5 Menswear Trends To Keep From 2013

The Top 5 Styles That Will Continue Into 2014

If you have even a passing interest in the world of men’s fashion, it can often feel like you’re constantly playing catch up. Each change of season brings with it a hoard of new trends and styles that are begging to be explored, and if you take your eye off the game for more than a minute, you will soon find yourself behind.

Luckily, when it comes to menswear, some pieces are more fleeting than others. Last year we were spoilt for choice when it came to the amount of trends we could incorporate into our personal style, and a lot of them are genuine keepers.

As we say here at FashionBeans: if it’s classic, simple and versatile why not wear the hell out of it? There are plenty of items I added to my wardrobe in 2013 that I’m just not ready to let go of yet.

And why should I? One of the best ways of defining and developing your own personal style is by recognising what works for you and expanding on it. For example, I’m a big fan of Oxford cloth button-down shirts, waistcoats and Bass Weejun loafers, amongst other things. I own multiple versions of these items and each would be defined as very ‘me’ by the people who are most familiar with my look.

With that in mind, below you will find five of my favourite trends from 2013 that I’ll be keeping for 2014…

1. Boots On Boots On Boots

2013 was the year that boots became every man’s go-to footwear option. And with nothing but terrible weather on the horizon for the UK, they’re looking like another safe bet this year.

But don’t just have a trusty pair of Red Wings lying around for when winter arrives – try incorporating other options into your everyday style too.

For example, brogue boots with chunky soles are the perfect complement to a winter-weight suit while leather chukkas are an ideal substitute for desert boots once the rain starts to pour – the latter working just as well with raw denim, flannel shirts and pea coats as its younger suede cousin does.

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Key Pieces

2. Plaid Power Suits

This was one of my favourite trends last year. I love everything about plaid tailoring, be it a jacket, waistcoat or trousers. I also love the fact that these pieces now come in bolder, louder checks than the shadow plaids that went before – a real sign of where menswear is heading in terms of confidence and style.

Remember to let your plaid suit shine by keeping the rest of your outfit simple – think white dress shirt, solid tie and some black Oxfords. The same goes for a waistcoat, blazer or pair of trousers.

If you fancy being a bit more experimental, why not incorporate another pattern into your look? As long as you keep the size of each pattern different in scale, you won’t clash or cause people to go cross-eyed.

For example, try a navy plaid blazer with a pencil stripe blue shirt and textured grey tie. Finish with grey tweed trousers and some chocolate dress boots.

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3. The Patterned Shirt

Whether you opt for classic gingham or eye-catching floral, a patterned shirt offers an easy way to add a bit of punch to your look, be it casual or formal.

Again, the key is to make sure you keep the rest of your outfit simple, in order to anchor the pattern and allow your shirt to shine.

Try a polka dot dress shirt with a solid grey suit or a camo over-shirt with a t-shirt and jeans the next time you’re heading out of your door.

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

4. A New Breed Of Seersucker

In previous years, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with seersucker.

On the one hand, it’s a great summer fabric because it keeps you cool without any of the wrinkling that linen or tropical wools are prone to. On the other, it was only ever available in the traditional light blue and white striped variety, which always made me look a bit like a lawyer from the southern states of America.

However, last year this all changed. Now you can find seersucker suits in rich beige, navy, grey and brown (whether striped or solid), which are perfect for the office and will keep you sweat-free during the morning commute.

You can even break the suit up and wear it as separates: the blazer works well with lightweight chinos/shorts while the trousers are the perfect option for those days when shorts are just too casual of a choice. Think of them as another pair of chinos – but better – and you won’t go wrong.

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5. The Denim Jacket

If you don’t have one of these by now, get one. Seriously, it’s the most versatile jacket (that isn’t a blazer) a guy can own.

Denim jackets come in a variety of colours and washes but you want one that’s cut close to the sides and hugs your shoulders. Wear it with chinos, a dress shirt and tie for a balanced business-casual look, or with shorts and a polo on the beach when the wind starts to pick up in the evening.

It’s also great for layering – I often use mine as a rugged cardigan under my navy pea coat or grey overcoat.

Lookbook Inspiration

Key Pieces

Final Word

So there you have it, a few trends from last year that I thoroughly intend to keep wearing in 2014. Some items are just too good to let go.

But, as always, I want to hear what you think: what trends are you keeping from 2013? Should I be getting rid of it all and starting again? Am I a fool to even follow trends in the first place?

Let me know in the comments section…