Smart dressing is common denominator

Where there was warned a few years ago before the casualization of men’s fashion, a picture of refinement now comes to the fore. Jogging suits were beautiful and comfortable during the pandemic, but the man now wants to present himself well again. At the Dutch men’s fashion fair Shift you can see that brands get closer to each other and rely on the ‘smart’ style. We do not talk about the technological ‘smart’ style, but about the directions ‘Smart Casual’ and even ‘Smart Street’.

The Dutch brand Off The Pitch states to develop from a pure streetwear brand to a rather ‘smart street’ brand. The collection for spring/summer 2026 contains several short-sleeved shirts with all-over print, various pants and sets with semi-transparent pattern. The subtle change in the brand is partly due to the changes in the men’s fashion market that require a fashion-forward approach. In addition to the more pronounced statement parts, there are also subtle refinements in the articles. The placement of the logo in unusual places, but also embroidered quotes, add a playful element.

The Croyez brand also shows that more can be played in the menswear. The collection with Bordeaux and pink, but also different purple tones, is a piece of colorful. The founder and co -owner Arian Biemans tells that the refinement in the collection is also made possible by the choice of materials.

The Pure Path fashion brand is always in the casual segment, but also sees the movement towards smart casual. The enrichment of the casual offer is shown by the brand in embroidery, structures and tissues as well as the other placement of the logo. More color can also be seen in this brand. “This is very pleasant after the long -lasting fashion image of navy and beige,” said Managing Director Irviani Gerard. Of course, these two basic colors still run well in men, but color accents in red, pink and green have also been added. The right short sets that have appeared in men’s fashion in recent years are also available at Pure Path in the collection.

Post-Casual dressing: more color, polo collar and ‘smart’

Whether a brand comes from the streetwear, the casual segment or even the formal segment, the return of smart menswear is clear. A pants that come from a former streetwear brand can be hung in the case of a casual or formal brand. After pandemic there is an important common denominator: comfort. Why should you dress in something unpleasant and stiff when there are enough other options? A good trousers with an elastic waistband was still before the pandemic incompatiblebut now it is already established.

Another indispensable element seems to have become the polo collar. Of course there are traditional polo shirts with short sleeves, but more and more polo collar are being incorporated into the collections, including Pure Path. A representative of Ferrante, PT Torino, RFR Fabiano Ricci and L’Asszial even tells that the polo shirts are currently selling better than the T-shirts. Not every exhibitor on the Shift can identify with this statement, but it is confirmed that the more neat and statement parts receive more attention.

Shift shows shift in men’s fashion towards well -kept silhouettes while maintaining the comfort

All of this can be seen on the second edition of the Men’s fashion fair Shift in Zaandam. The event shifted from the two smaller halls on the hembrugtrein into a larger elongated hall further back on the site. Due to the elongated exhibition area, the exhibitors have at least twice the chance to attract visitors: inside, as they inevitably have to pass the stands again on the way back.

It was predictable that Sunday of the fair would be quiet when the weather forecasts became clear for the day. A warm and sunny Sunday at the end of June? For many retailers, this means postponing the trade fair visit to Monday. Of course, there is also the fact that many shops in the Netherlands are open on Sundays and do not want to miss the customers by closing the doors.

Nobody escapes the calm on the exhibition surface and there are regular jokes and sarcastic comments about ‘that it is so full’. The hope of a more busy Monday is therefore often expressed, and exhibitors have heard of customers: inside that they will actually visit the shift on the first day of the working week.

Co -founder Shift: “Still in its infancy, but each edition a larger shoe size”

Shift co-founder Lucel van den Hoeven also states to be expected more from Monday. “The most frequently asked question is why we don’t start the fair on Monday,” he says. He also sees an advantage in this, but there has not yet been a change. The women’s fashion fair has been taking place on Sunday and Monday for some time, and a relocation to Monday and Tuesday in summer 2019 was not received with open arms, according to van den Hoeven, who was previously CEO of the fashion factory.

On the part of the organizer, there was the desire to have the Shift takes place at the same time as the FashionFabriek. This should also be used for the summer edition, but the place on the hembrugtrein in the Taets Art and Event Park turned out to be too small for both measuring to perform together.

So the ideal concept has not yet been found. However, there are new additions this time. For example, there are different stands of services that are not set up in traditional stand, but were placed in a red frame. This includes the company for Schuh-Customization Services DD Customs, but also the shop expert Muule. The red frame makes the long hall more dynamic without blocking the visual lines. Van den Hoeven emphasizes that he wants to combine the creativity of the industry with the creativity of the exhibition center. He wants to inspire and encourage them. The representative of the Italian fashion brand Nine in the Morning sees potential in the fair and the location. He describes the stimulating atmosphere as positive. “The fair is still in its infancy and we get a shoe size larger with each issue,” said van den Hoeven.