5 2018 TRENDS STICKING AROUND FOR 2019

What have the pinnacle of Patagonia’s deadly Cerro Torre mountain and the trend-setting front row of a Louis Vuitton menswear show got in common? Both places have played host to game changers in their fields wearing Swiss mountaineering label Mammut. In 2012, it was on the back of altitude-conquering alpinist David Lama as he hit the summit of the notorious peak, and then, in slightly safer surrounds, emblazoned on the yellow down jacket of LV FROWer Frank Ocean in January 2019.

The lesson? Whether you’re stepping into the frosty atmosphere of an uber-cool catwalk show, a life-threatening mountain or just a British high street in Feb, you’ll hit the sartorial heights if you’re decked in retro fleece, technical fabrics and have lots of extraneous ropes and carabiners attached to your clothing.

The loose-fitting suit movement was, without question, one of the more terrifying trends to crack last year. You, walking into the office wearing a breezy blazer and baggy slacks, hoping and praying that Carol from HR doesn’t come to pay you a visit to ‘discuss your inappropriate attire’. 

Luckily, all the bravery you spent on rocking the look then won’t be wasted now, as relaxed-fit ‘fits are hanging around. Oversized tailoring as well as XL hoodies, chill dad denim and pleated trousers show no signs of budging from the rails of the biggest and best brands, meaning you can keep on ramping up the roominess this year, too. 

You don’t have to hold your memory rewind button for too long to revisit a time when we couldn’t move for ‘moss green’ staples. And, just last year, Yeezy footwear and the drab military vibe told us that tans, browns and beiges were the real deal, too. Big relief, then, for anyone who’s invested heavily in taking their outfits back to nature over the last few years, as earthy tones are here to stay, albeit in slightly fresher and more autumnal iterations.

The chances of you walking down a high street in 2019 without spotting an orange fisherman beanie are slim to none, and the catwalks of last year’s Dsquared2, Oliver Spencer and Canali shows (rightly) predicted that sage green would be having a massive moment right about now, too. 

In the same way it takes an ocean-going supertanker over 20 minutes to come to a complete standstill, the juggernaut that is the trend for all things 90s doesn’t appear to be halting any time soon. In fact, outerwear masters The North Face has slammed its foot on the accelerator with the recently re-released Rage collection – a bright and banging throwback to 1992’s rebellious snowboard culture.

Celebrity sartorialists Jonah Hill, Justin Bieber and Pete Davidson, meanwhile, have pretty much cut the brakes altogether as pioneers of the ‘Scumbro’ look, which sees big grown adult men dressing like playable characters in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Extremely rad. Deliciously nostalgic. 

Bad news for your trusty blues – denim is set to spend a lot of time on the bench again this season, as menswear trends tell us to keep on playing luxe fabrics like corduroy, suede and velvet in their place. 

And you’ve got another stubborn 2018 trend to thank for not putting your expensive star-player suede bomber jacket and reliable cords away just yet – 1970s steez. Less about neck-crushing pendants, platform shoes and grizzly chest rugs and more buttery-to-touch trousers and jackets. You can breathe easy knowing that your most wallet-denting purchases of 2018 still have plenty of life left in them yet.