Trends, like them or not, are a necessary part of the fashion ecosystem. As much as we rail against them and talk about timelessness, the truth is that menswear is in a constant state of flux. Even the most enduring of styles move on, eventually revealing themselves as passing moments, even if that process takes 100 years or more. But that doesn’t mean we should blindly embrace every one that comes along.
In our line of work, we always have our ear to the ground to see what’s coming in and out. Some of it resonates with us. Other stuff, not so much. Obviously, style is subjective, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions about what looks good and what should be consigned to history. That said, here are the trends we hope to see the back of this year. From mullets to massive shorts and everything in between.
The Mullet-stache
What appeared to be a self-aware, semi-ironic nod has become the default look for an entire subset of the male population. Is there a case to be made for the moustache? Perhaps. Can a mullet ever look good? Debatable. But the two worn in tandem is an aesthetic so absurd that we’re convinced history won’t treat it fondly.
This isn’t simply a baseless opinion. We’ve seen it before. Mullets and moustaches had their moment in the 1980s, and, if you cast your mind back even just a few short years, you’ll remember it wasn’t exactly looked back upon as the height of fashion.
What to wear instead
If you’re after a trim that feels of the moment, but won’t leave you recoiling at photos in years to come, some of the centre-parted styles currently trending could be a good option. The key is to avoid going full nineties boyband with it, sticking to messier, textured versions instead.
Peak Baggy
There’s one thing that’s clear to anyone who has been paying attention for more than a decade – if you want to stand the best chance of weathering fashion’s tides without looking ridiculous, any type of exaggerated fit should be avoided. We’re talking skinny, longline, extreme crops, and, of course, the current proliferation of all-out bagginess.
It feels as though we’ve reached a tipping point. Silhouettes have reached such insane levels of baginess that there’s literally nowhere to go but backwards. Fashion insiders have been whispering about the return of skinny fits for a while now, so let that be your canary in the coal mine.
What to wear instead
We’re not sure how many times we need to say this, but there is nothing wrong with a classic pair of straight-leg pants. Aim in the middle of the extremes.
Big Pants, Tiny Shirt
If you’re going to wear enormous pants, logic would dictate that you’d pair them with an enormous top for balance. But for the last couple of years, the opposite has been happening. Baggy legwear is being worn with the tiniest of T-shirts and jackets.
Adopters might claim they’re playing with proportions as if they’re doing something groundbreaking, but in our humble opinion (which you’re absolutely entitled to disregard), it just looks bad.
What to wear instead
There’s nothing wrong with a slightly cropped tee or a pair of relaxed-fit jeans. Playing with proportion doesn’t have to mean defaulting to the absolute extremes.
Sneaker-Death PsyOp
The menswear machine has been spinning a narrative about the death of the sneaker for a few years now. Tastemakers tout the rise of loafers and lace-ups, citing the decline of hypebeast culture as proof. While these are both valid critiques in their own right, all it takes is a look around town to realise that sneakers, in fact, aren’t going anywhere.
In 2026, we’re ready for an end to this baselessly parroted opinion being pedalled as some sort of great shift in modern menswear. In reality, sneakers, as they have been for over a century, are a key part of how the world dresses. And that’s not going to change because a bunch of TikTokkers just discovered Bass Weejuns and put their Yeezys on Grailed.
What to wear instead
Rather than ditching sneakers entirely, just shift the focus. Clean, understated pairs in neutral colours will always look sharp. Think classic tennis silhouettes, retro runners or minimalist leather styles.
They work with tailoring, denim and relaxed trousers alike, which is precisely why they’ve stuck around for more than a century. Sneakers aren’t dying; the hype cycle around them simply is.
Cowboycore
Any trend that veers into costume territory is guaranteed to have an extremely short shelf life, and the recent obsession with all things Western is no exception.
Don’t get us wrong, we love a denim jacket and a plaid shirt as much as the next person, but including cowboy boots, bolo ties and bootcut jeans in the conversation definitely crosses an aesthetic line for us. Let’s do less of this one in 2026.
What to wear instead
Just like the aforementioned plaid shirts and denim jackets, there are plenty of elements of this trend that can and should be incorporated into a well-rounded wardrobe. But you don’t have to go all Blazing Saddles about it.
Dressed By The Algorithm
As an online magazine founded on the concept of advising people on how to dress better, far be it from us to criticise the internet’s impact on menswear. That said, the rise of the algorithm seems to be taking things in a concerning direction. Subcultures are bleeding into one another, distinctive looks are being lost, and it feels like personal style is trapped in an online echo chamber.
It’s a direct result of social media and the way it feeds us content, shaping the way we dress without us even realising it. This year, we’d like to see less scrolling and more individual style. We vow to put our phones away, too.
What to wear instead
Stop scrolling and spend some time getting to know yourself in terms of what clothes you like and why. Buy pieces and curate outfits based on that rather than trying to emulate exactly what appears on your Instagram Discover page.
Y2K Fetishisation
OK, we had our fun, but the whole Y2K thing is beginning to feel a bit tired now. It’s fine to revisit and borrow from past eras, but turning Deftones into your entire personality is unfortunately no substitute for personal style.
What to wear instead
If you like baggy jeans, wraparound shades and frosted tips, fine. Just try not to wear them all at once.
Unsustainable Pricing
We’re sick and tired of seeing mid-tier brands charging luxury prices, and it’s getting worse year after year. It’s true that this is driven, in part, by increases in the costs of raw materials, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that the majority of it is simply corporate greed spiralling out of control.
In 2026, we’d like to see prices that reflect the quality and craftsmanship of the pieces they’re attached to, rather than seemingly arbitrary numbers dreamt up by brands to gauge just how tight they can squeeze their customers.
What to wear instead
Pre-loved and vintage clothing.
The Big Short
Another symptom of Y2K mania has been the proliferation of comically oversized shorts. These baggy, shin-grazing three-quarter-lengths dominated the summer, but we’re hoping they’re forgotten about by the time the sun returns this year.
What to wear instead
Again, just steer clear of the extremes and you’ll be on the right side of history. No shorter than a 5-inch inseam and no lower than an inch or two above the knee.