New Trends from London Collections Men SS17

What you need to know about London Collections- Men?s Fashion Week

London Collections runs twice a year, showing off the upcoming spring/summer collections of top men?s designers. The four-day event is a relatively new addition to the big fashion trade shows, supplementing the twice yearly London Fashion Weeks. It displays the latest offerings from global fashion labels as well as London?s best designers.

London Collections SS17 is the public?s first look at where trends will be this time next year. Keep in mind that designers must push boundaries and show new looks each season, as well as developing a distinctive style to set themselves apart from other brands. As a result, many of the styles displayed at the various fashion weeks are off-beat and not what anyone would consider stylish. What you see on the catwalk will trickle down to high street stores in a diluted form, and many designs will never make it to production.

Here are the details on three trends to emerge from the June London Collections show, that may turn into future trends for mainstream fashion.

Colorful prints

We have been seeing a lot of monochrome in 2016, but several designers decided a return to bright colors and statement prints is the way to go for 2017. British fashion label YMC (You Must Create), which prides itself on crafting everyday clothing rather than designing for the catwalk, and the youthful CMMN SWDN, both came out with vibrant prints and colors with vaguely African inspiration. Katie Eary took it one step further, with gaudy graphic prints defining the collection. Some designers incorporated pastel colors into their collections- perhaps they are not ready to return to bright shades just yet, but they recognize that the monochrome color palette is on its way out.

Bucket hats

Bucket hats have never been stylish. They have, however, managed to become trendy among young music festival attendees. British brand Barbour, famous for their very utilitarian waxed cotton jackets, is trying to make bucket hats happen for spring/summer 2017. Will bucket hats finally break out of being an ironic festival essential and become a bona fide streetwear accessory? This writer certainly hopes not.

Chav style

London?s big men?s fashionwear event is not all posh polo shirts and sturdy, structured sports coats. Several designers took inspiration from the more comfortable styles favored by British youth of limited means. House of Holland showed off slogan tee shirts and printed track pants that closely resemble sleepwear, while Liam Hodges? collection consisted of military inspired, baggy and rugged workwear. Meanwhile, British casual-wear label Cottweiler debuted an athletic clothing collection including two-piece tracksuits which, if not stylish, at least looked very comfortable.