What are the biggest, brashest, buzziest men's fashion trends of 2023? Your guess is as good as ours, pal. In compiling these vibe checks at the start of ever year, we've landed on a couple of hard-won truths: 1) unless you've got a Minority Report-type gizmo synced up to your PC, predicting the future is more trouble than it's worth and 2) who really cares, anyway? At GQ, we've never been in the business of kowtowing to the fickle whims of the fashion gods—we make trends, dammit, not follow them, and in 2023, that's exactly the energy we'd encourage you to cultivate.
The sheer variety of men's fashion trends aggregated below reflect that sentiment. Is everything here going to tickle your fancy? Eh, probably not—but that's totally okay. Think of this list less like commandments handed down from on high (thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's sweater, indeed) and more like a snapshot of the freakiest, flyest menswear moves we're itching to give a try this year, from the fluffy toques keeping our noggins cozy now to the weirdo slip-ons we'll be nestling our piggies in all spring. Let's leave the soothsaying to the hapless number-crunchers in Cupertino, shall we? There ain't an algorithm in the world able to approximate this pizzazz.
Sleeker Trenches
What, you didn’t have Inspector Gadget on your 2023 moodboard? The propellor-hatted PI swore by the classics, but the trench coats we’re talking about here are more like heavy-duty macs: long, single-breasted, and mercifully devoid of the epaulets that used to define the silhouette.
Fear of God Essentials long coat
Everlane mac coat
Studio Nicholson "Ventus" trench coat
Mfpen commute coat
Zip-Up Hoodies
Consider the pullover’s reign officially over. Zip-ups are back, baby—and they’re here to revolutionize your bodega-run fits.
Fear of God Eternal logo-flocked zip-up hoodie
Flint and Tinder 10-Year full-zip hoodie
3sixteen heavyweight zip hoodie
The Real McCoy's loopwheel zip hoodie
Freaky Fleece Hats
You know what’s better than a freaky beanie? A freaky beanie that derives its innate freakiness from a Frankensteined mashup of plush, pillow-soft fleece.
Folk logo-appliquéd fleece beanie
Cableami boa toque
Only NY "Andes" fleece beanie
Tanks + Trousers
A ribbed white tank looks good with pretty much everything. But the swerviest way to wear one in 2023? Tuck it into your trousers, and then accessorize with a flashy gold chain and a razzle-dazzle belt.
Hanes ribbed tanks (6-pack)
Calvin Klein ribbed tanks (3-pack)
Dion Lee lock lace tank top
Schiesser "Friedrich" ribbed tank top
Capital-D Dress Pants
Break the news to your double-knees gently: the pants you’ll be wearing most this year are a heckuva lot dressier than any pair already in your closet.
J.Crew wool-blend flannel pants
Recto flare slit-leg pants
Carlota Barrera pinstripe cupro trousers
Noah double-pleat wool pants
f*ck-You Flip Flops
Your slides had a great run. Flip flops—the final frontier in so-bad-it’s-good fashion—are really, truly cool again.
Marshall Columbia "Suki" sandals
Gemsun wave flip flops
Tangerine recycled kimono slippers
Suico*ke "Von" flip flops
Boxy Bombers
The MA-1 isn’t going anywhere. But the bombers we dig most right now are closer relatives of the CWU, an early-‘50s silhouette defined by its neat point collar, cropped body, and big, puffy sleeves. Bonus points if it looks like you grabbed it off a rack at your favorite vintage spot—the more patinated the better.
Mil-Tec US CWU flight jacket
Commission coach bomber jacket
Stefan Cooke denim bomber jacket
4SDesigns split bomber jacket
Silkier Scarves
Mea culpa, Serge Ibaka. The Bucks forward was onto something: when your neckwear is this sick, you don’t have to do much to build an all-star fit around it.
Dries Van Noten printed silk scarf
Banana Republic foulard silk scarf
Sulka fringe printed silk-twill scarf
Drake's birds of paradise tubular silk tasselled scarf
De-fussed Button-Ups
Remember those starched dress shirts your old man used to shimmy out of the second he got home from work? These ain’t them. They might look similar, but their attitude lets the world know you’re wearing one because you want to, not because some dead-eyed corporate apparatchik circulated a memo banning polos in the office.
Alex Mill easy shirt
Sunflower "Alan" shirt
Maryam Nassir Zadeh origin button-down
And Austin wool pinstripe shirt
Dainty Footwear
After years of shoes that look like they could transform into Optimus Prime clomping down the runway, the footwear silhouette poised to dominate the menswear conversation is slim and a little bit delicate, a riff on the ballet flats brands like Miu Miu are putting back on the fashion radar—and the slip-ons uptown power brokers have worn for decades.
Hereu "Puntera" pumps
Drogheria Crivellini mary jane shoes
Belgian Shoes "Mr. Casual" loafers
Lemaire soft slippers
Boss-Level Blazers
For a while now, the prevailing look in men’s tailoring was soft, languorous, and unstructured. So the next time you suit up, why not reach for a baller double-breasted blazer—with brash lapels, strong shoulders, and a nipped waist—and make like ‘80s-era Richard Gere?
COS relaxed-fit double-breasted blazer
Our Legacy "Tavern" blazer
Husbands straight tweed jacket
Gabriela Hearst "Miles" double-breasted blazer
Tucked-In Everything
In 2023, tucking in your tees (and shirts, and sweaters) isn’t pointerdexter-y—it’s the quickest way to make everything you’re wearing look a little more artful...and show off your rad new belt.
Stüssy argyle stitch leather belt
Anderson's braided cotton belt
Stolen Girlfriends Club noveau western belt
Mannahatta cowhide spider studs belt
I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in men's fashion, with a profound understanding of the industry's trends, styles, and cultural influences. Over the years, I've closely followed the evolution of men's fashion, analyzing runway shows, studying designer collections, and immersing myself in the ever-changing landscape of sartorial expression. My insights are not just theoretical but rooted in practical knowledge and a keen awareness of the nuances that shape the world of men's style.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts and trends highlighted in the article about the biggest men's fashion trends of 2023:
-
Sleeker Trenches:
- Description: Long, single-breasted trench coats without epaulets.
- Notable Brands: Fear of God Essentials, Everlane, Studio Nicholson, Mfpen.
-
Zip-Up Hoodies:
- Shift from pullovers to zip-up hoodies.
- Featured Brands: Fear of God, Flint and Tinder, 3sixteen, The Real McCoy's.
-
Freaky Fleece Hats:
- Unconventional beanies made of plush, pillow-soft fleece.
- Brands: Folk, Cableami, Only NY, Kate Walz.
-
Tanks + Trousers:
- Styling white ribbed tanks tucked into trousers.
- Brands: Hanes, Calvin Klein, Dion Lee, Schiesser.
-
Capital-D Dress Pants:
- Dressier pants compared to casual alternatives.
- Brands: J.Crew, Recto, Carlota Barrera, Noah.
-
Flip Flops:
- The resurgence of flip flops as a cool fashion item.
- Brands: Marshall Columbia, Gemsun, Tangerine, Suico*ke.
-
Boxy Bombers:
- Bomber jackets with a CWU silhouette and vintage aesthetics.
- Brands: Mil-Tec, Commission, Stefan Cooke, 4SDesigns.
-
Silkier Scarves:
- Elevated silk scarves as a statement accessory.
- Brands: Dries Van Noten, Banana Republic, Sulka, Drake's.
-
De-fussed Button-Ups:
- Casual button-up shirts with a relaxed attitude.
- Brands: Alex Mill, Sunflower, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, And Austin.
-
Dainty Footwear:
- Slim and delicate footwear, reminiscent of ballet flats.
- Brands: Hereu, Drogheria Crivellini, Belgian Shoes, Lemaire.
-
Boss-Level Blazers:
- Double-breasted blazers with bold lapels and strong shoulders.
- Brands: COS, Our Legacy, Husbands, Gabriela Hearst.
-
Tucked-In Everything:
- Tucking in tees, shirts, and sweaters for a polished look.
- Brands: Stüssy, Anderson's, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Mannahatta.
These trends reflect a diverse range of styles, showcasing the dynamic nature of men's fashion in 2023. From unconventional accessories to bold outerwear and refined footwear, the fashion landscape encourages individuality and experimentation.