Trends from the fall/winter 2018 men's fashion weeks
Protest wear, tartan or deconstructed pieces have been hitting the European runways in London, Milan and Paris this month, and they will appear in your favorite store soon, too.
On the barricades
Out with style, in with utility! These are not the times for fine materials and expensive embellishments, and designers are well aware of that. The season is defined by "protest wear," a look influenced by sportswear and streetwear that focuses on comfort and flexibility and creates a barricade of softness and safety, a protection from the outer world.
Say the word
The previous season was marked by the extreme use of logos. For the fall and winter, however, designers worked with typography in a less commercial manner: While the 90's revival of logomania is still strong, it now shares space with messages against social inequality and political extremism. "Change" is the motto of the season.
By appointment to her majesty
The UK may be leaving the European Union soon, but the British sartorial tradition is going nowhere — for now, at least. Tartan, Oxford coats and even the Union Jack have appeared in collections throughout the fashion week season, but not without a twist: The check was enlarged, the duffel coat deconstructed and the colors of the British flag desaturated.
Divided by design
Increasing political polarization has led many people to choose their side, but some fashion designers in Milan and Florence preferred to present a rather centrist position this January, with pieces that combine two (or more!) very different patterns. Still, the comeback of distressed pieces offers another type of comment on the state of the world.
Make Americana great again
The United States has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons thanks to Donald Trump's endless escapades, perhaps overshadowing the fact that America is still the pop cultural world power. Designers took notice and infused their collection with denim, cowboy references and even the 50's preppy look.
Boys will be boys
The tendency of appropriating kidswear for adult men is not new, but after its popularity reached its peak in Asia, the trend of oversized knitwear, shirts and coats adorned with nostalgic motifs is now coming to Europe as well.