There have been some significant changes in menswear styles now that we are starting to see some global normalcy due to what seems to be a lowering of the fears and anxieties that the pandemic has brought about throughout the country and the world. These days, there is less working from home for some, which means more time spent in-person in the office For lawyers, we are also seeing less Zoom hearings and more in-court appearances, which has resulted in a move away from loungewear and toward suits and ties. While this return to normal has been prevalent, loungewear will still continue to be a part of a man’s wardrobe.
The Popularity of Seersucker Suits
Various news and media outlets are documenting this shift in men’s fashion. In a recent article for MR Daily, John Russell Jones explored menswear through the lenses of the popular seersucker suit — and National Seersucker Day, which takes place on June 9.
Jones shared, “A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of being a guest of Haspel — the originators of the seersucker suit — for a few days in New Orleans. Although it’s hard to capture the rarified heritage one feels when wearing such a suit while sipping a Sazerac cocktail on a steamy evening in the Latin Quarter (I wore a dangerous white-on-white classic SB for the occasion), slipping into a jacket, a shirt, or even a pair of shorts executed in the classic Southern fabric can certainly make one feel a bit more genteel.”
Jones also shared the origin of National Seersucker Day: “According to Wikipedia, Seersucker Thursday was originally initiated by Republican Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi in 1996 who wanted to ‘bring a little Southern charm to the Capitol’ to remind the Senate of how senators dressed before the advent of air conditioning in the 1950s.
“Of course, Haspel makes a point of spotlighting the day, and what a better time than to take advantage of seersucker’s naturally cooling properties than right now as customers return to offices with iffy air-conditioning, pack for summer weddings or just plain want to feel a bit more confident and sophisticated at the neighbor’s BBQ or a Sunday School picnic.”
Changing Styles and Colors
Another indication of a large change in menswear styles is a shift in colors from dull and drab to bright and wacky — including cobalt, peacock blue, periwinkle, cobalt, sage and Kelly green.
In Bervin Cheong’s recent article for Star — which was titled “No More Drab Sweatpants: Men’s Fashion is Back with Bright and Wacky Collections” — he sees this trend as a response to the increased access to gatherings, parties and travel post-pandemic.
Cheong wrote, “Two years of having to tone down on our social engagements left lots of us suffering from cabin fever. Designers have just the remedy – bold, bright and wacky collections. The sentiment is that we just need to go back to having fun with the way we dress, and not feel guilty about it.
“Yet, some things have changed. The need for comfort will never be forgotten. While we probably (or hopefully) won’t return to the phenomenon of sweatpants and oversize sweaters again, there is a compromise to be found in the Spring/Summer 2022 designs. Elements of tailoring have re-emerged, but in the form of a more casual, less restrictive cut. Fashion houses are also quick to reference destinations all over the world, citing them as inspirations.”
Cheong also cited Silvia Venturini Fendi — creative director of accessories, menswear and childrenswear at Fendi — who has spoken about the notion of freedom, optimism and expression in men’s fashion as an example of changing trends in the industry.
Cheong wrote, “Some of the Fendi pieces were a little odd, like a cropped suit that left a model’s belly exposed, but overall they exuded a carefree feel. Maybe the collection is just a half-and-half version of what fashion has now come to be – between stay-at-home styles and essentials for a world heading back to normal living.”
Cheong also noted Ermenegildo Zegna, the Italian luxury fashion designer, as another example of designs that symbolize today’s feelings of freedom — called “post-sartorial tailoring.” Cheong wrote, “The label was reported last year to have been building a new atelier in Novara, Italy, for the construction of all these new jackets, suits and other garments. Ermenegildo Zegna also brought back the trend of jumpsuits for men. This was something of a must-have item a couple of years back, and it pops up again every new decade or so.”
“Sociable Fashion”
In the same Star article, Cheong also highlighted the fashion industry’s newfound efforts to appeal to and engage with the Gen-Z market. He wrote, “The Valentino collection (for both men and women) was unveiled at the Carreau Du Temple in Paris, an old marketplace area filled with cafes and restaurants. Guests of the show were seated at tables as if they were patrons of the establishments. … The aesthetic is all lightweight and versatile, the type of unconventional, gender-neutral looks you will often see being worn in TikTok videos. … Outerwear, shirts and T-shirts appeared as loose, with the colors vibrant, as if made to catch attention on screen, more than anything else.
“If you had to summarize this season’s menswear offerings, the word ‘sociable’ comes to mind. Designers are happy to return to designing for the life they know best: shoppers back out in the world themselves, celebrating with friends, and dressing in their newest and brightest clothes.”
So, when you look around on the street, on the subway and other public transportation and in the office, you will notice the emergence of a new and different menswear style for the summer season and beyond. If the trends mentioned above continue to gain popularity, then it will be a major improvement for the menswear manufacturing industry — which will result in improved bottom lines, all of which is good for the economy.
Benjamin S. Seigel, Esq. is Of Counsel to the law firm G & B Law LLP. He specializes in matters related to the textile and apparel industries. He can be reached at bseigel@gblawllp.com
