Fashion changes so fast it is hard to keep up. Just when you think you have worked out what is fashionable, it’s already yesterday’s news. Men’s style expert Jake Daniels looks back to see how far men’s fashion has come in the last 10 years.
How fashion itself has changed…
Men’s fashion way back in 2006 included Von Dutch trucker hats, polos with a popped collar, baggy shorts, and studded belts.
Fast forward to 2016 and men’s wardrobes are now full of skin-tight jeans, tropical prints and boat shoes. You could say there has been a revolution in men’s clothing trends.
But fashion also tends to go full circle and this year has seen the return of the sport brands of the 90s. The likes of Ellesse and Fila are now being stocked by stores such as Clues Fashion, alongside other popular brands. And they aren’t the only ones – Reebok, Champion, Umbro, Diadora and Le Coq Sportif are all making a comeback.
So, with that in mind, baggy cargo shorts and patchwork denim jackets may well be back in a few years’ time!
But, the way it is marketed has also changed…
Our attention has moved away from the traditional advertising domains of TV and print and towards our electronic devices – as we spend more time on our mobiles, tablets and laptops.
Social media has grown and become a primary place for brands to do their marketing – in March 2006 Twitter was sending out its very first tweet, today brands have thousands, if not millions, of followers. Alongside that they also now have the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Likewise, fashion bloggers have become incredibly influential and therefore some of the biggest brands will work with the likes of Joey London to let you know what is in and what is out.
Even the way men shop has changed…
Men notoriously hate to shop. While women will spend hours ambling between stores, trying things on and making the odd purchase here and there – men like to get in, buy why they need and get out. Thanks to the rise of the internet and online shopping, traipsing down the high street has become a thing of the past for those that once saw it as a chore.
You can now shop on-the-go during your commute or even your lunch break and you can even fill your entire wardrobe without leaving the comfort of your own home.
Since 2006 the number of people accessing the internet everyday has doubled to 38 million adults, which equates to 76% of the population in the UK.
People in the UK are among the most likely in Europe to buy products online – with clothes being the most popular online purchase. And men are more likely to go online to make a purchase, with around 75% doing so.
While men’s fashion changes at such a fast pace it is hard to keep up – taking inspiration from the past while continuously moving forward – the way brands market men’s fashion and the way men shop for it has come a long way in the last 10 years. It has come so far that, while men may still be wearing activewear as daywear, in 2020 – we can only imagine how they might be buying it – with a virtual reality headset, perhaps?
