TREND REPORT 2009 - MEN'S ACCESSORIES

20 January 2009

 

What has 2008 done for the world of men’s accessories?:

The precedent has been set for men’s accessories; 2008 was a pinnacle year for the undervalued fashion genre, but with bow ties, gold wallet chains, and a multitude of scarf and hat styles making their way down the catwalks, high street and media, men’s accessories have never been so varied or have been used to such an individual extent. The ranges, whether it be designer, high street, jean or urban brands, are now allowing men to choose what they want and how they want to wear it.

What did we see in 2008 and what will we see in 2009?:

2008 saw the retro and rock inspired style giving rise to skinny fit jeans, checkered shirts and wallet chains getting in to the front-line of high street fashion. We also started to see the Russian/eastern image brought about the big coats, worker jeans, roll-necks and trapper hats and also the preppy chic look with the V neck jumper, tailored shorts/trousers and skinny or bow tie starting to filter in.

In 2009 these styles will carry through the year making their way to becoming the big looks in the future. In addition to these trends bohemian-inspired clothes and beads will become a staple for the New Year and an even more extreme ‘Varsity’/Preppy look will be able to be explored with striped ties and sleek belts. A flare for colour will be seen offering an even bigger choice of clothes and accessories.

Milan Spring/Summer 2009 Catwalks: Christian Auduger, Gucci, Marithe Francois Girbaud (From left to right)

Why wear accessories in 2009?

So, if you have adopted some of these looks or styles last year or even the year before or want to give it a go this year, then creating the looks is simple; and we don’t have to depress anyone any further about spending too much during the credit crunch because accessories are a brilliant way of changing the entire dynamic of an outfit without having to spend out on loads of new clothes.

The trends that have been seen on the catwalks prove this; they expose and promote products that have been around sometimes for decades and don’t have to be too expensive. Take a beaded necklace or a cotton pocket square for example, men’s accessories really are the key to individualising and changing the look of an outfit.

So whether you follow what’s in fashion or not, it’s what is available that is the key to making your individual style, mix and match and customize what you wear. For some, accessories for men are still a relatively new phenomenon but a simple bracelet, skinny tie and funky watch is all you need to start thinking about what else is out there.

The 'Static' Stainless Steel Cuff £34.25, The 'Purple Disk' Skinny Tie £9.75, The 'Twelve 5-9L' LED Watch £99 (From left to right)

The individual and the catwalk…:

So you don’t have to go out an but an new wardrobe, unless you want to of course, but instead you can just accessorize with such things as a trilby (Retro or preppy look, depending on how it is worn), military or flat cap (Varsity look), a linen scarf (Boho), slim belt, or delve into the world of skinny ties (Striped is the key) or statement jewellery.

The 'Genesse Pinstripe Two' Trilby £29.50, The 'Cast' Flat Cap £16.50, The 'South' Sheer Scarf £9.75, The 'Shift' Slim Belt £22*, The 'Navy & Orange' Striped Skinny Tie £9.75, The ' Dagger' Necklace £74 (From left to right)

*Sale price, was orignally £44

These have all been seen on the catwalks (see below for men’s accessories on the catwalk for 2009) and in case you might think this isn’t relevant to your outfits, for most large part what you wear has at some point been on the catwalk; whether it was designed for it or inspired from it, the catwalks have helped to make accessories and develop fashion available within every genre; whether it be the urban look, street, designer, vintage, gothic, emo and even active world. Although there is such an eclectic mix of images and styles seen now in the media the catwalks are still the most important singular inspiration for future trends in fashion.

Paris Men's Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009: Galliano (All)

So what has been highlighted for 2009?:

The rise of the bow tie, over-sized man-bag, thick rimmed glasses and statement jewellery has been thrust into the world of accessories and into the limelight and has filtered into the minds of many. With the likes of DSquared2 and Gucci adorning their entire men's range with long beaded necklaces and striped skinny ties, there will be an accessory or two out there to update any look, either on a budget or spending your money wisely on a few important items that will carry you through to 2010.

The 'Cling' Bow Tie £19.50, The 'Cruise' Bag £117.50, The 'Wayfarer' Sunglasses £117.50 (From left to right)

Neckwear:

Neckwear has evolved and will and should be an item every man should own. Scarves can be worn in so many ways that it has become a matter of how many should I have not which one do I want! Wear them wrapped around the neck, fitting it around tightly or hung loosely so it drapes down onto the torso alternatively wear it just hung around the neck for a Boho style look.

The 'Colour' Scarf £11.75, Paul Smith Spring/Summer 2009 NY Show (From left to right)

Ties and bow ties can instantly change the look of an outfit and can convey individuality in a simple way. The skinny tie is becoming a staple item and the awareness of them has grown massively. The variety is phenomenal and should be tried by all casually or formally.

The 'Chestnut' Knitted Tie £11.75, The 'Red & White' Striped Tie £9.75, The 'Mr Pink' Tie £9.75 (From left to right)

Jewellery:

Carrying on and evolving the rock influenced style are statement pieces of jewellery, skull, tiger or bull rings adorn hands whilst long chains both big and small with pendants and chunky beads can be layered around the neck for a Boho or Rock look. The dog tag has remained a classic and will do so in 2009 along with the rosary and traditional men’s curb chain. Colour is now being introduced a lot more with hints of turquoise, other semi-precious stones and gems are being added to silver and gold work.

The 'Skull & Claw' Necklace £171.25

Bags:

The rucksack has made a comeback, it has always been there in the background but hiding behind the trusty messenger and holdall bags. With innovative designs and the use of a variety of fabrics the versatile, functional and practical bag stays masculine and perfect for the everyday. The whole 'Man-bag' phenomena has caused some controversy but has become accepted as an accessory for a man now, where boundaries are being pushed from the over-sized leather bag to the petite clutch.

So maybe this might seem a little bit brave at the moment but the middle ground still offers amazing designs and variety, as long as the size and style suits you and your needs then the man-bag is a must. Investing in a quality leather bag is a wise move as it is durable and goes with everything, for the spring summer though if you fancy a change then the canvas is definitely worth a try in 2009, still durable (and washable) the canvas bag can be pulled off by all.

The 'Little Rock' £55, The 'Two' Canvas Bag £24.50, The 'Elm' Holdall '137 (From right to left)

Belts:

Belts and men go hand in hand, but what is ignored is the variety that is available now due to this. The slim belt has made a comeback in a big way, but there is still the standard and wider width belts that can pull a style together instantly. It is easy to fall into the trap of having one standard and trusty belt, but it is the ultimate man’s staple accessory so explore the world of belts and what the catwalk designers and individual designers of belt have to offer, for example every belt from Bill Lavin tells a story and offers that retro and vintage style or the quality of leather and masculine style of belts from Leather Island create a range that is available to all and for a variety of styles, or brands such as Royal Republiq who create superior belts using great quality materials and bold simple styles.

Marithe Francois Girbaud 2009 Spring/Summer Milan Show, The 'Scandi' Skinny Belt £24.50, The 'Wilkin' Belt £34.50, Paul Smith Show Spring/Summer 2009 NY (From right to left)

Eyewear:

Once a style of eyewear becomes available it seems that it sticks around for literally all to see! Take the John Lennon style specs or the classic Rayban Aviators these styles have been around for decades and most likely for decades to come. 2007 and 2008 highlighted the wayfarer and thick rimmed glasses which will definitely be a style to look for again in a wider variety in 2009 with a mix of frames, lens colours and shapes.

The Fossil 'Brock' Aviator Sunglasses £50, The Spitfire 'DNA Cowboy' Sunglasses £20, The Jeepers Peepers 'Charlie' Sunglasses £12.50 (from right to left)

Head Wear:

It is the year for bringing back the classic, the trilby has transitioned into the modern day and has been included in collections from brands right across the spectrum. The evolutions of fabrics and the ability for the trilby to be both a Spring/Summer (woven straw or canvas) and Autumn/Winter (wool/acrylic) hat makes it the perfect head accessory for a man.

 The 'Eric B' Straw Trilby £30, The 'Vegan' Classic Trilby £30 (From left to right)

With the rise of the tailored and ‘Varsity’ style look, the flat cap, duckbill or Gatsby hat are headwear choices that are used to perfect the image. These styles of hat have been discussed in much the same way as the man-bag but they have such a long-standing history within fashion that there is no need for any doubt about this style of hat, if it suits you go for it.

The 'Ari' Flat Cap £22, The 'Depew' Duckbill Cap £20 (From left to right)

By just walking around different cities and attending a few gigs the number and variety of beanies and military caps that are seen is phenomenal, this season was definitely the season for this style of hat. However as we know many styles carry over and there is no doubt that this will continue throughout 2009 and with the sporadic weather we get in the UK Beanies these don’t even have to be a seasonal item, in the Spring you can go for a lighter colour or wide woven cotton knit; the beanie is a great hat for all face shapes and casual style.

The 'Denver' Oversized beanie £19.50, The 'Cask' Jersey Visor Beanie £20 (From left to right)

Wallet Chains:

Wallet chains have always been an accessory associated with street or urban style. However they are becoming increasingly popular as they update and stylize a pair of jeans instantly, whether you are low-riding baggy denims or skinny fits. Wallet chains are much like jewellery where metals and fabrics can be interchanged with one another to create a wide range and individual style for those who want something that looks great and is functional. Gold is making a comeback and should be embraced along with its silver or stainless steel competitor.

DSquared Spring/Summer 2009 Milan Show, The 'Chunky Flat Cut' Wallet Chain £31.50 (From left to right)

To Summarise:

KEY TRENDS FOR 2009:

• Monochromatic
• Bohemian: Balinese, Malaysian or Indian style
• Varsity/Preppy
• Retro/Rock

KEY ITEMS FOR 2009:

• Scarves
• Bow tie
• Skinny or Classic tie: striped, square ended
• Belt: Slim
• Large bags: The rucksack has been highlighted and the large leather/canvas bag.
• Trilby key head wear, nautical head wear (Flat or skull style cap)
• Sunglasses: Aviator as a classic style and thick rimmed, wayfarer style.
• Colours: Blues, pinks, brown and orange
• Stripes
• Beaded necklaces and bracelets
• Long Necklaces, pendants
 

WHAT ACCESSORIES WERE ON THE CATWALKS FOR 2009:

DSquared2: Gold wallet chains, tie-pins and classic cut ties, the slim-belt and a large leather bag all adorning a casual but sleek city/urban look.

Belstaff: Skinny tie, bow tie, fingerless gloves (With a cardigan and jeans) all giving that something extra to a slightly mod inspired and casual look.

Gucci: Accessories such as the slim belt, large buckles, the man-bag and rucksack, multi-layered bracelets and necklaces adorn bright, almost electric coloured casual outfits, perfect for the weekender time.
 
Louis Vuitton: The casual style trilby hat in light grey’s and taupe’s were seen with shorts and the classic V-neck or a Bohemian style shirt (One of the key looks this season). Also the skinny tie has been kept for the monochromatic scheme.

Dolce & Gabbana: Bow tie, neck scarf and belt all finish off the varsity/preppy look which has continued into 2009.

Vivienne Westwood: Large and long necklaces in both gold and silver, large belt buckles, beaded necklaces, dogtags and rosaries and bow ties, there was a Ganster/urban chic theme running through the show.
 
 

***All products shown from the equip website are available now, we will be getting new season items in from February 2009, so watch this space!