Buckle up! We’re taking you on a lightning round fashion tour
Yeah, summer officially started in June, but the real news of the month was so much more stylish. Men’s fashion weeks—touting collections for spring/summer 2020—took place in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. These four cities played host to dramatic reveals and major catwalk moments—and we’ve rounded up the biggest men’s fashion week street style trends and juiciest looks. Get out your passports!
First stop: New York
Let’s get right to the biggest headline. New York kicked off its men’s fashion week with one of the most sensational new trends: gender-bending, sartorial styles. It was a theme seen repeatedly from designers like No Sesso (literally translating as “NoSex/No Gender” in Italian), Palomo Spain, Bode, Vasilis Loizides, and more. Unisex-friendly pieces—like slacks woven with light-catching strands of colorful glitter, delicate embroidery adorning quilt-like patchwork jackets, satin corsets attached to ruffled capes and flowing skirts, and plenty of mesh—graced catwalks throughout this three-day event.
It’s worth noting that besides throwing gender norms on the cutting room floor, a bit of history was made. No Sesso represents the first trans woman designer showing at NYFW, and while Palomo Spain is a solid menswear brand, the designs are so gender-fluid that Beyoncé herself commissioned a gown from the brand when she announced the birth of her twins in 2017.
Hop across the pond to London
The London leg of men’s fashion weeks embodied moments of triumph (Alexander McQueen is back!) and political statements. Normally defined by his flamboyant style, British design star Charles Jeffrey sent uncharacteristically tame, almost austere military-tailored jackets down the catwalk, set to a quiet backdrop of poetry readings. Other trends included stripes on stripes, and explorations of lesser-seen colors like powder pinks and blues, plus bright berry tones.
The biggest surprise didn’t come from the runways, but rather the streets. Attendees of men’s fashion week in London brought back the bucket hat in droves. This beloved, quirky silhouette was a street staple across all three days, showing up most often in bright whites and yellows, keeping the London sun(!) out of its wearer’s eyes.
Buongiorno, Milano!
Bold, bright pastels and throwbacks to punk rock vibes stole the Milan men’s fashion week. The Marni show featured watercolor-washed hues with patchwork and other mix-and-match fabrics, while punk band The Prodigy provided the soundtrack to Versace and their army of models rocking neon hair, stud-and-spike detailing, and bleached shirts in a variety of silhouettes.
But the real scene-stealer: Bella Hadid walked the Versace show in a black-studded men’s suit, complete with black and gold thong underwear slung over her hips. Anyone know how to say “sex appeal” in Italian?
The last tango was Paris
Wrapping up a month of men’s fashion weeks, Paris stole the show. The usual suspects were all on display as every designer from Louis Vuitton to Celine to Kenzo graced runways across the city. Bold trends like layers, layers, and more layers; somewhat comically oversized accessories; and slim-cut 70s pants and jackets cemented Paris’s reputation as Europe’s fashion-forward headquarters.
Of note, the Vetements show really broke the mold. Showcasing styles inspired by security guards (think oversized, short-sleeved button-ups and baggy slacks), the show took place in a Parisian McDonald’s, with models munching on fries as they strolled down the catwalk.
Hey, man… Time for your own walk down the runway
It was a whirlwind month for men’s fashion weeks, and when you’re ready to rock the hottest looks, italist.com has a huge selection for men, from suits, shorts, and slacks, to shoes and accessories to round out your look. With wallet-friendly styles just in from Europe, it’s time to get yourself runway-ready.
Shop italist for up to 30% off on over 150,000 up-to-the-minute luxury fashions for women, men, and kids from leading brands like Golden Goose, Fendi, Gucci, Miu Miu, and many more—direct from Italy’s finest boutiques to your door.
By: Jenny Muller
Jenny has been embracing beauty and fashion trends since her first visit to the Nordstrom makeup counter at age 12, after discovering the transformative power of a good lipstick. Since then, she’s turned that passion into a career, creating content and covering trends for Sephora, Marc Jacobs, Estee Lauder, Victoria’s Secret, and more. Her editorial expertise includes covering New York Fashion Week and the launch of Sephora’s makeup artist academy.