13 Men’s Fashion Trends To Leave Behind In 2024
The start of a new year is the perfect time for self-improvement. For most people that means joining the gym, embarking on a diet for a bit or giving up smoking. Great. But we’d encourage people to take a look at what questionable garments are still lurking in their wardrobes from recent years too. Call it sartorial self-improvement, if you will.
Just to preface this, we’re not encouraging you to change your entire wardrobe every 12 months. That would be absurd, not to mention highly environmentally unfriendly. However, if you’re prone to jumping onto fashion’s more regrettable bandwagons then consider this a friendly nudge back onto the right track.
Fashion trends aren’t inherently bad; they keep things fresh and play an important role in pushing fashion forward. With that said, there are good ones and bad ones. Some have staying power while the rest will invariably leave you cringing at your poor style choices a few years down the line.
For our money, all of the trends and pieces listed below fall firmly into the latter of those two camps, so keep scrolling to see what we want men’s fashion to ditch in 2024.
Full Gorpcore
After several years of trail runners, shell jackets and baggy cargos flooding our explore pages, it’s safe to say we’ve reached peak gorp. The outdoorsy fashion trend that had ex-streetwear influencers the world over flocking to the countryside in search of the perfect ‘fit-pic backdrop catapulted functional mountain gear into the fashion spotlight.
And while there’s nothing wrong with the odd fleece or even a Salomon sneaker here and there, the full head-to-toe Gorpcore look is something we feel it’s high time to wave goodbye to in 2024.
What To Wear Instead
Don’t get us wrong, we love a well-placed outdoorsy piece now and then, it’s walking through Brooklyn or Southeast London dressed for an Everest attempt that we’re not crazy about. So instead of decking your entire wardrobe out at REI, we’d suggest mixing and matching outdoorsy elements in a way that works with your personal style.
This could be something as simple as swapping the hoodie out for a thick-pile fleece or ditching the car coat in favour of a Gore-Tex shell.
Cropped T-Shirts
We’ve noticed a disturbing amount of TikTok fashion influencers hacking perfectly good T-shirts up with scissors over the last couple of years. The goal is to achieve a cropped fit, which is all the rage right now. But make no mistake – this is a trend, and we’d urge you to think very carefully before you start butchering your T-shirts to fit in.
What To Wear Instead
The cropped look isn’t an inherently bad one, and can look good with high-waisted pants. However, there’s no substitute for a classic fit when it comes to dressing well irrespective of trends.
We always recommend T-shirts that are fitted in the body, with shoulder seams that sit nicely on the hinge of the shoulder, and a hem that falls somewhere between hip and waist level.
The Worst of Y2K
We’re old enough to remember 2000s fashion clearly. There were a great many elements of it that looked terrible then, and they still look terrible today. Yet for some reason, the fashion world at large seems hellbent on dredging some of the worst parts back up.
We’re talking big billowy cargo pants, horrendous logo trucker caps, rimless shades and even some of the more regrettable hairstyles too. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
What To Wear Instead
If you like the whole Y2K thing, you can still incorporate elements of it into your wardrobe without venturing to the extremes. Double denim, for example, is a very noughties aesthetic that can look great if you do it right.
To nail it, focus on contrast. You don’t want the shades of denim to match too closely, so make sure you have a dark jacket and light jeans, or vice versa. Keep the rest of the outfit nice and simple, like a white tee and some loafers, and you’re good to go.
Collab Mania
We used to get excited about a good ol’ collab, but as brands have attempted to cash in on the hype, the sheer volume of nonsensical, money-grabbing co-branded projects has become laughable.
Make no mistake, we still appreciate a partnership between two brands that complement each other, or have some sort of link – Barbour x C.P. Company is a recent example. But Diplo x Crocs? You can keep it, thanks.
What To Wear Instead
Hey, by all means still cop the odd piece from a collab if you like it or it means something to you. But for us, sticking to the joint projects with integrity is where it’s at. We like it when a collab feels natural and makes sense from a design or brand-history perspective.
Gnome Beanies
Beanies have been gradually working their way off men’s heads for a few years now. First, they ventured north of the ears, but every time we head into the city we spot one that’s crept even further skyward. We can only hope 2024 will be the year they fall off completely.
What To Wear Instead
We’d be lying if we said we hadn’t dabbled in small, precariously perched woollen hats. Who hasn’t? But if you have to keep checking it hasn’t fallen off every five minutes, it’s probably a good idea to pull it down a little.
We’d suggest going for a classic fisherman beanie that’s designed to sit above the ears rather than forcing a massive toque to behave the same way. More Harry from Home Alone and less garden gnome.
Jorts
OK menswear influencers. You had your fun pretending that baggy jorts were never the worst legwear known to man, but now it’s time to retire them for good.
Denim was never destined to be this length and it shows, so leave these things in the past for good and let’s move onwards and upwards in 2024.
What To Wear Instead
You can still enjoy a nice loose-fitting pair of shorts without resorting to denim. Leave the blue stuff for full-length jeans and go for something a little lighter instead. Swerve anything below the knee and look for shorts with a 5” to 7” inseam instead.
We’re big fans of Patagonia’s Baggies shorts, which are relatively affordable, subtle and easy to dress up or down depending on the setting.
Mullets
We still can’t actually believe we’re having to type this, but somehow mullets have been making a comeback. Blame TikTok, blame Gen Z, blame the unrelenting and indiscriminate recycling of decades-old trends, but whatever the reason for this god-awful trim’s resurgence, we’d urge you to STEER CLEAR.
This is one of those trends that’s all but guaranteed to age about as well as an unrefrigerated gammon joint.
What to wear instead
How about sticking to one haircut at a time?
Wraparound Shades
Are you a cyclist, runner or short-tempered American cop with a military haircut? If not, then why are you wearing wraparound sunglasses? Hey, each to their own. If you genuinely like the way the look then you do you, but from where we’re standing this bears all the hallmarks of a flash in the pan that’ll have you cringing at photos in a few years’ time.
What to wear instead
For casual wear, the classic shapes and styles are the best. A simple metal or acetate frame in silver, gold, plain black or tortoiseshell is always going to be more versatile than a sporty brow-bar frame with a reflective pink lens.
Skinny Jeans
Some guys are STILL clinging onto their skinny jeans… or maybe they just physically can’t get them off. Either way, they need to go, and 2023 is the last chance saloon as far as we’re concerned.
What to wear instead
You don’t have to go completely the opposite way and start wearing loose-fitting legwear. A slim-fit jean is still a good option as long as it’s not overly tight.
Outside of that, a classic regular fit with a straight or tapered leg hasn’t gone out of fashion in 150 years. How’s that for a safe bet?
Absurdly Baggy Jeans
At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, impractically baggy jeans (and pants in general) have been on the rise for a minute. Again, where pants are concerned, it’s best to stay away from the extremes, so this is another one we’d be happy to see the back of in 2023.
What to wear instead
There’s nothing wrong with a relaxed or loose-fitting trouser, but if they’re trailing on the floor and impeding your ability to walk then it’s probably time to downsize.
Tight Tailoring
Tailoring is supposed to fit you, not cut off the circulation to your extremities and stop you from raising arms. Slim and skinny fit suits are another trend that some men still seem to be struggling to let go of.
But it’s not too late to trade your tight-fitting tailoring in, and the beginning of a new year is the perfect excuse.
What to wear instead
A tailor-made suit is the dream, but it’s not financially viable for a lot of people. The next best thing you can do is buy an off-the-peg suit and have your local tailor alter it to fit.
Broccoli Hair
Shaved back and sides with a big crop of permed, curly locks on the top. Call it what you want, but this monstrosity of a haircut is not going to age well. It’s been ubiquitous among Zoomers for a good few years now, so perhaps the turn of the new year would be a good time to put it to bed once and for all.
What to wear instead
Mid-length curly hair looks great as it is. Forget the disconnected back and sides and just rock it au naturel.
Socks And Slides
Your dirty white socks were never supposed to get this much exposure. Wearing sliders might be comfortable for you, but it certainly isn’t for the onlookers. Do us all a favour and put some proper footwear on when you leave the house.
What to wear instead
In public places, shoes are traditional.
