7 Autumn/Winter Men’s Fashion Trends Actually Worth Wearing

In the age of social media and instant information, the trend cycle looks very different. Where one dominant look used to define an entire decade, multiple contradictory styles can now coexist, and the rise of microtrends and various ‘cores’ signals a much faster-moving fashion timeline.

Menswear commentators love to claim that trends as we know them are a thing of the past, and men’s fashion is now just one giant homogeneous blob or something. We’d argue that they’re very much still a thing; there are just more of them now, and they don’t always conform to one overarching narrative: ‘Things are getting baggier/skinnier’, for example.

That means there’s more to choose from now, and therefore a higher chance of sartorial missteps. With that in mind, here are the trends we’ve been noticing as we head into winter – the ones least likely to leave you wincing at photographs in years to come.

Hairy Knits

Velasca

Mohair madness is nothing new. This soft, shaggy wool has been part of the conversation again for several years now, but while it was largely confined to cardigans initially, it has now begun to crop up all over the place – beanies, scarves, knit polos, you name it.

We love it because it lets you wear a statement piece without relying on pattern or colour. The texture alone is unusual and eye-catching enough that even muted shades can make a big impact and stand out against the rest of an outfit. That said, bold colours can look great too… if you’ve got the stones for it.

Relaxed Tailoring

Reiss

The days of squeezing yourself into a skinny suit are thankfully well behind us. Tailoring has been getting progressively looser for some time now, and we’re at a point where generously cut trousers, unstructured jackets and slouchy silhouettes are beginning to feel like the norm rather than the exception.

The beauty of this shift is that it makes tailoring feel less formal and therefore easier to incorporate into everyday outfits. A roomy double-breasted blazer can look great with the right pair of jeans, for example, while some wide-leg pleated wool trousers can be dressed down with a sweatshirt and trainers. It’s tailoring without the stuffiness, and we’re all for it.

Slouchy Overcoats

Velasca

Continuing the theme of clothes that look like they might be a size or two too big, oversized overcoats are having a moment. We’re talking long, generously proportioned wool coats with dropped shoulders, roomy sleeves and enough fabric to comfortably accommodate several layers underneath without making you feel like an overstuffed sausage.

There’s something wonderfully nonchalant about a big coat thrown over an otherwise ordinary outfit. It can make even the most mundane combination of jeans, knitwear and boots look considered, and the extra length adds a drama that’s hard to achieve with a regular jacket.

Stick to classic colours like charcoal, camel or navy, and you’ll have something that still looks good long after the trend cycle has moved on. Perhaps even for life.

Carpenter Pants

P&Co

You don’t have to be a professional woodworker to reap the benefits of practical legwear. Carpenter pants might be great for, well, carpentry, but they’re also packed with functionality that makes them perfect for day-to-day wear. Pockets aplenty, nice, durable fabric, roomy cuts, maybe even reinforced knees and rear pockets.

They also look great as part of casual outfits. The utilitarian styling and heavy, textured fabric lend themselves nicely to other everyday staples, and they’re one of those pieces that look even better when they start to pick up some signs of wear.

Check out Carhartt, Stan Ray and Ben Davis for some solid options.

Cropped Tops

Percival

Hemlines on T-shirts, sweats, jackets and knits have been creeping north for a while now, and paired with a boxy fit, they can create some interesting silhouettes, giving otherwise unremarkable outfits a touch of character.

The key is not to overdo it. We’re not talking full Britney here, so you can get that image out of your head. Instead, keep your navel covered, but try hemlines that hit somewhere between your waist and hips.

Bold Colour

Percival

Winter wardrobes tend to get a bit gloomy. Black, grey, navy, brown, repeat. There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these colours, but when everyone around you is dressed like they’re attending the same funeral, a splash of something brighter can be a welcome change.

We’re seeing bold colours increasingly worked into otherwise understated outfits, whether that’s a bright red overshirt layered over a muted charcoal outfit, a cobalt-blue scarf or an acid-green knit breaking up an otherwise reserved look.

The trick is to let one piece do the talking rather than trying to cram the entire Dulux colour chart into a single outfit.

Think of it as a way to inject personality into your winter wardrobe without completely rethinking how you dress.

Embracing Imperfection

John Elliott

Blame overinflated price tags, the rising cost of living or perhaps a yearning for authenticity in a landscape dominated by churn-and-burn fast fashion, but whatever the reason, we’re noticing people embracing lived-in garments with visible signs of wear.

Whether on vintage pieces or well-loved personal garments, scuffs, rips and visible fading now feel like something to be worn proudly rather than a sign that something needs to be repaired or thrown away.