5 Men’s Style Trends You Need to Know (& How to Wear ‘Em)7 min read

Men’s fashion trends come and go by the day it seems, as fashion is a cyclical beast.

Last January I wrote about 2018 men’s style trends and it became one of my more popular posts last year, and so I’m back at it again with my trending fashion picks for 2019.

There are a lot of bad men’s style trends out there, however; this post is not focused on those. Sure Off-White, Gucci and Balenciaga are trendy, but this article focuses on the trends that you can feel safe experimenting with today.

Let’s jump right in.

MEN’S FASHION TRENDS

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Here is what we at Gentleman Within see trending for the year of 2019.

1. MONOCHROME (TONE ON TONE)

Monochromatic outfits are underrated when it comes to menswear. Not only does it make dressing so much easier, it’s also hard to get it wrong. More men could benefit from experimenting with this low contrast aesthetic, in my opinion.

How To Wear Monochrome/Tonal Outfits

A good starting place is navy and gray as there’s a good chance these colors are already mainstays in your wardrobe. Another excellent tonal pairing is cream/beige and white.

And monochrome doesn’t mean all of the colors have to be the same shade. It’s okay to have contrast within a color family. For example, wearing a dark navy jacket with lighter blue trousers. It’s still monochrome, but that tonal contrast keeps things visually interesting.

Another form of tonal dressing is to play with different colors, but in similar shades so that there’s little contrast. This makes for an overall streamlined and harmonious look. An example of this is the turtleneck under a suit jacket outfit above in dark navy and dark brown.

Quick note: If you’re enjoying this article on men’s fashion trends then you’ll probably like this article on men’s sneaker trends too.

2. CLEAN TAILORING

I’d say a clean and tailored aesthetic is enduring style. Over the past several years there’s been a heavy sway towards streetwear. We’re talking logomania, bold prints, loud patterns, and oversized everything.

The benefit of going to a tailor is that he can hone in on the little details of each piece, whether that’s the way your pants break or the shape of your suit jacket’s silhouette.

How To Wear A Tailored Aesthetic

Clean tailoring is perfect for sharp and suited looks. Anytime you put on a suit or a blazer with odd trousers, you’ll want for the fit to be flawless. And clean tailoring can elevate a man from slub to success in an instant.

It’s all about the details here. You’ll want for your shirt cuff to peek out from under your jacket sleeve about a quarter to a half an inch, ideally. Then for the trousers, I prefer a fitted aesthetic with a generous taper towards the ankle and clean no-break or very little break over my shoes.

Ultimately, more often than not when you see a man just killing it with his suit game, it’s because of clean tailoring.

3. THE CASUAL RUNNER

The casual running — scratch that — “lifestyle” sneaker is an essential that never went out of style. They’re ultra comfortable and also really stylish which makes them perfect for everyday casual wear.

My current favorite running sneaker is the Nike Internationalist. It’s boasts a classic yet contemporary silhouette that checks all the boxes that I look for in a casual sneaker; comfort, style, and versatility.

These casual classics are a trend I see going strong through 2019 with more and more guys opting for them over their brown brogues.

How To Wear Casual Running Sneakers

Running sneakers are inherently casual and so they’re best to be worn with casual getups. I recommend wearing these casual sneaks with cropped jeans or chinos with no break. Or if you prefer, you can opt for the carefree double jean roll.

I’d avoid wearing these sneakers with a blazer, but you can wear them with a long line scoop neck t-shirt and a field jacket or technical jacket.

Finally you can’t go wrong with an untucked button down shirt for a casual weekend look or if you’re feeling more rebellious go with a plain white tee and ripped jeans.

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4. DAD IN LATEST FASHIONS (DILF)

In a bit of a ’90s revival, this retro trend includes dad hats, chunky sneakers, and stone wash or overall lighter wash blue jeans.

Like the monochrome and clean tailoring trend, this one is also more of an aesthetic. It’s casual and sporty and not just for dads anymore. Lots of younger guys are wearing the DILF (not what it sounds like) trend and pulling it off in style.

How To Wear The DILF Trend

To pull off the DILF trend you’ll want a dad hat, preferably one that’s solid with no logos. Bonus points if you have a pair of light wash, faded jeans with a slightly roomier/relaxed fit. Add a striped sweatshirt and you’re well on your way towards sartorial DILF status.

Seinfeld was the walking definition of the dad in latest fashion trends with his loosely fitted, now retro inspired jacket and relaxed blue denim. Two additional pieces that adds to the DILF factor is a pair of semi-chunky sneakers and highly saturated color blocking.

Bottom line is that a jean’s wash is a key element to nailing this trend, so much so that pairing light wash jeans with a blazer qualifies as a (much more elevated) DILF look.

Quick note: If you’re enjoying this men’s style guide on fashion trends for 2019, then you’ll probably find my other writing on all things men’s style useful. Each week, I share updates, style tips and other things not shared on the blog through my free email newsletter.

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5. THE TECHNICAL JACKET

For the uninitiated, the fashion and outdoors industry melded and urban techwear was born. As for the technical jacket, it’s a hybrid where form meets function and a fancy way of saying a weather resistant or weather proof jacket.

Technical jackets come in all forms from bomber jackets and field jackets to puffer jackets and parkas. They often come with specially enhanced materials like rip stop fabrics with breathable and insulating properties which make them perfect for unpredictable weather and doesn’t have the extra bulk of a coat. Additionally, these anorak jackets or windbreakers most likely feature GORE-TEX water proofing and a myriad of zippers and straps.

How To Wear Technical Jackets

When the mercury drops, technical jackets reign supreme. Not only are the functional to the core, they’re ultra stylish, especially in colors like grey and black. The tech wear or street ninja aesthetic might make you look a bit like a suicide bomber, so tread carefully.

A black and gray anorak paired with black cargos and a taper at the ankles, finished off with black combat boots is street style ready. Though it’s not for everyone, if you can pull it off, you’ll look pretty badass. Alternatively you can opt for a grey hoodie and a pair of runners and you’ll be the street team’s Ezio from Assassin’s Creed. And if you really want to channel a street ninja vibe, throw on a face mask.

Finally, since technical jackets have a tailored aesthetic, it makes for a streamlined, sleek silhouette that’s ultra stylish in my opinion. They’re the ultimate in form meeting function, and definitely on the up and up in urban fashion trends for the future.

BONUS TREND: SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING

Amidst the wastefulness and environmental impact of fast fashion there are sustainable brands whose mission is to protect natural resources and help leave the world a better place for the next generations.

You can feel good about buying from brands like Everlane, Apolis (uh-paul-is), Columbia and Outerknown, knowing that your money is going to brands dedicated to combating the toxic nature of fast fashion.

Now that’s a trend worth getting on board with.

WRAPPING THINGS UP

Thanks as always for reading. I hope you were able to get some inspiration from what I consider the latest men’s fashion trends for 2019.

I’m still all about timeless style, but there’s always a time and a place for trends, and there’s no denying that they help inform and inspire our collective personal style.

What are your thoughts on these men’s fashion trends?

Let’s continue the discussion over in the Gentlemen Within Private Facebook Community.

Looking forward to seeing you in there.