Ivy League Fashions Are Hip Again

The recently completed Fashion Weeks in New York and London showcased some of the upcoming trends in men’s fashion that we might be seeing in spring and summer 2010.  One of the most interesting trends noted was that several designers are looking to the 1980s for inspiration, with everything from the dress suit to casual wear influenced by the “preppie” look.

When shopping for wholesale suits, it’s time to start looking for the clean, crisp, “Ivy League” look that was popular in the 1980s. Designers including Perry Ellis, Lacoste and J.W. Anderson all showcased collections featuring the classic 1980s looks. For business suits, this included double-breasted jackets and pants with cuffed pants.

Along with having their mens suit collections influenced by the 1980s, other items from the “Me Decade” also made it onto the runway. Many top designers paired plaid with plaid, while others turned to button-down Gingham shirts and cuffed shorts. Paired with accessories like aviator sunglasses, these designers subtly reinvented some classic American designs for the new century.

The reason for this new approach is unclear – recent trends were towards clothes inspired by the “working man.” In recent Fashion Weeks, designers had done everything in their shows from coverall and plaid jackets to suits with “built-in stains.” One theory is that with the current economic situation, men want to use their clothing as a sense of wish fulfillment, preferring the types of upscale looks favored by people with money.