It wasn’t long ago that “Quiet Luxury” ruled our wardrobes. After several years of pandemic-induced comfort and athleisure, it felt right to focus on clean silhouettes, luxe fabrics, and simple, logo-free designs. Additionally, this aesthetic also shaped pop culture, with television series like Succession having a strong influence on the way we dress.
Written for FashionUnited by Michael Fisher, VP of Menswear at Fashion Snoops.
More about FS here.
On the other hand, our team at Fashion Snoops was also admittedly a little exhausted by all the meme-inspired styles and over-the-top extravagance of the last few seasons, which stood in stark contrast to the new minimalism we were seeing. Certainly, the post-pandemic seasons called for an unconventional appeal to bring joy back to consumers, and all the many micro-trends that flooded our social networks during this time filled a stylistic void as the world slowly reawakened. But it started to feel artificial and soulless.
2025 is the time to reorient consumers who crave authenticity, romance and, dare I say it, a natural dose of fun. There is so much darkness, chaos and mundanity that permeates our daily lives and these elements are the opposite of inspiration.
Menswear designer and style guru Aaron Levine recently told Sharp magazine: “I’m so tired of being force-fed fashion.” Being inundated with micro-trends created on TikTok is no longer enough. They seem fake and constructed in many ways. Today’s man wants all the opposites in everyday life – elegance and functionality, comfort and confidence, eye-catching sophistication – and he can effortlessly switch between them depending on his mood. Extremes that make a statement can certainly coexist for modern consumers.
“Fun” as a basis for fashion can take many different forms. In our new remote reality, the romance of getting ready and office attire that have become so alien to our everyday lives now feel fashionable, giving rise to a theme we call “Twisted Tradition” – a tongue-in-cheek nod to traditional design , which combines surrealism and sophistication in equal measure. With shifted proportions, exaggerated silhouettes, dropped shoulders, high waists, reinforced patterns and stark contrasts in details, it’s a subversive new way to inject energy into classic menswear. Jonathan Anderson’s work at Loewe is the perfect example of this.
Actor Colman Domingo is one of the best dressed men on the red carpet. He takes risks but always maintains a stylish exterior that seems true to him. The mustard yellow Valentino Haute Couture suit with a gold tweed coat he wore to the Critic’s Choice Awards was one of the best looks of last year.
Chris Pine became known last year for a much funkier aesthetic that included tiny shorts, vintage tees, cardigans and Birkenstocks while promoting his new film and directorial debut, Poolman. Inspired by a “good time,” he explained his evolved look on The Jimmy Kimmel Show by saying, “Life is too hard. If putting on a pair of funky lemon yellow pants makes you giggle, [dann tu es].”
This new form of maximalism doesn’t have to be extravagant either. There is a more subdued level taking over men’s fashion that is “just enough” to stand out, be fun and feel good without being over the top or unnecessary. Often a small change in shape or color to an otherwise classic canvas is enough to take a look to the next level. We are in the age of “edit,” meaning we have become smarter about what “main character energy” we want to portray, when it happens, and to whom.
Streetwear is a category that is seeing a complete return to sparkle and embellishments. Just last month, The New York Times wrote about athletes inspired by the “Liberace look” who wear rhinestone-encrusted basics on game day, like Balmain’s $6,500 rhinestone bomber jacket. “People don’t want to conform anymore,” says stylist Eric McNeal. “People want things that stand out, things that really make a statement,” he continued.
Another part of men’s fashion that is seeing an influx of fun, albeit a more fluid one, is evening wear. For FW 25/26, inspired by recent Saint Laurent shows, what we call “Tailored Opulence” is a design shift that takes refuge in a cozy, opulent corner of dressing. In it, formality is brought closer to consumers who are tired of monotonous athleisure. There’s something special and hedonistic about silky finishes, draped cuts and high-shine layers. This design shift brings power dressing back to the forefront and brilliantly showcases the traditional romance and allure of menswear’s origins. Again, it’s the “main character energy” that men have fun with that brings the fun back to dressing – whether day or night, at home or on the go. It’s cinematic styling and daily drama that takes us out of the rut of normcore, gorpcore and all the other soulless “-cores”.
More than color, pattern and evolved silhouettes, personality is in fashion. Consumers crave a closer connection with themselves and want to show that intimacy in bold and energetic ways. The world can be equally mundane and chaotic, and this burst of playfulness and everyday energy at least gives us something to look forward to every day.
The “stealth wealth” look is dead, long live fun fashion.
This article previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk and was created using digital tools translated.
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