Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

It's safe to say that for most of the past three decades, mainstream men's fashion has been boring in comparison to that for women. It's not just because that department has generally had fewer and leaner product categories. The rundown of any red carpet would tell of the classicism that's dominated the scene. Even the Pitti peacocks - the term used to refer to the preening male street style stars of the biannual menswear trade show in Florence - who emerged in the early 2010s were largely defined by prep (yawn). In recent years, though, something's changed. Menswear designers have started to experiment more and the industry welcomed radicals such as the late Virgil Abloh and Ludovic de Saint Sernin. And, with revenge dressing going into overdrive now, brands have stepped up on the joie de vivre and playfulness to rival the women's collections. Let's hear it for the guys, with our favourite trends and highlights from the Men's Fall/Winter 2022 season.

- Gordon NG

PINK IS OFFICIALLY A NEUTRAL

When brands such as Dior and Paul Smith sent men out onto runways dressed in shades of blush and bubblegum back in 2019, the colour was still considered unexpected and niche for dudes. With each season since, more have joined in the pink parade at men's fashion weeks (both on and off the catwalk). Fall/Winter 2022, the number of designers who have used it, and their dexterity in using it, firmly establish it as a modern, easy-to-wear staple in the men's wardrobe. There are pale pink blouses that add romance to black leather suits at Hermes, for example, and coats in various shades of pink popping up everywhere from Ami to Rick Owens and Versace. Some might consider the head-to-toe propositions from Valentino - a long-time proponent of men-in-pink that dedicated practically its entire mixed-gender show to a hot pink hue developed in collaboration with the Pantone Colour Institute - as an extreme example (see above). Break each look apart, though, and one's sure to find something (relaxed pants, tank tops, a mini handbag!) for their tastes. Ladies, time to take note too.

SEQUINS ARE FOR EVERY DAY...