The Fashion industry is experiencing a shift towards gender-neutral fashion, with an increasing number of people shopping for clothing outside of traditional gender categories.

This movement is driven by evolving attitudes towards gender and a desire for more relaxed and expansive approach to dressing. Millennials and Gen Z are embracing the idea that certain colours, shapes and pieces are not exclusively for men or women.

While differences in sizes and fits between men’s and women’s sections still exist in most shops, women are increasingly drawn to traditionally male-sized pieces, demonstrating a love for oversized tailoring. This blurring of gender boundaries allows for more inclusive and diverse fashion choices.

A standout moment in the fashion world was Pharrell Williams’ debut as Creative Director at Louis Vuitton menswear. The event, held at Paris’s historic Pont Neuf, featured star-studded attendees, including Rihanna and Beyoncé. The collection drew inspiration from New York’s Canal Street, Virginia (Pharrell’s home state) and Louis Vuitton’s iconic Damier check pattern, infused with elements of camouflage and vibrant primary colours.

The fashion landscape for the upcoming Spring/Summer 2024 season presents several key trends. Florals are breaking free from their association with women’s clothing, as designers and brands incorporate florals into men’s fashion, challenging gender norms and promoting self-expression. Denim continues to be a versatile and adaptable fabric, appealing to both men’s and women’s fashion while embracing innovative cuts, embellishments and retro silhouettes.

Additionally, the ‘mini everything’ trend captures attention as hemlines shorten in skirts and short suits, allowing for playful and dynamic styling options.

Overall, the fashion industry is embracing gender fluidity, inclusivity and a sense of playfulness. As designers push boundaries and redefine traditional notions of gender in fashion, consumers have more opportunities to express themselves authentically through their clothing choices.

PREPPY DRESSING

The preppy dressing trend for the Spring/Summer 2024 season takes inspiration from the style of boys’ schools, as seen on the runways of Dsquared2 and JW Anderson. Both brands showcased striped rugby shirts, cricket polos and sports shorts, evoking a nostalgic boys’ changing room vibe that is expected to transition into everydaywear. In a notable moment, Jonathan Anderson himself wore an Irish rugby shirt during the show’s finale.

Rugby shirts have been a trending item for women as well, indicating that the sporty aesthetic will continue to dominate in the upcoming year.

Additionally, Louis Vuitton’s iconic Spring/Summer 2024 show featuring Pharrell, showcased checker prints and pixelated camouflage. The show held in Paris, specifically on Pont Neuf, captivated attention with its massive runway and a star-studded audience with Louis Vuitton’s iconic checker print, also known as the damier print, emerging as a key highlight of the show. This pattern was spotted across various pieces, including bags, jackets, suits, shoes, hats and even nail art, further establishing its presence as a major trend.

RED HOT

Red has cemented its place as one of the top trending colours of Spring/Summer 2024, further solidifying projections made by fashion consultancies across the globe.

Louis Gérin and GrégoryLamaud, the Artistic Directors of Texworld, stated that, “Efficiency no longer dictates our world. The straight line is no longer supreme. If the route is still unknown, we know that it will seem a winding one. The pencil often has to be left to wander for the design to take shape.” This winding path is characterised by a deep red hue that sets the stage for the anticipated ‘Future Dusk’ of 2025.

With uncertain and uneven tones, ambiguous pigmentations and twisted colours, this transformation is evident. These elements serve to evoke disorder and turn doubt into a creative force, as noted by Première Vision.

From a visual standpoint, this translates into a prevalence of red shades, such as carmine, crimson, brick, purple, garnet, tile and dark red, amongst others. This dominant use of red not only captivates the eye but also affirms the significance of being stimulated and emotionally engaged. WGSN highlights the direct connection between red and the care economy, as ‘Radiant Red’ embodies the desire to foster a more affectionate, caring and loving culture.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

 The trend of glittery, disco ball-inspired dressing is set to make a significant impact in the men’s fashion segment for the Spring/Summer 2024 season.

Building upon the popularity of silver trousers as a statement style in women’s wardrobes during the Autumn/Winter 2022 season, Gucci took it a step further by introducing an all-silver ensemble at its Spring/Summer 2024 menswear show. The eye-catching look was achieved through the use of tiny mirrored squares, creating an iridescent effect reminiscent of a disco ball.

This trend encourages fashion enthusiasts to embrace metallic tones and textures and incorporate shimmering, reflective elements into their wardrobes. The all-silver ensemble showcased by Gucci serves as a compelling example of the possibilities and impact of disco ball dressing. As the trend gains momentum, it is advisable to add metallic pieces and details that capture the spirit of disco and add a touch of glamour to outfits in your assortment planning.

GREEN GAME

In the realm of possibilities, the rule of abundance prevails with the colour green for the upcoming Spring/Summer 2024 season. Its association with adaptability, akin to easily navigable ski slopes, signifies our capacity to adjust.

While green is often linked to the green economy and eco-designed products, in this season it transcends the boundaries of botanical greens like sage, lichen, olive and fir, venturing into vibrant and luminous chromatic spectrums.

These intense and brilliant greens reinforce the celebration of shared values such as respect and equity. WGSN describes this shade as ‘cyber lime’, a nearly neon hue that stimulates and energises both the body and mind.

It establishes a strong connection between nature and technology, emphasising the significance of prioritising nature’s role in inspiring new colour innovations and biological materials.

This energetic green takes on various forms, including minty, lemony or yellowish shades, particularly for denim fabrics. Lime greens also make an appearance, reflecting the convergence of physical and digital realities in the ‘Everything Net’ era, blending organic forms with synthetic realism.

The vivacity of these greens finds balance through the inclusion of celadon and jade tones explored by textile studio Nelly Rodi.

Furthermore, these colours draw inspiration from precious stones, refined ceramics and the practices of lithotherapy, believed to restore vital functions and harmonise the body and mind. They evoke an ‘ancestral magnificence’ that reintroduces flamboyance into modern society.

FLORALS FOR MEN

While florals have been a staple in the fashion industry for quite some time, the trend has now expanded to include floral jewellery, adding a new dimension to men’s dressing and further fuelling gender-fluid fashion.

This year, we have witnessed a notable shift towards incorporating traditionally feminine motifs into men’s fashion, demonstrating the blurring of gender boundaries.  Prada, in itslatest menswear show, took the floral trend to new heights by transforming everyday flower prints into elegant embroidered designs.

This innovative approach showcases how floral motifs can be elevated into sophisticated works of art, breaking free from their conventional associations with femininity.

Floral detailing can be observed across various fashion categories, ranging from vibrant and bold prints to more understated and subtle interpretations. This versatility allows individuals to incorporate florals into their outfits according to their personal style and preference.

The inclusion of florals in men’s fashion not only adds a touch of visual interest but also promotes self-expression and challenges traditional gender norms. As the trend continues to evolve, it presents exciting opportunities for designers and brands to explore the intersection of masculinity and floral aesthetics.

 DENIM DAZE

The recent men’s fashion week showcased denim’s enduring popularity, highlighting its significance in contemporary menswear fashion trends.

During the fashion week, denim had several standout moments that created buzz and excitement. One notable trend was the emergence of suit-up jeans, which brought together the formal elegance of suits with the casual appeal of denim.

This fusion of styles offered a fresh take on denim, allowing men to experiment with versatile and fashion-forward looks.

Quirky denim styles also made a statement on the runways, demonstrating a playful and experimental approach to the fabric. Designers incorporated unique cuts, embellishments and unconventional details to add a touch of personality and individuality to denim garments. These whimsical additions brought a sense of novelty to the classic denim fabric, pushing the boundaries of traditional denim aesthetics and taking it to new heights.

Hints of Y2K fashion were also evident. Denim garments with distinctive washes, distressed effects and retro silhouettes evoked a sense of nostalgia while staying relevant to the current fashion landscape.

As the spring season approaches, denim remains a versatile choice for fashion. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to effortlessly blend style and comfort.

BLUES CLUES

First spotted at Première Vision in February 2023, blue immerses us in a refreshing oceanic experience. This colour trend transcends traditional gender associations, signalling a shift towards fluid, genderless tailoring in line with the diminishing boundaries between masculine and feminine fashion domains.

Various shades of blue, including indigo, klein, denim, electric, french blue and azure, delve into the desire for stability and moderation. Consumers are seeking a balance between work, leisure and the impact of digital technology in their daily lives and this inclination is influenced by the prominence of sports and possibly the anticipation of the 2024 Olympics, reflecting a lifestyle focused on the Spring/Summer 2024 season.

From indigo to sky blue, the colour blue also represents a need for perspective and space amidst turbulent times. It captures the paradoxical situation of constantly responding to immediate demands while recognising that everything takes more time. Nelly Rodi associates this sentiment with the rise of outdoor tourism and the inherent desire to be in motion.

Ultimately, the revitalising essence of oceanic blues signifies the principle that nothing truly dies; rather, it undergoes transformation in form, purpose and even name. This concept encourages us to regain our ability to see, to embrace change and to accept the new contours of the world, as articulated by Texworld.

MINI EVERYTHING

 This season, temperatures and lengths are inversely related – as the degrees rise, the lengths decline, giving rise to the ‘mini everything’ trend. This trend is particularly evident in skirts and the unexpected realm of a whole new category – the short suits.

In a departure from traditional jacket and trouser suits, designers and brands have embraced shorts as a key element, paired with wide, double-breasted blazers or slim-fitting jackets, worn with or without a tie.

Valentino offered a range of options in cotton or leather, with loose or close-fitting silhouettes that exude elegance whilst Prada’s shorts feature meticulous darting and impeccable fit, ensuring a polished look. Billionaire took a Hawaiian-inspired approach, adorning shorts with palm tree motifs while Dhruv Kapoor took a daring approach with ultra-short versions in black cotton or denim, complete with exposed zips.

Giorgio Armani, however, adds a bit of a cautionary note to the trend. At the age of 88, he issued his own rule during fashion week, stating that Bermuda shorts are best suited for beach or holiday attire rather than formal occasions.

Turning to skirts, the trend offers a range of options for the more daring. Charles Jeffrey Loverboy introduced a sparkling blue mini-skirt with a flashy belt that revealed hairy legs, catering to a diverse range of sizes including XXL. The brand also featured a low-waisted fluorescent green tutu that showcased a flash of red underpants, embracing a bold and attention-grabbing aesthetic.

Dhruv Kapoor presented a full skirt that falls below the knees or can be worn over trousers, complemented by flat sandals and an ultra-long belt with straps that skim the ground. Fendi, known for its innovative approach, opted for an unconventional runway setting outside of Florence, showcasing a work kilt in the form of an ultra-short skirt crafted from brown or greige leather. This versatile piece can be layered over trousers or shorts, adding a touch of edginess to any ensemble.