Word on the Street

Out and about at the latest Men’s Fashion Shows, the street-style set showed us how to wear the best in menswear. Look no further than Milan and Paris for inspiration, where the outfits at Givenchy, Casablanca and Kenzo gave us the pieces to invest in this season; from an update on vintage sneakers to bold printed pieces à la Casablanca. And if you are looking for an effortless way to re-up your signature wardrobe pieces, follow suit from the tastemakers of the fashion cities. Here is our deep dive on the seven trends to follow and the big styling hacks for the season ahead.

FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE

With no signs of graduating, the collegiate trend is a mainstay for another season. This SS23, look to motif knits, patchwork details and contrast logos to score a homerun.  Forest greens, ochre yellows and racing red offset with fresh white are the ultimate vintage colour combos. A logo football scarf or a bold logo varsity tee will nail the trend in one. 

LOOK SHARP

Trust the Paris style set to show us the savoir-faire of an all-black ensemble. Keep it sharp with a strong tailored trouser from the likes of Dries Van Noten, and finish with a chunky loafer that carries weight, or a chunky sneaker. For extra style points, keep it oversized and add heavy-duty details like Tyga at the Givenchy AW23 show – the house’s signature metal details keep a streetwear-inspired edge to classic silhouettes.

MONOTONE DRESSING

Spotted: the modern-day suit for the street-style set. A colour-matched co-ord gives instant style points and is easy to wear and pair colours. Go for a whole brand look with a logo co-ord, or switch up your brand mix with tonal separates paired with a fresh tee. Keep the colours in the same vibe – either go bold or go home with primary bright pairings as seen on the Off-White SS23 runway; double denim it like Givenchy SS23; or keep city-cool in head-to-toe neutrals like rapper Polo G. Take it through to the shoes and accessories for Insta-cool.

TAKE A TRIP

An easy win in the crowds was all-over printed separates. Not for the style-shy, these prints pack a punch on the concrete. Look to Casablanca for a surrealist satin shirt or Valentino for spaced-out florals. The trippier, the better; a printed shirt or hoodie slips on for an easy but impactful statement. Style as a co-ord for maxed-out style like a HOMME PLISSÉ number, or keep it slick with a shirt paired with neutrals.

HOT FUZZ

The tastemakers of fashion week know to keep it cosy with plenty of fuzzy textures in sight. Shearling reigned supreme on jackets and fleeces this season in bold colours, checks and abstract motifs, like JW Anderson’s apple fleeces. But these cosy fabrics are anything but soft. Fuzzy mohair blurs the lines of bold prints from the likes of Saint Laurent and Marni, giving a grunge edge while keeping you warm heading into spring.

SOLE ICONS

This season on the pavements, it was all about the low-top sneaker with one thing in common: paying homage to classic sneaker shapes. Whether you opt for classic tennis shapes from Axel Arigato and Y-3, or quintessential basketball kicks from Off-White and Fendi, do not stay on the sidelines with your shoe game. No matter what era you pick, the way to keep it fresh is with new textures. Show-goers were big on updated finishes – an alternative textile like Fendi’s match sneaker cast in denim (coming soon) are a sure-fire spring hit. Suede panelling brushed finishes and chunky woven laces are the uncomplicated ways to update.

CARDI COOL

A comfortable fit to follow this season is the humble cardigan – a heavy hitter on the AW23 runways (as seen at AMIRI, Dior and DSquared2 to name a few). There is no sign of them going anywhere. From the iconic striped Marni mohair style to the preppy Americana vision via Valentino, there is a certain ease to buttoning on an instant trend. Let the layers do the talking – in the midst of tees, shirts, and bombers, add in a tactile layer with a contrasting colour; or a graphic print cardigan with a few bottom buttons loose for an easy transitional dressing look.

Words by Sammiey Hughes and Lewis Roye