TQS StaffWe know winter 2011 isn’t out of the way yet, but with the autumn/winter 2012 men’s fashion week shows all wrapped up, we’re already looking ahead to what we’ll be seeing on the high street come the next cold snap. Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, Paris and Copenhagen, and the Bench Clothing show in Berlin have given us plenty of sneak peeks as to what to expect. Here’s our guide to the some of the key trends.
Nordic (Anti) Cool
Scandinavian labels like HUMOR and Stutterheim are creating a real buzz right now. Fjallraven’s Kanken backpack is already a cult favourite and hot on the back of Acne’s success, Copenhagen’s A/W shows attracted a lot of attention this year. The Scandinavian knack for functional design might’ve seemed a little too straight-laced five years ago, but now it’s a refreshing alternative to the OTT branding of the major design houses and US labels. Understated, hip and tailor-made for the modern geek pack, Henrik Vibskov’s knits and Astrid Andersen’s athletic-couture collection were the talk of the town. You can get a great overview of the shows over at Dazed Digital.
Keep it Cuffed
Rolled-up hems have been a serious denim and chino look for the past couple of years now, and the trend looks set to stick for 2012 if the A/W shows are anything to go by. Not just denim, but suit pants too are getting shorter on the hemline, so the look’s crossing over into high fashion from the streets. Pretty much the entire Bench clothing and Acne A/W 2012 collections featured short hemlines, with Acne teaming white socks with black suits to exaggerate the effect. So if you were hoping for warmer ankles next winter, you’re out of luck – keep ‘em bare.
Cleanline Caps
There wasn’t a collection that strutted down the runway this year that didn’t include a new look baseball cap, from Alexander Wang to Dior Homme, Marc Jabobs to Bench Clothing. We don’t know if it’s the Olympic spirit that’s inspiring this sports luxe thing, or a taste for 90s skate culture, but one thing’s for sure – this is the headgear for next winter. Just to be clear, we’re not talking a return to the trucker cap here. This new take on the baseball classic is subtle with a capital S – more rounded, minimal, in a range of textured fabrics, and smart enough to team with a suit. Check out this Guardian coverage for a visual taster.
