FROM OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE: ERIC JENNINGS: REDEFINING MENSWEAR | THREE EMERGING TRENDS SHAPING THE FUTURE

The entire MR team proudly presents our February 2025 issue. If you haven’t received a hard copy, please page through  our digital version, and we’ll continue to post individual stories here on  MR-mag.com. If you haven’t been getting MR in print, be sure that you are on our mailing list for future issues by completing  this form.

Over the past fifteen years, men’s fashion has seen dramatic transformations. The early 2010s brought back slim-cut suits and dapper dressing, popularized by the hit television show Mad Men, alongside the digital explosion of Instagram with fashion bloggers, and street-style photographers who captured the vibrant #menswear movement. By the mid-2010s, the style narrative took a 180-degree turn towards streetwear, influenced by cultural phenomena such as the hit show Empire and NBA pre-game tunnel walks, coinciding with Wall Street’s relaxation of dress codes. The late 2010s saw popular television shows like Succession and Billions spotlight discreet luxury, steering menswear towards minimalism without overt branding. The COVID-19 pandemic marked the early 2020s by radically altering everyday wear, emphasizing the necessity for comfort and functionality. As we approach Fall 2025, there is palpable excitement about another seismic shift in menswear. Leading voices in menswear are actively responding, focusing on three emerging trends that promise to redefine men’s fashion and jumpstart business in the coming seasons.

Trend 1: Discrete Luxury Meets Minimalistic Design

Reginald Christian, Senior Fashion Manager for Menswear at Saks Fifth Avenue, notes a growing preference for styles that balance discrete luxury with form and fabric. With minimalism, he notes, “the development…centers on form and functionality, offering products that address the effortless and clean aesthetic choice, as seen at APC and Theory.” 

Jian DeLeon, Men’s Fashion Director at Nordstrom, adds, “Between TikTok and traditional media, several names for this trend revolve around a return to classic menswear that toes the line between sporty and elegant. We prefer the term ‘polished casual.’”

Bruce Pask, Senior Editorial Director at Neiman Marcus, reinforces this trend by highlighting the consumer’s growing appreciation for craftsmanship in the luxury market. “This rise of discrete luxury and the move toward minimalism is a real affirmation of the importance of quality and craft in clothing,” says Pask. He points to Zegna’s Oasi Cashmere collection as a prime example of luxury that combines quality with environmental consciousness, underscoring its appeal to consumers who value sustainability and style.

Dan Farrington, GMM for Men’s at Mitchell’s, echoes a similar sentiment on the appeal of discrete luxury. Reflecting on the understated affluence of the Greenwich, Conn., community, loosely depicted in the TV show Billions, Farrington notes, “Our deep-wealth customers gravitate towards brands like Loro Piana because they recognize it as the pinnacle of luxury— subtle yet supremely quality-driven.” He adds that this quiet luxury and minimalism are definitive elements that resonate well across their other markets, including cities like San Francisco and Seattle.

Murry Penner, owner of M Penner in Houston, Texas, comments: “My experience with this whole discrete luxury trend is that highly successful men have always enjoyed luxury for themselves. At my store, luxury has never been ‘loud and sparkly;’ it’s about what makes men feel good and like they are living the life they want to live.” He cites Zegna as an example of a brand doing minimalism well. “They’re monochromatic, but they introduce interesting colors tastefully.” 

Trend 2: The Evolution of Fit—Balancing Fuller Silhouettes with Tailored Style

As the conversation shifts from minimalism to fit, designers continue to explore how best to dress the modern man. We spoke to Scott Butler, a recent NYU Retail & Luxury MBA graduate, who has been wearing the boxy cut for a while now and is already looking for what’s next. “As much as I liked my loose-fitting voluminous pants because they were so comfortable, now I’m looking at more straight-fitting pants, especially in denim jeans. For dressier pants, I still like them billowier because they give a more interesting silhouette.”

According to Saks, Christian notes their customer “gravitates toward enduring shapes, such as classic suits or straight-leg trousers,

when it comes to tailoring, but fuller silhouettes continue to gain attention.” He notes that Lemaire is a brand that does this well: “Christophe does a fantastic job at offering striking, full silhouettes.”

Bruce Pask describes Neiman Marcus’s approach to navigating traditional tailoring and contemporary tastes, noting the popularity of roomier fits and innovative proportions, particularly in denim and trousers. “In our luxury tailoring world, we continue to stand for an impeccable fit. At the same time, in our fashion-driven designer sportswear world, we have seen a real shift in interest toward roomier fits. This is most prevalent in the world of denim and trousers,” he explains.

Penner says, “When it comes to oversized silhouettes, I’ve wanted to do that for a while now.” He has proactively educated his clientele about the advantages of relaxed fits. “Every man wants to be comfortable, so we’re starting to move back to that idea when we’re looking to increase the silhouette,” he reveals.

So, to keep things interesting, “we’re experimenting with fuller fits.” Gary Drinkwater, owner of Drinkwater’s in Cambridge, Mass., responds to fuller fits with caution. “We have not actively started presenting that to our customers.” However, he notes, “We do a fuller pant from Universal Works with an elastic waist, drawstring, and pleat. I’m about a season away from introducing more pleated, fuller options.”

Trend 3: Functional Fashion—Blurring the Lines Between Outdoor, Active, and Everyday Wear

Active and outdoor lifestyle elements address men’s need for functional items in their wardrobes. “Whether it’s a breathable sweat suit or a moisture-wicking shirt from Rhone,” according to Christian at Saks, “our customer is looking for less delicate yet innovative pieces that allow movement.”

DeLeon of Nordstrom highlights the functional nature of modern menswear: “Elevated fabrics like brushed jerseys and textured wools give knitwear, from half-zips to collared sweaters, a more rugged touch that still feels refined.”

Butler notes that “Platforms like TikTok showcase trends like hiking-core” and how guys can style technical clothing for both outdoor activities and everyday urban wear. This trend reflects a broader shift towards garments that offer functionality without sacrificing style. He cites Alo as a good example of a brand that blends active and everyday wear.

Pask adds that Neiman Marcus customers expect performance and comfort from their everyday apparel, with the increasing integration of hybrid fabrics and technical styles into daily wardrobes. “We also see the crossover of technical styles, especially outerwear, that have expanded options in the business wardrobe. This spring, we saw ultralight fabrics in airy outerwear and technically complex, unlined lightweight tailoring,” he notes.

Seizing Opportunities in Market Gaps

Agility in identifying and exploiting market gaps remains a key strategy among industry leaders. Penner and Drinkwater both maximize their Made to Measure (MTM) programs. Says Penner, “Customized sportswear is a much more significant part of our MTM than in the past, probably 25% of our business now.”

Climate is also a significant factor in the gaps retailers must fill. “I’m looking for lightweights and colors for the fall season. In Houston, the only thing that’s cold here with regularity is the restaurants,” says Penner. He’s looking for soft-knit sportscoats, light sweater jackets, and colors. “Even in the fall season,          we need more color! The gap in the fall is around color and weight.”

Reflecting on the recent trends, Farrington acknowledges a gap in their buying post-pandemic. “Activewear exploded during the pandemic, and though we initially thought the trend would decline, cutting back was perhaps premature,” he admits. Farrington plans to bolster their activewear offerings next fall. “We’d like to add more technical fabrics from our existing brands, and we’re looking to add a few new active and outdoor brands.”

Butler articulates a sentiment that resonates with the current consumer mindset focused on sustainability and long-term value, “I’m pivoting towards buying things I know I’ll wear for years that will age well and last through trend cycles. I’m thinking both in terms of material and silhouette. I’m trying to be more conscious of buying from brands with a proven track record of doing things well,” he states. This perspective underscores a broader market trend towards durability and sustainability, which are increasingly important in fashion purchasing decisions.

Challenging the Norms

These industry insights underline a pivotal time in men’s fashion, full of opportunities to redefine comfort and style. As we approach Fall 2025, it’s clear that many of menswear’s leaders are eager to innovate and change. This new era of men’s apparel is about merging style with comfort and challenging the norms. So, as we embrace this shift, we must ask ourselves: in a world where style meets comfort, how prepared are we to redefine the norms of menswear? The answers we find could redefine men’s fashion for years to come.