Men's Fashion Design: More Prevalent than You Think

by Candice Mancini
Fashion School Review Columnist

Fashion consciousness isn’t just for women anymore. As an industry, male fashion boasted nearly $16 billion in sales in 2003, baffling experts from fashion schools.

Male Fashion Design Growing

In 2001, men’s and boy’s apparel made $802 million in sales. Within two years, that number doubled—and the future looks bright for male clothing designers. What’s causing this explosion in male fashion design?

From Clothing Design to Facial Products: The New Male

According to Deborah Meyer, associate professor of apparel, textiles, and interior design at Kansas State University, gone are the days when women spent more time getting ready than men. Men are taking over bathrooms and closet space, a trend Meyer attributes to newfound awareness among men of personal health, personal care products, and fashion.

These changes affect men’s daily habits beyond what they wear, slather on their faces, and eat. Men no longer leave fashion design decisions up to wives and girlfriends, preferring instead to shop for themselves. Interestingly enough, Meyer noted a difference between male and female shopping patterns: men are more likely to buy entire outfits in one store, while women tend to shop around.

Fashion School Tips

While casual Fridays are becoming a thing of the past, male wardrobe still calls for fashion design above and beyond the everyday three-piece suit. Fashion school students studying male clothing design should be aware of male fashion staples:

• corduroys
• khakis and jeans
• button-down shirts
• casual shirts
• boxer shorts
• belts

This doesn’t mean every male should purge his closet of suits. However, the enormous popularity of male clothing designs by Abercrombie & Fitch, the Gap, and Banana Republic, indicate that men’s fashion has shifted to include a more casual style. And while these shops largely cater to a younger crowd, each is an excellent source for staple items that look good on a man of any age.

Sources

K-State Expert Says Male Fashion Trends are Changing
Must Haves for Every Man’s Wardrobe

About the Author

Candice Mancini has an M.A. in education and a B.A. in English and history.

Posted on April 26, 2007 at 02:36 PM