TIE-DYE HAS waxed and waned in Western popular culture since hippies made it a psychedelic staple of the 1960s, but it’s been surging in popularity since roughly 2019. From hoodies and bucket hats to t-shirts and swim trunks, tie-dye seeped into nearly every facet of the menswear market at nearly every price, from Louis Vuitton to Zara and everywhere in between. Even today, you can buy an Elder Statesman tie-dye sweater that will set you back as much as the monthly rent on a West Village apartment, or you can buy a fast fashion t-shirt for the cost of a large latté.
According to Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman, tie-dye’s versatility gives it a certain “permissiveness” and explains the trend’s unusually long life. You can go full-on ’60s psychedelic, or you can take a far more subdued route. But for those who are happy to let go of deeply pigmented swirls, we asked the experts what other men’s trends could—and perhaps should—next become as ubiquitous as tie-dye. Their top picks:
Baroque-Print Pairs
“We’re seeing a return of the ‘resort set,’” especially of the highly printed, “jubilant” Versace-esque variety, said Bergdorf’s Mr. Pask, referring to a matching lightweight shirt-and-shorts combo associated with tropical getaways. What gives this trend legs is that it can be as conservative or as fashion-forward as the wearer wants. Sport the set together to make an impact, or wear the shorts and the shirt separately to tone it down. The silky material (sometimes silk, often lyocell or viscose) might feel apropos to men who miss the pre-Covid days of getting dressed up but perhaps don’t want to forgo the comfort of their WFH sweatpants. With these camp shirts and shorts, there’s an “implied, inherent dressiness,” said Mr. Pask, but they also have a “lightweight fluidity” that is unmistakably sexy. Silk Shirt, $1,295, Shorts, $1,025, Versace.com
Grunge Flannel
“It’s undeniable that grunge fashion is back,” said Emily Gimpel, an executive with Lyst, a global company that tracks online-shopping behavior. Maybe it’s Pete Davidson’s messy look, maybe it’s Robert Pattinson’s emo take on Batman inspired by Kurt Cobain, or maybe it’s Courtney Love releasing her first solo album in 18 years, but web searches for “plaid flannel shirts” are up 46% compared to 2021 according to data from Lyst. If you’re trying to channel a ‘90s grunge look, turn to Outerknown’s plush Blanket Shirts. If you’re as rich as Bruce Wayne, turn to upscale labels like
Brunello Cucinelli
and Saint Laurent, who offer scrubbed-up plaids. Shirt, $148, OuterKnown.com
Pink! Just Pink
Though hold-outs still balk at the thought of a man in rosy hues, pink doesn’t care. Marni, Maximilian and
Marc Jacobs
are among the brands zealously incorporating pink into men’s collections. Los Angeles stylist Corey Stokes noted that pink was front and center at the recent Jacquemus collection shown this March in Hawaii. “Fashion has grown, and the way men look at fashion has evolved,” said Mr. Stokes. The key is to treat pink almost like a neutral that can be paired with anything. Novices should approach pink by “pairing it with colors that tone it down,” said Mr. Stokes. Try marrying a pink cardigan with a white T-shirt and jeans to zhush up a ho-hum uniform or, for the especially timid, slip a pink sock in with a navy suit and black oxford shoes. Shoes, $160, Asics.com
Matchy Monochrome
Diving into a color head-to-toe projects the same swagger that tie-dye does but skews more elegant. Done well, monochromatic dressing looks expensive and refined but still irreverent. “Guys these days are daring a little more with color,” said Salvador Cosio, a Mexico City-based stylist. He suggested starting with deeper colors that can still be office-appropriate, such as emerald green or burgundy. From there, turn up the volume with, perhaps, a burnt, earthy orange (like the look here). Sweater, $320, AcneStudios.com; Erdem Pants, $670, MatchesFashion.com
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