Bring on the Boys – AW11 Top Menswear Trends

From oversized Outerwear to electric pink chinos, the AW11 Catwalks were an explosion of excitement and life. It’s never been a more exciting time for British fashion house Burberry, demonstrating some of the strongest silhouettes and colour palettes seen in the company’s 155 year history. We’ve investigated the key trends and defined the ways to wear the top looks for men this coming autumn:

1.       Wide leg trousers

"I wanted something glamorous without being feminine". Wise words from Dries Van Noten as the wide leg trouser makes its return (or maybe debut) to the Menswear Paris catwalks. Ever since the ‘Cigarette Pant’ or Skinny Jean exploded back onto the scene in the mid 2000’s, catwalks and Showrooms across the globe have shown little else - until now! Dior in particular has mastered this roomy and draped look whilst maintaining the highest quality of execution. Although a look that a few designers have been grooming for a while, the wide leg has a fresh and elegant feel that will take you into the winter months in style. It remains to be seen whether the Skinny Jean has had its day. All I know is, I’m looking forward to autumn already.

 Left to Right: Juun J, Dries Van Noten, Dior Homme, Lanvin, Raf Simons

 2.       Colour Blocking

After American Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour so infamously once stated “you’re not really feeling for colour this season” to Yves Saint Laurent’s Ready-to-wear Director Stefano Pilati, the fashion world finally decided to sit up and pay attention. With everyone from Raf Simons to Paul Smith drowning their models in a fresh and vibrant palette of brights, colour has become one of AW11 biggest trends.

Left to Right: Raf Simons, Burberry Prorsum, D&G, Paul Smith, Bottega Veneta

 If you’re scared of injecting a burst of colour into your wardrobe this autumn try some of these discrete tips to achieve this very modern look in your own way:

• Look for a bright lining when buying a suit – a black or navy jacket can easily be brightened up with a red or green silk lining
•  Accessories – buy a bright scarf or  gloves (at least you can take them off if it feels too much)
• Socks – possibly the easiest way for any modern Gentleman to update their Autumn look
• Layering – don’t hide your brights away, but layering with a chunky knit or sweat is the perfect way to show a peak of colour
• Don’t be afraid – confidence is style!

3.       Double Breasted

Although the Double Breasted jacket hasn’t always shined as brightly as previous break-through trends the DB blazer is holding its own in AW11 with a number of key fashion houses featuring it heavily in their collections. The key to creating this look is to treat it as an accessory instead of a piece of structured tailoring, wear it with other stand-along pieces to make the DB Jacket as optional as it is primary to your look. Relaxed and casual cuts are key to engineering this look. Key fabrics include Wool and Flannel. 

 Left to Right: Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Acne, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent

 Key Tip: Navy and dark tones are the only colours you need to create this look

4.       Oversized

 A trend that I’m almost certain originated from the cool cats of East London, oversized silhouettes (and outerwear in particular) has littered the runways from Paris to Milan. Sarah Burton’s latest Alexander McQueen collection showed prominent oversized structures which demonstrated a casual yet confident feel. Others who sported this Trend included Dior and Yves Saint Laurent with their earthy grey tones and subtle edges.

 Left to Right: Alexander McQueen, Dior Homme, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani

Now everyone knows that come Autumn/Winter the only place to shop for outerwear is Burberry Prorsum, and this winter (although so far away) will be no exception. Head designer Christopher Bailey has done himself proud with a vast array featuring everything from zesty bright duffel coats to buffalo plaid lumberjack coats. It certainly isn’t a season to be shy – and Burberry is a perfect example of this. For those of you that need your coffee with a touch of milk, play it safe with these elegant trenches, and jackets.

5.       Cable Knits

 Although there is no surprise that the Cable Knit is going to be a big trend for AW11, what’s interesting is the treatment and reworking it has received from Fashion big wigs such as JuunJ and Hermes. Oversized engineering has added texture and presence to the basic knit and techniques such as pleating add a modern twist to a classic look.

Key colours: Blue, Ivory, White, Red

 Left to Right: Hermes, JuunJ, Pringle of Scotland, Emporio Armani, Burberry P

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menswear@fashioncapital.co.uk

By James O Emmerson