So…

I’ve been writing articles on fashion for a while now, and I must say, not too many have been on menswear. Don’t get me wrong, I’m up for the challenge, but I’m always apprehensive. Let’s face it… guys are fashion snobs! Even designers have a hard time understanding what guys really want to wear. Just for fun, I decided to survey a few men on one item in particular. Let me begin by introducing you to…

The FUR BOOTS!

I saw these boots by designer Tom Ford in my trend forecasting book for menswear fall/winter 2013-2014. I thought “hmm, this is interesting, would guys really wear this”? When I asked them if they’d wear the fur boots, the majority of them said NO… hell no! It makes me wonder if the fashion industry as a whole is actually listening to their male consumers. I’m directing this question towards the upscale retailers, because some fashion I’ve seen on the runways for men are a little questionable. I remember an article in WWD reporting that Giorgio Armani took a jab at Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada suggesting that their clothing make men look ridiculous and called the press out for not being critical of the “clownish” runway styles that men wouldn’t wear.  Giorgio feels that fashion is all about what the bankers and stock holders want. That evident to me, as well as the men I surveyed. I also discovered these facts upon further research.

Men feel there are not many options:

It’s no wonder guys seem to stick to one brand. They feel that what’s available now is all there is. Since the styles are similar to previous designs, they think “eh, I already have something like that. Why buy another”.

Men love “functionality” in fashion:

Guys only shop when *gasp* they need to, so they’re not really into fly by night fashion fads like women are. When men buy a new shirt, it’s probably because the one they have is damaged. If they buy a new carry bag, it’s because they need it for travel or durability.

Men respect the classics:

Yes, they respect the classic styles of yesteryear. A classic suit, bomber jacket with clean lines and anything with the classic clothing silhouette is a go. Maybe the patterns can be adjusted but the overall classics win.

The retailers aren’t reaching Men:

The men I surveyed said they don’t know about certain brands unless it’s word of mouth or advertised on T.V. They said that unless they actually go to the stores, they have no idea of how to find what they want. I’ve seen advertisements for men’s clothing in magazines geared towards women. The fancier labels might be in men’s magazines, but what about the average labels or the up and coming designers. I suggested they research the male target market for better understanding on how to spread the word about their brand.

That’s what I think, what’s your opinion? Comment below