Men’s fashion gets more entertaining every year. A few years ago, we were proclaiming the demise of the suit and the ascendance of sneakers on the red carpet as though they heralded the second coming of fashion.
But it couldn’t be further from the truth, as we’ve seen this year. It was evident that men’s fashion wasn’t slowing down in 2022, from the red carpets at award ceremonies to the photo calls for films that were attempting to revive the film industry.
Highlights of Men’s Fashion
This year, two themes particularly caught our attention that, despite appearing to be in conflict, are not.
- Experimentation comes first. Men are becoming daring and toying with gender standards as well as fashion rules, from backless satin suits to an increasing amount of skirting.
- Then there’s the improbable comeback of preppy clothing.
Loafers and double-breasted suits are no longer fashionable, and suits won in 2022.
However, they differ slightly from the ones that appear in the dictionary next to the word.
There is no denying that suits have defeated its previous adversary, streetwear, despite the loosened silhouettes, abandonment of shirts, and substitution of necklaces for ties.
Andrew Garfield
The year has been obsessed with Andrew Garfield this year. A highly commended nod goes to that Valentino double-breasted blazer-and-jeans combo he pulled out in Rome, but no one can get past the velvet Saint Laurent confection he wore to the Oscars. It’s difficult to pick a favorite among the downright killer looks he’s served up across the various film festivals, fashion weeks, and awards ceremonies. This was the pinnacle of menswear for the red carpet: the burgundy jacket with peaked lapels, the tassel loafers, and the oversized satin bow tie. Unexpected but timeless and really slim, a resounding success.
Timothee Chalamet:
Not many admired Timothée Chalamet’s back-baring Haider Ackermann ensemble when I first saw it at the 2022 Venice Film Festival (why no red boots?).
In the following months, Chalamet and Ackermann continually inspired fashion by their capacity to advance men’s design through something at first visually arresting.
It won’t be an overstatement to say that we’ll be talking about this menswear moment for years to come.
Issac Oscar
Daring and bold? A leading man’s decision to dress in a skirt for one of his highest-profile endeavours ever wasn’t ignored. Naturally, the internet swooned, drawing attention from both fashion critics and fans (and boys). However, Isaac gave us all another swerve at the 2022 Met Gala a few weeks later. Yes, it was another Thom Browne, but this time it was a full dress. In a brief interview with Vogue, he gave an explanation, describing the style as “comfortable.” It appeared to be a skirt, but that was only how the trompe l’oeil pattern made it appear. It was all in one piece and not in separate pieces.
Luca Guadagnino
Luca Guadagnino was the best-dressed man there and one of the favorite looks of the year.
The Bones and All made a strong case for himself as one of the most fashionable directors—and men—around, whether he was donning Loewe puffy shoes or an Oxford shirt bearing a portrait of his mentor, Bernardo Bertolucci. The nicest outfit was a wide-lapped double-breasted blue suit with penny loafers, large sunglasses, and a white shirt with blood stains that stood out in contrast to the rest of the ensemble.
