Bring fun back into men’s fashion

It wasn’t that long ago that understated luxury reigned supreme in our wardrobes. After several years of pandemic-inspired comfort and athleisure, it felt right to pivot to sleek silhouettes, luxe fabrics, and logo-less styling. Plus, the whole aesthetic was also deeply rooted in pop culture, with TV shows like ‘Succession’ exerting a powerful influence on what we wore.

Our team at FS was honestly a little tired of the meme-inspired styles and emphasis on quirkiness we’ve seen in recent seasons. This was in stark contrast to the new minimalism we are noticing now. The post-pandemic seasons called for something unique and charming to bring joy back to consumers, and the many micro-trends flooding our social media filled a stylistic void as the world got back on track. But eventually it all started to feel fake and soulless.

2025 is the time to provide the consumer who craves authenticity with romance, and dare I say, an organic dose of fun. There is already so much darkness, chaos and mundanity in our daily lives and those elements are the antithesis of inspiration.

Men’s fashion designer and style guru Aaron Levine recently told Sharp magazine, “I’m so tired of having fashion forced upon me.” Being inundated with micro-trends born on TikTok is no longer enough. They become inauthentic and contrived in many ways. Today’s man wants all the contradictions on a daily basis – chic and functional, comfort and confidence, and striking sophistication, and he can easily flow in and out of each of these depending on his mood. Extremes that make a statement can certainly coexist for today’s modern consumer.

Fun as a basis for fashion can take different forms. In our new reality of the digital world, the romance of dressing and the basic clothes for the working day, so unknown in our daily lives, now look fashionable, resulting in a theme we call ‘Twisted Tradition’, a wink to traditional design that combines surrealism and sophistication in equal measure. With lopsided proportions, exaggerated silhouettes, dropped shoulders, high waists, reinforced patterns and strong contrasts in the details, it’s a subversive new way to breathe energy into classic men’s fashion. Jonathan Anderson’s work at Loewe is the perfect example of this.

Actor Colman Domingo is one of the best-dressed men on the red carpet. He takes risks, but always maintains a stylish appearance that seems true to himself. The mustard yellow Valentino Haute Couture suit with a gold tweed overcoat that he wore to the Critic’s Choice Awards was one of the best looks of last year.

Chris Pine became known for a much funkier aesthetic last year, including shorts, vintage T-shirts, vests and Birkenstocks, while promoting his new film and directorial debut, “Poolman.” Inspired by “a good time,” he explained his evolved look on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, saying, “Life is too hard. If putting on funky lemon pants makes you laugh, (then do it) “.

This new form of maximalism doesn’t have to be extravagant either. There’s a more subdued layer taking over men’s fashion, which is “just enough” to stand out, be fun and feel good without being overdone or unnecessary. Often it means that a tweak to a shape or color on an otherwise classic canvas takes a look to the next level. We’re in the age of editing, so that means we’ve gotten smarter about what “protagonist energy” we want to radiate, when it happens, and to whom.

Streetwear is a category that is seeing a complete return to finery and glamour. Last month, the New York Times wrote about athletes who are inspired by the “Liberace look” and wear rhinestone-encrusted basics on match days, such as the rhinestone-encrusted Balmain bomber jacket costing US$6,500 (€6,305). . “People don’t want to be boring anymore,” said stylist Eric McNeal. “People want things that stand out, things that really make a statement,” he continued.

Another aspect of men’s fashion that is increasingly radiating pleasure, even in a more subtle way, is formal clothing. For autumn 2025/2026, inspired by recent Saint Laurent shows, we see a new trend that we call ‘Tailored Opulence’. This is a shift in design where we see a cozy, luxurious approach to clothing. Formality is returning, and this especially appeals to consumers tired of the boring athleisure style. There is something hedonistic and special about silky fabrics, draped tailoring and shiny layers. By putting power dressing back in the spotlight, this design shift emphasizes the romance and mystique that makes the origins of men’s fashion so captivating. It is that energy of the protagonist that makes men enjoy dressing again, regardless of the time of day or location. It’s cinematic styling and daily drama that pulls us away from the rut of normcore, gorpcore and other soulless “-cores”.

More than color, more than pattern and more than evolved silhouettes, personality matters more than anything in fashion. Consumers crave a closer connection with themselves and they want to demonstrate that intimacy in a bold and energetic way. The world can be as mundane as it can be chaotic, and at least this impulse of playfulness and everyday energy gives us something to look forward to every day.

The “stealth wealth” look is dead, long live fun fashion.