The longer, lighter evenings of summer have finally arrived, and with them, a whole host of exciting new season trends designed to up-level your wardrobe for the warmer months that lay ahead. But while keeping abreast of the latest looks, styles and colours to be seen in is easy when you know where to look, bringing them into the real world often isn’t and working out how to actually wear the season’s trends is a whole different ball game, and the bold, extravagant examples seen on the catwalk often don’t translate seamlessly into the everyday.
From neon brights and ravewear to head-to-toe leather and tie-dye, this season’s hottest trends certainly aren’t for the faint hearted, but thankfully, there are some easy ways to inject them into your day-to-day outfits without feeling like you’ve gone way overboard. The sartorial male knows that less, is of course, always more – so to that end, we asked the experts at men’s online fashion store The DOM to help us out. They’ve put together the ultimate guide to how exactly to get away with wearing the biggest and most outrageous trends of the season without compromising your perfectly put together image – so look no further for the full low-down.
Neon brights
If the idea of getting dressed up in head-to-toe ravewear leaves you breaking out into a cold sweat, then good news – because there are some much subtler ways to embrace the trend. With the 90s revival in full swing and showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, highlighter hues are central to the season’s colour palette, but used sparingly and reserved for detailing rather than entire outfits, you can pull them off with effortless ease.
If you’re feeling brave, then opt for one garment in lime green, neon pink or fluorescent orange and pair it with laid-back, pared-down shades like whites, neutrals and denim blues. It might not be the right fit for the office, but a bright blazer or polo are both great ways to nail that off-duty summer cool.
Leather, everywhere
Whether it brings to mind Grease’s Sandy and Danny in their respective catsuit and biker, or conjures up images of kinky S&M attire, there’s no denying that doing leather all over is another trend reserved solely for the brave, and in hot weather, it could quickly turn out to be most impractical, too.
Leather vests and blazers, however, will work well on cooler days, and if the traditional British summer is anything to go by, should get plenty of wear, too. Outside of that, though, you can opt for a more classic take on the trend by accessorising with a leather backpack or tie – be sure to invest in quality, as good leather is designed to stand the test of time, and well-made pieces will last you for many years to come.
Modern tailoring
Tailoring seemingly gets a makeover with each passing season, whether it’s traditionally sharp, skinny and fitted or baggy and oversized. It’s just as well, because the suit is one of the most sartorially savvy style choices that is deserving of a place in every man’s wardrobe, whatever its current form happens to be.
For summer 2022, they’re taking on a decidedly laid-back feel, moving away from the office environment and into our social settings, instead. Paired with trainers for a laid-back, off-duty look, this season’s double-breasted, coloured suits are one of the biggest looks of the season – so forget your classic blacks, greys and navies and open your mind up to bolder possibilities like pastels and deep blues. This isn’t, however, one to combine with the neon trend – at least, not for the day-to-day. But if you’re attending an event and want to wear something truly show-stopping, then there’s nothing better to do the job.
Tie-dye
If you thought tie-dye was a trend you’d never see – let alone, wear – again, then it’s time for a rethink, because it’s officially back with a bang. With some of the world’s most major fashion houses showcasing some very ostentatious looks on the summer 2022 catwalks, this 60s-meets-90s vibe is a tough one to pull off, but once again, the key is all about keeping things simple and opting for subtle detailing or individual stand-out pieces to successfully pull it off.
An over-sized t-shirt tucked into tailored trousers or a short-sleeved button-down with fitted shorts are both easy ways to nail the look and the latter lends itself well to summer holidays abroad. Avoid acid brights unless you want to go full throttle, and keep to lighter, gentler hues instead.
