Collection Review A/W 20/21

Men's Denim Trends:

Seventies Soul
A retro mood dominates the catwalks, as designers
offer a new take on smartened-up looks that
strikes a commercial balance between professional
power-dressing and throwback style

Wales Bo nner
 Action Points
The 1970s might seem like a farfetched proposition
for menswear right now due to the ongoing
obsession with streetwear, but Amiri, Gucci and
MSGM have all used the era to develop upscale
tailoring and smarter looks.
1. Part of the ongoing appeal of the 1970s as
menswear inspiration lies in the decade's capacity
to have its signature features stripped down and
reinterpreted in a contemporary context without
losing recognition.
2. While iconic items such as the flare and
bootcut might not be the perfect fit for every guy,
you will find commercial success in updating core
fits in rich hues suited to autumn.
3. Use cosy textures, such as cord, borg and
shearling, as an accent to classic raw denim and
bold cast blues.
4. As men become more comfortable with
statement prints, choose retro geometric patterns
and wallpaper florals to add interest.
5. Use contemporary styling cues as a way to
take the look away from costume-like styles to
something that feels relevant for the bohemian
man of today.

Lo nd o n
 Mood

Reconfigure 1970s
style for modern use

Par is

Par is

• Our #seventiessoul trend may be a burgeoning

catwalks story, but this trend is represented on
the street, too
• Men increasingly look to the era's sartorial
finesse to add a new visual language to the
#smartenup trend across menswear
• Channel a relaxed, bohemian attitude for
young men. Older guys will be drawn to a tucked-
in and sharper approach to dressing

N ew Yo r k Gucci N ew Yo r k
 Key Items

Take a softer approach to retro style to

give this trend commercial appeal

Wales Bo nner

• While the catwalks are awash with wide flares

and bootcuts, the true commercial appeal of these
items is limited to fashion-forward men
• Items such as shearling jackets and gentle
bootcut fits have a more wearable feel. Details
such as decorative embroideries nod to the era
without compromising regular denim fits
• Opt for a palette of retro blue casts for true
denim looks, or use rich, dark overdyes for
alternative fashion hues

Amir i N eil Bar r et t MS GM

 Key Fabrics & Details

Contrast clean and raw denim

with distressed finishes

Gucci

E . T aut z
• 1970s style can be taken in two
directions: clean and raw, or a relaxed
grunge style, as seen at Amiri and Gucci
• Blown out knees and overly worked
repairs bring an unexpected edge to the
era's typically clean Sta-Prest looks
• Crisp raw denim with clean contrast
topstitching works best for giving
structure to oversized denim jackets and
bootcut fits

Amir i Mar co d e Vincenzo R. Mut t

 Key Wash & Colour

Distortion and abstraction give

new life to all-over patterns

Casablanca

Ahluwalia
• The return of all-over prints in coordinated
sets has given designers permission to
explore more abstract effects
• Update checkerboard patterns with
textural cord patchworks. Jacquard patterns
give texture and dimension to florals
• Fashion-forward brands can choose
decadent patterns that will appeal to party
season dressing

Amir i Mar t ine Ro se N ico le Miller