Admittedly, men’s suit trends move at a slower pace than the rest of the men’s fashion world. It’s in this area of fashion where the classics often remain. For 2010, we’ll see a resurgence of some old favourites, such as the double breasted suit. The difference is that, in the current run, this style is made to accentuate the V-shaped male figure, as opposed to years past when the objective was to fit the “rounder” man. Also making a comeback is the three-piece suit. In fact, some industry leaders have put quite a bit of energy in creating provocative waistcoats. And to the surprise of many, at least one designer thinks the return of the bowtie is imminent.
Still, even with a tendency toward retro and the classics, it would be shortsighted to assume that all trends in men’s wear will remain largely unchanged. In fashion, even subtle shifts can make the determination of what’s in and what’s out for the season. With this in mind, we’ll take a look at what to expect for the upcoming year.

Autum/Winter 2010
Of course, a tailored fit remains constant in any season. However, one trend to be on the lookout for is slightly shorter blazers and jackets. This creates an effect very reminiscent of the style popular in the 1960s.  It also appears that the colour grey is another trend shared between the two seasons. For the winter, though, the tendency is toward a “smokier” hue as opposed to lighter shades in the spring and summer. In terms of patterns, it looks like plaids are going to be prominent in the medium weight fabrics. Cashmere remains a favorite fabric for autumn and winter with some prominent designers washing the fabric this year to give it a “fuzzy,” worn look.

Spring/Summer 2010
A review of Milan’s fashion week indicates that fitted cuts are in for Spring/Summer. The shoulders should stand prominent while waist and the remainder of the pants is slim, ending at the ankle. Similarly, tie styles tending toward the narrow will accompany this look best. In terms of fabrics, look for some creative pairing of materials such as wool, silk, cotton, and linen to create a luxurious look and feel. The appropriate colours for this season once again run the gamut. Shades of light grey are sure to be popular, and some prominent designers are using white and cream colours. A soft blue shirt is sure to be a popular choice for accompaniment with both off white and grey jackets/suits. For those who want something bolder, especially for evening wear, reds appear to be a good choice for the warmer months.

Clearly, leading designers are looking to put new spins on old standbys in 2010. The result for the consumer is a collection of styles that we have grown accustomed to — but with just enough of a twist to keep things interesting.