SJ Forbes Reveal Men’s Trends for Autumn/Winter 2017

Sean J McElhill, Co-Director of S J Forbes has revealed the men's trends of Autumn/Winter 2017 that he predicts will be most in demand next season.

Parting Ways

Admittedly this isn’t the most wearable of trends, but it was so inescapable at the Men’s Fashion Week A/W17 shows that it requires a mention. Centre-parted fringes – also known as curtain bangs – were the standout style of the Fendi show, while at Dior Homme and Off White, hair was worn slightly shorter, but with fringes parted distinctively down the middle.

Meanwhile at the Damir Doma, Etro and N°21 shows, hair was worn longer and grungier, but parted just as severely down the middle. It’s a look that is very 90s – an era we saw appearing in many guises at many of the shows – but it really isn’t for everyone. Approach with gusto if you have an angular or oval face shape, but proceed with caution if your face is slightly more round. 

The Blunt Bang

Extremely short, severe and blunt is how to wear next season’s fringe. A fairly polarising style, this kind of blunt fringe is best suited to angular face shapes and men with a square jaw and sharp features, and it works best on men with a decent hairline and medium to thick hair that has a lot of natural texture.

If you want to replicate the look, show your barber a photo of the models at Barbour, Wooyoungmi, Christopher Shannon and Dries Van Noten and ask for a textured scissor cut, with the top front section left longer so that it can be pulled forward. A texturizing spray will add more texture, whereas a moulding cream will add a little definition.

The Layer Cake

Tousled, just-got-out-of-bed hair was spotted at Yohji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood and Etro. The difference between this season’s bed-head style and the mussed up 90’s grunge style that will also dominate over the next few months is that this style is full of body-boosting layers, whereas the 90’s look tends to feature one length all over.

Once your layers are in place you’ll work this style better on day-old hair, so avoid washing every day. Blast with the hairdryer, tipping the head upside down and pointing the nozzle in different directions to work against the hair’s natural direction and add volume. Be careful not to go overboard with the products – a little mousse on damp hair before styling should add all the body and ‘guts’ this style needs, without adding too much texture or definition. You want the finished look to be on the polished side of messy, rather than on the scruffy side.