Menswear Goes Modern

Menswear suiting patterns have earned an ongoing place in home décor. They are basics that both men and women find appealing, and they are chosen for products targeted to ages from baby to adult. Suiting patterns are comfortable at every price point, in every material and in almost every style category.

Yet, from time to time, these versatile designs veer from basic to trend status.

Introductions at the recent Showtime upholstery-textiles market suggest that preparations for the next evolution have begun, and that late 2016, moving into 2017, will involve a trend cycle for menswear looks.

What is at the heart of this upcoming shift from basic to trend? The answer is an overarching interest in abstraction that is just emerging in décor. At Showtime, the interest in abstraction resulted in menswear patterns, which are typically regimented, to evolve into designs that are:

• Broken up
• Pieced together
• Blown into a giant scale
• Given dramatic textures or dimension
• Shown in a random expression.

Wesley Hall

Abstract techniques will be especially obvious in the hounds-tooth check patterns that are forecasted to be the standouts this time around, but they will also be found in Glen plaids, herringbones, tweeds and window-pane plaid patterns. Color stories will range from typical navy, gray and black to oranges, cobalts, yellows and greens.

Traditionalists shouldn’t worry that a new menswear approach means an end to classic suiting looks. These time-honored layouts (and their conservative color stories) will also be on-trend. In fact, classic menswear influences were already emerging at the recent High Point furniture market. But going forward, expect classic menswear designs to share the stage with abstract layouts that make suitings feel much more modern.