8 Key Men’s Fashion Trends For Spring/Summer 2023 (And How To Wear Them)

Image Credit: Artknit Studios

As we hang up our big coats and beanies for another year, it’s time to start thinking about the approaching warmer weather and how to dress for it. The transitional period is the perfect time to take stock of what’s in your wardrobe, update, repurpose and embrace the best new spring/summer trends.

The trouble is that blindly following trends is a one-way ticket to poor fashion choices. Don’t dive in headlong and invest in every flash-in-the-pan fad those fickle fashion Tik-Tokers recommend. Instead, filter through the latest trends and cherry pick the ones worth wearing – the ones with true staying power, or at least the ones that work with the rest of your wardrobe.

To help you out, here’s a tightly curated rundown of the best trends for SS23. These are the looks and pieces we feel are wearable for most guys in some shape or form, and that won’t leave you cringing too hard at photos five years down the line. From sweater vests to relaxed suits, here’s what you need to know.

Baggy Pants

It’s not exactly breaking news that slim- and skinny-fit legwear has been replaced by winder alternatives, but what you might not know is just how wide things are getting.

As unbelievable as it may be to anyone old enough to have lived through the JNCO years, those extreme wide-leg pants are making a comeback. You know. The ones that frayed at the heels and soaked up every drop of rainwater from the pavement.

How To Wear It

In short, don’t. This is not a look history will treat kindly. But that doesn’t mean you should stay in your skinnies forever.

Instead, look for pants with a roomy top block and a slight taper from the knee down to the leg opening. This means you won’t be left feeling like you’re drowning in fabric, but you’ll still reap the comfort and aesthetic benefits of a wider leg.

Low Top Basketball Sneakers

It’s safe to say we’ve reached peak Dunk and NB 550 now, but low-top basketball sneakers are still some of the most popular models around.

What’s more, they tie in nicely with the trend toward loose-fitting pants thanks to their chunky shape and size.

How To Wear It

Opt for low-top styles over high-tops and stick to simple colour schemes. We’d say a maximum of three colours per shoe is a good threshold.

In terms of styling, team them up with straight, relaxed or wide-leg pants to keep things in proportion.

Sweater Vests

The current trend for fuzzy sweater vests is definitive proof that anything can become cool if you give it long enough.

Once closely associated with nerdiness and seen as a universal symbol of uncool, these sleeveless pullovers are finally having their moment, and they can look good provided they’re styled the right way.

How To Wear It

A good chunk of the reason sweater vests were often viewed as uncool was because of the way they tended to be worn. They conjure images of Carlton Banks – combined with ill-fitting khakis, a button-up shirt and the most boring shoes imaginable.

To nail the look in 2023, the sweater vest should be styled in a modern way. Think T-shirt rather than shirt, straight-leg jeans instead of chinos and sneakers as opposed to smart shoes.

Leather Biker Jacket

Leather biker jackets are trending hard right now, and it’s one of those rare trends you can throw yourself into with full confidence that it won’t date badly.

The biker jacket is a menswear classic. Yes, it fluctuates in popularity, but it will always be relevant.

If you want to look like you have your finger in the pulse without worrying about falling victim to fads, this is a great item to invest in.

How To Wear It

The resurgence of the biker jacket hinges on it being styled in a contemporary manner. Instead of going full James Dean cosplay, try styling it with more modern pieces like wide-leg pants, chunky sneakers and a hoodie.

Y2K / 2000s Fashion

If you’re old enough to remember them, you’ll recognise that a lot of the trends mentioned here have their roots in the 2000s. That’s because Y2K throwback is a big overarching trend that’s coming to define early 2020s mainstream fashion.

From the silhouettes to the way things are styled, we’re seeing nods to the Millenium everywhere, proving without a doubt that the 20-year trend-cycle rule is as true as it’s ever been.

How To Wear It

The key here is to select certain elements from the Y2K revival rather than building your entire aesthetic around it.

Take the elements that speak to you – whether it’s baggy jeans, cargo pants or preppy rugby/polo shirts – and find ways to incorporate them into your wardrobe.

Big Coat Energy

Hopefully you won’t be force to wear a big winter coat too much over spring and summer, but when you are, it should be a trench coat. These classic knee-grazing raincoats are everywhere at the moment, and we’re here for it.

After all, trending or not, this is a classic piece of outerwear that’s always going to have a place in men’s fashion, and investing in a good one is a sartorial decision that’ll hold up over time.

How To Wear It

The beauty of the trench coat lies in its versatility. It can be slung over anything and everything, instantly elevating casual and sporty outfits with its smart yet slouchy looks.

It’s one of the few pieces of outerwear that looks as good with sweats as it does with a suit, meaning you can really get your money’s worth in terms of wearability.

Get Tanked

When it comes to warm-weather layers in 2023, the vest is the new T-shirt. It’ll add depth to your outfits without causing you to overheat, and the low-cut neck makes it much more laid-back and summery.

How To Wear It

Use a plain tank top in place of a T-Shirt when layering. We’re talking about underneath things like unstructured blazers, light jackets, camp-collar shirts and Oxford button-downs.

It’s an easy way to make simple outfits a bit breezier and stylish.

1980s Tailoring

Tailoring is back, but in the time it’s been gone there’s been a shift away from Tom Ford-esque ultra fitted cuts and slim silhouettes, and back towards slouchier shapes.

It’s a more relaxed way of approaching suiting, which makes it great for keeping cool in the warmer weather.

How To Wear It

Remember that relaxed doesn’t have to be a synonym for ill-fitting. This style of tailoring has more room in the shoulders, torso and legs, but it should still fit well.

The arms and legs need to be the correct length, and the jacket should sit nicely on the shoulders without overhanging them by too much. If in doubt, pay a visit to your local tailor and have some alterations made.

Paddy Maddison

Paddy Maddison is Ape's Style Editor. His work has been published in Esquire, Men’s Health, ShortList, The Independent and more. An outerwear and sneaker fanatic, his finger is firmly on the pulse for the latest trends, while always maintaining an interest in classic style.