If you landed here after curiously googling “men’s fashion trends 2021,” we have an admission to make: it’s a weird time to be trend forecasting! Between the plodding pace of the vaccine rollout and the late January chill that’s set in, there still aren’t a whole lot of public forums for getting fits off, which makes it tricky to assess what people are actually wearing right now or what—if any—true-blue trends are forming and blossoming organically. So today, instead of any real era-defining capital-M Menswear Trends, we’re blessing you with an oddball assortment of things we’re really feeling at the moment. New stuff we want to wear, old stuff we’ve been wearing forever, weird stuff that brings us joy. It’s a lot less surefooted and cohesive than the list of men’s fashion trends we gave you last year, which makes sense: this is a much less surefooted and cohesive time, and these are the feel-good men’s clothing styles that are getting us through the day. Hopefully they’ll help you do that, too.
Good Vibe T-Shirts
The path to positivity begins in your T-shirt drawer.
Stuff with Good Pockets
We told you these categories would be a little esoteric.
Hand-Knit Garms
Call it the Ella Emhoff effect: there’s just something extra appealing about bundling up in handmade knitwear right now.
Long-Sleeved Polos
Fitted knit polo shirts are the official uniform of Handsome Movie Stars on Press Junkets for a reason: they’re clean, they’re timeless, they make your biceps pop.
Bright Yellow
A little squeeze of lemon goes a long way.
Polar Fleece Pants
Braving subzero temps in the name of outdoor dining? Give your legs a cozy leg up.
Soft Suits
If you’re going to wear a suit right now, it should probably look like one of these: looser, loucher, and lounge-ier than your typical all-business two-piece.
Patchwork Shirts
There are so few opportunities to put on a button-up these days, you might as well wear five at once.
Jeans
Reports of denim’s demise were greatly exaggerated. After a year spent mainly in sweats, the occasional pair of jeans will feel downright novel.
Advanced Clogs
You’ve conquered the Birkenstock Boston. It’s time to level up.
Japanese Work Coats
The function and toughness of a Carhartt jacket, the ease and simplicity of a cardigan.
