Week Men’s has come and gone, but what men’s fashion trends are going to stick around? The thread of a few trends wove their way through several different designers’ shows, indicating that they are trends that are likely to go mainstream.
For instance, shorts for men showed up on countless runways, from the longer, school-boy shorts shown by Louis Vuitton to the barely there mini-shorts from Loewe. Many brands also collaborated with shoe companies and shoe designers to capitalize on the profitable men’s shoe market. Comme des Garçons Homme Plus collaborated with Nike, Hermes debuted new sneakers by Pierre Hardy, and Yohji Yamamoto celebrated its 15th year of working with Adidas.
Dads Are In
Designer Demna Gvasalia turned the Balenciaga show into a love letter to dads. Taking place just days after Father’s Day the show featured models dressed in slightly more fashionable versions of traditional “dad” clothes: stretched out polo shirts, light-washed jeans, and chunky tennis shoes. Some models even sported Balenciaga’s take on the Vacation Dad shirt. Our favorite part of the show, however, wasn’t the fashions, but rather that many of the models walked the outdoor runway with their own children.
We started this season looking at all those pictures of young dads and I felt it’s so beautiful to see a young man with a child, and it’s so hopeful and so positive. – Demna Gvasalia
Elevated Sportswear Isn’t Going Anywhere
Hermes is known for the brand’s use of luxurious materials and clean, refined silhouettes. At Paris Fashion Week this year, artistic director Véronique Nichanian applied those familiar principles to the world of sportswear. Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union sat front row as models walked the runway in jewel-toned silk athleisure wear. Many of the models also sported sandals or sneakers designed by Pierre Hardy.
90’s Raves Are Back
Perhaps the show with the most buzz during the week was that put on by Comme des Garçons Homme Plus. The collection came from the imagination of Rei Kawakubo, whose work is currently being featured by New York’s Costume Institute (who puts on the annual Met Ball). Every aspect of the show gave the impression of being at a huge, very stylish rave. Colorful circles of light danced around the runway, while the models themselves danced. The models appeared sweaty, as if from a long night of dancing, while wearing exuberant, avant-garde fashions. Glittered baggy shorts, colorful leopard-print tops, and waistcoats made of baby doll heads. Every jacket in the collection was worn inside-out to reflect Kawakubo’s central theme:
It’s what’s inside that counts! Why didn’t everyone get up and join in? – Rei Kawakubo
These are just some of our takeaways from Paris Fashion Week this year. So which of these trends do you think is the most likely to stick around? We would love to hear your opinions!
