Fashion never stays still and the year ahead looks no different with several designers creating new looks for 2021, that includes new contemporary updates on timeless classics, and a desire for functionality and utility. 2021 promises to be an exciting year for fashion. While there is no need to throw your favourite suit out of the wardrobe just yet, there may be some great new ways to accessorize it to ensure it stays stylish and on-trend for the new year. Here are a few things to look out for informal menswear as we head into 2021.
Sustainability
With campaigns such as Fashion Act Now gaining media attention from fashion giants, including Vogue Magazine, we are seeing more and more designers incorporate environmental values into their work. According to Fashion Act Now, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In 2021, we will see renewed efforts by leading fashion houses to tackle this. Green fashion means no longer are we expected to have a different suit for every occasion, and instead, suits will become more multi-functional. Expect durability also to play a factor, as a longer-lasting outfit that is worn for many years rather than just one season will have an impact. Fast fashion is no longer de-rigueur. There may also be a drive to upcycle, so fabrics and prints from old stock are reutilized to make exciting new outfits that proudly proclaim their recycled nature. Slow fashion is a term that is on the rise so expect to hear it more and more over the next year. Slow fashion is all about choosing outfits that are made to last rather than being quickly disposed of and onto the next thing. So expect many of these trends to stick around for some time to come.
Luxury
Do not mistake the popularity of sustainability for lack of luxury. Designers will look to bring luxury back into our lives with bright, vivid colours that aim to bring the fun back into our lives. Expect joyous celebration to be a major factor when looking at the menswear clothing rails in all fashionable department stores. Expect to see this particularly with shirt choices. Many of the major fashion houses chose bright patterns and fun new shapes for those shirts. Having a small selection of shirts can transform any suit allowing it to be worn for multiple occasions, linking back into the desire for an environmental outlook on our wardrobe. Luxury shirts are about stepping back into the world and making a statement, so don’t be afraid to grab a shirt that stands out and shouts to the world,” I’m back.”
Utility and Functionality
Practicality is going to be more crucial than ever for menswear. Gone are the straight-lined slim-fitting suits with no room for as much as a credit card in case it disturbed the lining. Now we are seeing survival mode becoming an ever more prominent feature on the catwalks. While this does not mean we will all be in safari shirts and cargo pants, do expect pockets to be a big feature on any suit. With many of us now carrying more when we leave the house (bottles of hand sanitizers and masks may be with us for some time to come), this is a welcome addition to any suit that is part of a day-to-day wardrobe. This look also continues the trend of matching suits with less formal shoes. So if you feel like you need to be fleet of foot while still looking professional don’t fear the sneaker suit combo has not disappeared just yet.
1980s
As always, a decade and a look are making a comeback. Now is the time for the 1980s inspired double-breasted suit. Think of the power players from popular TV show, Pose or even Jordan Belfort as depicted by Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf Of Wall Street, which coincidentally has been transformed into a stage show playing in London, the world capital of theatre. So while you might not be appearing in court any time soon defending criminals or litigating against all those Massachusetts truck accidents, you might still want to look the part to be in fashion for the year ahead. Double-breasted suits are big, baggy and give you room to grow. So don’t fear if you are heading back into the office and have put on a few holiday pounds. The other great thing about the 1980’s power suit is that it exudes confidence. So, if you feel hesitant about stepping back into the office, don’t worry, this suit will make you look like you have all the bravado of a high flying executive.
Sweater-Vests
Sweater-vests are the layer to look out for when wanting to update your current suit look. Sweater vests like the double-breasted suit, have come back in a big way with many of the major fashion houses, including Prada, featuring them in their latest collections. They can be used to layer up an existing outfit, giving it a refreshed look and creating a more casual appearance, by removing the suit jacket completely. Sweater vests are no longer the staple of the elderly, with many designs featuring luxury materials like cashmere wool and stunning pastel patterns. They throw-back to the old English private school look, and so if you are still obsessed with Harry Potter and Quidditch, this might be the fashion statement for you. If you want to wear those sustainability credentials on your sleeve, get down to your local thrift shop and see if there is a sweater vest that might accompany your suit perfectly.
Trench Coats
Think of the intrepid reporter chasing down an exciting lead or a spy on the lookout for their confidential informant on a shady street corner and you will get the idea. According to The Washington Post, “designers are in love with trench coats now.” However, that only tells half the story. Designers are loving remodelling the classic trench coat and updating it. A is a great example of the sustainability trend coming to the fore. The staple coat is being recycled and reutilized, with the addition of printed layers and even fresh new colours staining the beige trench coat into a more eye-catching hue. Don’t be put off, though. The reliable trench coat will still look as stylish as ever and is a perfect accompaniment to a suit on those wet weather days, commuting to and from the office. The trench coat, similar to the 1980s power suit, is also utility wear at its finest with deep pockets and a forgiving lining that hides keys and bulging wallets from ruining the overall look.
Black is Back
As if black had ever truly gone away. In amongst the bright colours and upcycled patterns, there is always room for sheer elegance. Black will not just be for mourning in 2021. From sheer black shoes to trousers with only the subtlest hints of colour hidden amongst the midnight shades, black still has a great influence on many of the designer’s Spring/Summer 2021 collections. The touch of black, when mixed with a subtle pastel, will make the colour stand out and make an impressive statement, so don’t feel tempted to dress head to toe as a rainbow. Similarly, you don’t need to look like a pall-bearer either, subtle flashes of colour can let your fun side shine through even when looking sombre and serious.
Accessorize
Many businesses’ budgets were squeezed in 2020, so don’t worry if you don’t have the cash for a whole new wardrobe in 2021. Accessorizing existing outfits is a great way to refresh your old look without breaking the bank. According to Vogue, the men’s mini bag is 2021’s “must-have accessory.” A simple addition like these mini bags or a tie or some stylish cufflinks can subtly but remarkably reinvent your suit. So you don’t have to throw out last year’s wardrobe while still feeling the buzz of a great new look.
Remember
2020 was one of the most unpredictable, topsy turvy years in recent memory. Therefore, all predictions for 2021 are just that, predictions. It could be that next year still has some curveballs to throw our way. But one thing is for certain; next year fashion will all be about you feeling great. So don’t be afraid to mix it up and to celebrate who you are through the clothing you wear and the statements those items make. Enjoy mixing it up by updating outfits with new additions rather than entirely new wardrobes for every season. Fashion does not always need to be about splashing the cash. Many of these looks are about making a dramatic impact with only slight additions. The suits in your wardrobe are as timeless as ever, and if you have spent most of the year in your loungewear conducting meetings from your sofa, you will be amazed at how great they feel when you put them back on and begin to feel yourself again. Enjoy the luxury of looking great and dressing up to go out rather than dressing down to stay in the house.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more menswear inspiration.
(Some of these links contain affiliate links, so that means if you click and buy something, I get a cut. It helps keep the site going! Full Disclosure)