The 2010s in men’s fashion were a fascinating mix of comfortable trends like athleisure and the return of bold logos. On mens-fashion.net, we explore how these trends shaped men’s style and how you can incorporate elements from the decade into your modern wardrobe. Discover the iconic pieces and influential styles that defined this era in menswear, from streetwear influences to the rise of royal fashion icons.
1. Athleisure’s Rise to Prominence
Athleisure redefined men’s fashion in the 2010s by seamlessly blending athletic wear with everyday style. This trend gained momentum due to the increased focus on wellness and the desire for comfortable, yet fashionable clothing.
1.1. How Did Athleisure Start?
Athleisure began as a response to the growing popularity of boutique fitness culture. According to research from NPD Group, sales in the athleisure category experienced steady growth throughout the decade, with expectations to reach over $138 billion. As more people engaged in fitness activities, the demand for stylish workout clothes surged, leading to the evolution of yoga pants, sports bras, and other athletic gear with high-quality fabrics, vibrant colors, and eye-catching patterns. These garments transitioned from the gym to the streets, becoming a staple in everyday wardrobes.
1.2. What Brands Benefited from Athleisure?
Several brands played a significant role in popularizing athleisure. Outdoor Voices, Vuori Clothing, and Bandier emerged as successful brands, while established names like Lululemon, Sweaty Betty, and Athleta solidified their positions in the market. These brands catered to the demand for versatile clothing that could be worn during workouts and casual outings.
1.3. Did Athleisure Impact Other Industries?
Yes, athleisure’s influence extended beyond the fashion industry. In 2018, the trend made its way into the beauty industry, with brands introducing skincare products designed for pre- and post-workout routines, highlighting the holistic lifestyle associated with athleisure.
2. The Royal Effect on Men’s Fashion
The British Royal Family, particularly the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, had a significant impact on men’s fashion trends in the 2010s. Much like Princess Diana, both duchesses proved their influence on consumer choices, with outfits they wore at royal events often selling out quickly.
2.1. How Did Kate Middleton Influence Fashion?
Kate Middleton’s style, since her marriage to Prince William in 2011, has been defined by heritage British designers like Alexander McQueen, Emilia Wickstead, and Jenny Packham. Her adherence to royal dress codes, which included structured coats, knee-length and long-sleeve dresses, high-waisted trousers, and closed-toe pumps, set a standard for sophisticated and timeless fashion.
2.2. How Did Meghan Markle Influence Fashion?
Meghan Markle, who joined the royal family in 2018, has influenced fashion by supporting smaller and emerging designers, such as Mackage and Greta Constantine, and affordable brands like Aritzia, Club Monaco, and Reformation. According to Brand Finance, the net present value to brands that Markle wore was estimated at 150 million pounds (approximately $212.1 million). Markle’s affinity for American designers, including Misha Nonoo, Jason Wu, Brandon Maxwell, and Veronica Beard, also contributed to her unique influence.
2.3. How Did Royal Weddings Influence Fashion?
Both duchesses impacted the bridal market with their royal wedding gowns. Middleton’s long-sleeve lace Alexander McQueen gown and Markle’s cowl-necked Givenchy gown inspired many duplicate bridal gowns, setting trends for wedding attire.
3. The Rise of Street Style Stars
Street style photography gained prominence in the 2010s, thanks to the proliferation of social media. Street style images circulated on fashion blogs, websites, and Instagram, leading to the rise of influencers who became industry powerhouses.
3.1. Who Popularized Street Style?
Bill Cunningham, the late New York Times photographer, played a significant role in popularizing street style. His decades-long presence on the streets of New York and the documentary about his work, released in 2011, made him a celebrity in his own right. Other street style photographers, such as Scott Schuman and Tommy Ton, also provided a platform for self-styled fashion bloggers, showcasing their authentic style.
3.2. Who Were the Key Street Style Influencers?
The rise of street style stars catapulted the careers of influencers such as Leandra Medine of Man Repeller, Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad, Aimee Song of Song of Style, and Arielle Charnas of Something Navy. These influencers became fixtures at fashion week, sitting front row alongside celebrities and fashion editors.
3.3. How Did Street Style Change Brand Marketing?
The ubiquity, influence, and prominence of fashion influencers reshaped brand marketing. Major companies began to favor influencer brand ambassadors over traditional celebrity spokespersons. For example, Arielle Charnas partnered with Tresemmé, and Chiara Ferragni collaborated with Lancôme.
4. Subcultures Entering the Mainstream
Fashion subcultures gained popularity in the 2010s, making their way from niche communities to mainstream fashion runways. These subcultures included normcore, streetwear, and Gen-Z Internet culture.
4.1. What Is Normcore?
Normcore emerged as an antitrend to overly ornate and stylized fashion. This trend emphasized mundane, casual looks that were historically considered unfashionable. The term was coined by New York-based trend forecaster K-Hole, defining it as “moving away from a coolness that relies on difference to a post-authenticity coolness that opts into sameness.”
4.1.1. What Are the Characteristics of Normcore?
Normcore fashion featured color palettes of white, beige, gray, and black, with minimal logos or prints. Style icons included Jerry Seinfeld with his dad jeans and chunky sneakers, and Steve Jobs with his black turtlenecks, Levi’s, and gray New Balance sneakers. Other normcore looks included white sweat socks with sandals, Birkenstocks, baseball caps, windbreakers, and tracksuits.
4.2. What Is Streetwear?
Streetwear gained momentum in the 2010s, building on its origins in the late Seventies and early Eighties’ surf, skateboard, and hip-hop cultures of Los Angeles and New York City.
4.2.1. What Brands Define Streetwear?
Brands like Stüssy, Supreme, A Bathing Ape, Off-White, and Hood By Air reinvigorated streetwear, developing cult followings. Mainstream brands, luxury houses, and retailers took notice, incorporating streetwear-inspired designs into their collections. Sneakers, in particular, became a prominent aspect of streetwear.
4.2.2. How Did Luxury Brands Incorporate Streetwear?
Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel spring 2014 couture show featured models in sneakers, creating a sporty vibe with accessories like knee and elbow pads and fanny packs. Louis Vuitton collaborated with Supreme for its fall 2017 collection, resulting in co-branded items such as denim jackets and shirts that merged both brands’ logos.
4.3. What Is Gen-Z Internet Culture?
Gen-Z Internet culture spawned fashion trends such as E-Girls/E-Boys and VSCO Girls, driven by hyperconnectivity with social media and platforms like TikTok.
4.3.1. What Are E-Girls/E-Boys?
E-Girls and E-Boys are characterized as the evolution of the “scene kid” from the 2000s. This trend is prevalent on social media, with teenagers posting pictures and videos of themselves with pastel-colored wigs and graphic makeup, including black winged eyeliner, rainbow-colored eye shadow, and hearts drawn on the cheeks.
4.3.2. What Are VSCO Girls?
VSCO Girls represent both a meme and a fashion trend among teenage girls. Originating from TikTok and named after the photo-editing app VSCO, the trend blends classic preppy style with a beach aesthetic. VSCO Girls often wear oversize T-shirts, Birkenstock sandals, puka shell chokers, Pura Vida bead bracelets, colorful hair scrunchies, and Fjällräven backpacks. They are also known for being environmentally conscious, with their staple accessory being a sticker-covered Hydro Flask water bottle.
5. Inclusivity and Diversity Taking Center Stage
The movement for inclusivity and diversity had a significant impact on the fashion industry in the 2010s. Designers and brands committed to making their businesses, runways, and designs representative of and accessible to people of all races, gender identities, sizes, and ages.
5.1. How Did Chromat Champion Diversity?
Chromat has championed diversity and inclusivity since its launch in 2010. Designer Becca McCharen-Tran has consistently cast diverse models, including those who are plus-size, transgender, pregnant, amputees, and breast cancer survivors. In her 10th anniversary spring 2020 collection, McCharen-Tran featured plus-size model Tess Holliday wearing a dress that read “sample size.”
5.2. How Did Christian Siriano Promote Inclusivity?
Christian Siriano is known for creating red-carpet looks for actresses who had been refused by other designers due to sizing restrictions. In 2016, Siriano responded to a tweet by comedian Leslie Jones, offering to dress her for the premiere of “Ghostbusters.” Jones wore a custom, off-the-shoulder red dress created by Siriano and has continued to wear his designs on the red carpet.
5.3. How Did Ageism Decrease in the Fashion Industry?
The industry also made strides in inclusivity in terms of ageism. Joan Didion, at 80 years old, became the face of Céline’s spring 2015 campaign. Carmen Dell’Orefice remained an in-demand model at 88, and iconic supermodels like Pat Cleveland, Carol Alt, Patti Hansen, Christie Brinkley, Carolyn Murphy, and Christy Turlington Burns returned to the runway at New York Fashion Week fall 2019.
5.4. What Were Other Watershed Moments for Inclusivity?
Other watershed moments included Ashley Graham becoming the first plus-size model to cover Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in 2016. Halima Aden became the first hijab-wearing model to be signed by IMG Models and walk the New York Fashion Week runway. Rihanna was celebrated for her diverse lingerie fashion show for her second Savage x Fenty collection. CoverGirl tapped influencer James Charles as its first male spokesmodel in 2016.
6. Proud (And Perhaps Ironic) Consumerism
In contrast to normcore, Millennials developed a fondness for nostalgia, leading to the resurgence of logomania. The second half of the decade featured logocentric pieces, including Vetements’ DHL logo T-shirt, Balenciaga’s collection riffing on Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign logo, and Supreme’s iconic box logo.
6.1. How Did Virgil Abloh Influence Logomania?
Virgil Abloh launched his fashion label Off-White in 2012, changing the landscape of streetwear and logomania with his ironic use of quotation marks for product names and designs.
6.2. How Did Luxury Designers Embrace Logomania?
Luxury designers embraced the logomania trend. Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele revived logomania at the Italian fashion house, creating modernized, colorful updates to the brand’s handbags and increasing popularity for the brand’s logo belts. Dior saw renewed interest in its classic logo Saddle Bag, originally released in the spring 2000 collection, which was re-created by Kim Jones and Maria Grazia Chiuri.
7. Amped-Up Runways
Over-the-top runway sets became increasingly common in the 2010s. Designers took extravagance to new heights. Fendi held its 90th-anniversary show at Rome’s Trevi Fountain in 2016. Chanel had a 115-foot-tall rocket that launched at the close of the show at the Grand Palais in Paris in 2017.
7.1. What Were Some Memorable Runway Moments?
Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 4 collection was widely criticized, with models collapsing due to the heat. Virgil Abloh’s first collection as artistic director of Louis Vuitton men’s was a memorable moment, blending Louis Vuitton’s luxury roots with Abloh’s streetwear sensibility.
FAQ: Men’s Fashion in the 2010s
1. What were the most popular men’s fashion trends in the 2010s?
The most popular men’s fashion trends included athleisure, logomania, streetwear, and the influence of the British Royal Family.
2. How did athleisure impact men’s fashion?
Athleisure blurred the lines between athletic wear and everyday clothing, emphasizing comfort and versatility.
3. Who were some key influencers in men’s street style during the 2010s?
Key influencers included Bill Cunningham, Scott Schuman, Tommy Ton, Leandra Medine, and Chiara Ferragni.
4. What is normcore, and how did it influence men’s fashion?
Normcore is an antitrend that emphasizes mundane, casual looks, focusing on comfort and simplicity.
5. How did luxury brands incorporate streetwear into their collections?
Luxury brands collaborated with streetwear brands and incorporated streetwear-inspired designs, such as sneakers, into their collections.
6. What is logomania, and why did it become popular in the 2010s?
Logomania is the trend of wearing clothing and accessories prominently displaying brand logos, driven by nostalgia and a desire for recognizable status symbols.
7. How did inclusivity and diversity impact the fashion industry in the 2010s?
The movement for inclusivity and diversity led to more representation of different races, gender identities, sizes, and ages in fashion campaigns and runway shows.
8. Who were some designers that championed inclusivity and diversity in the 2010s?
Designers such as Becca McCharen-Tran of Chromat and Christian Siriano were known for their commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
9. What role did social media play in shaping men’s fashion trends in the 2010s?
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok played a significant role in popularizing street style, subcultures, and influencer marketing.
10. What are some resources for staying up-to-date on current men’s fashion trends?
Stay updated by visiting mens-fashion.net for the latest trends, style tips, and expert advice. Also, follow fashion magazines like GQ and Esquire, and explore fashion blogs and social media for current trends.
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