How men’s fashion is embracing relaxed style
ANN/THE STAR – Fashion today is all about comfort and practicality.
The current trend emphasises looking good without sacrificing comfort. In menswear, brands are promoting the idea of dressing however you like, without worrying about fitting in with the stylish crowd.
The acceptance of short shorts, even on the red carpet, shows how casual outfits can be considered chic.
Silhouettes are becoming looser and more minimalist, with billowing shirts, oversized jackets, and baggy trousers replacing skinny pants and fitted tops.
When it comes to materials, breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk are the top choices.
This is definitely a good thing for us, as countries like Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have a hot and humid climate all year round.
That said, those in the West can probably be thankful for the rise in popularity of comfortable clothes too. Heatwaves are currently sweeping across Europe, the Mediterranean and the United States. It is just the perfect time to ditch fussy and elaborate designs. The relaxed look is what you should be striving for at the moment.
Light and easy
The idea is that heavier fabrics can look sumptuous, but a new trend is proving otherwise.
It borrows from TikTok’s “lazy girl” philosophy, where someone prioritises a laid-back lifestyle over anything else.
If you are looking for an outfit to take you from a day at the desk to happy hour parties for example, linen should be your number one choice. Suits can even be made with linen, and they will still look dapper.
“It is the moment to focus on how items are or can be used, on the singular ways they mold to individual personalities. Linen is a wonderful medium in this sense,” Alessandro Sartori, artistic director of Ermenegildo Zegna, said in his show notes for the Spring/Summer 2025 collection.
The brand created a field indoors, showing off the designs amid golden “linen blades”.
Cotton boxer shorts are currently trending – after actor Paul Mescal wore one to attend a Gucci show
in June.
Silk shirts, worn with a few buttons undone, will give you that elegant look, but help you stay cool too. If linen and cotton can sometimes look a little less formal, silk holds its own in terms of the chic factor.
The shorter in-seam
Shorts worn on fashion runways is nothing new, but this season, designers seem especially fascinated by the clothing item.
At the recent menswear Milan Fashion Week, there was a whole cavalcade of male models walking with their thighs or calves exposed.
At MSGM, the focus appeared to be shiny swim shorts. Dolce & Gabbana also showed off beach shorts of the nautical variety for
its collection.
Fendi went with the collegiate look – club ties, rugby shirts and cricket sweaters, but still included shorts into the different looks.
For Gucci’s show (the one Mescal attended), shorts were a focal point. They denoted the idea of freedom in dressing – and design.
“I feel free when my thoughts and actions combine,” creative director Sabato De Sarno told Vogue, regarding his vision. “And I feel free when my heart follows exactly what I love.”
Baggy fits
With the rise of street and athletic wear, loose-fit shirts are now a wardrobe staple for men. This is also linked to the 1990s fashion revival – where oversized styles are favoured.
The wide-legged trouser has become a fashionable choice. No, this is not the same as bell bottoms.
The current trendy wide-legged pair of pants is loose throughout – from the thigh down, as opposed to bell bottoms, which only become wider from the knees downward.
Even suits have gone loose, embracing the current relaxed fashion vibe.
In the 2010s, men wore skinny suits, often with the pants cropped and skinny lapels. They also went sockless.
Now, it is about having your jacket hanging comfortably from your shoulders. In terms of tailoring, it allows for bigger and boxier cuts.
Drop-shoulder T-shirts are a favourite as well. Such a design is defined by sleeves that start on the lower shoulder line – thus, creating a slightly oversized and relaxed silhouette.
Go retro
In terms of accessorising, more men are adopting the “grandpa core” look.
This involves adding on pieces like loafers, large totes and cardigans.
Baseball caps and glasses can also be added into the mix of items to make you look like an 70-year-old.
While women are favouring open footwear, men remain resolutely loyal to sneakers.
Grandpa core sneakers are often of the running variety that come in earthy colours or made with a soft suede or leather.
The best way to style this is with wide-legged towers and crew socks – again, giving that “I don’t really care how I look” style, but still polished in a lot of ways. – Bervin Cheong
