White suits and 'regalitarian' wardrobes: men's style predictions for 2019

Fashion decries formulae, but there is no getting away from the fact that right now menswear is marching to a particularly strident beat, laid down by a phalanx of designers, some of whom have themselves been on manoeuvres (Kim Jones replacing the Berluti-bound Kris van Assche at Dior, his seat at Louis Vuitton filled by Virgil Abloh), in what was a busy 2018 for the LVMH corporate carousel.

They in turn have recognised the increasingly peripatetic lifestyle of their key (read “young”) audience, and translated wardrobe staples into go-anywhere garms.

The result: while we reached peak athleisure some time ago, the appetite for “regalitarian” outfitting (super-premium iterations of sartorial staples) shows no sign of waning. Far from it; whether it’s sneakers, backpacks, parkas or workout pants, expect no great shakedown of the hi-low manosphere in 2019 and an increase in the number of collaborations between luxury houses and willing streetwear brands.

The scene is set for a host of fresh partnerships reflecting the growing need to coalesce the millennial audience around the twin ideals of exclusivity and desirability.

Fortunately, for those who don’t figure in the crosshairs of such associations, the immediate future for men’s style is a little more pragmatic, the salutary learning for 2019 being; stay in your lane, sartorially speaking. Meaning that clothes are once again aligning along fit-for-purpose functionality.

Paul Smith Soho suit, ￡580 for jacket and ￡255 for trousers, Mr Porter

This will be seen in a sharp drop in the demand for activity-wear suitable for any activity (so goodbye sloungewear in the boardroom) and a return to some basic rules of engagement. Suits are responding in kind, with lightweight fabrics in even lighter hues allowing us to migrate from workplace to workspace with the minimum of fuss.

The same site specific rule applies to the myriad iterations of what’s become known as “Riviera chic” but covers resort wear of all kinds. Once a pretext to go from beach to bar in a pair of board shorts and a pop-coloured T-shirt, expect one’s vacation wardrobe to require more than simply polos and sharply tailored trunks.

In these newly-competitive environments, evening wear, too, is entering the fray, so billowing silk or voile shirts, paired with similarly voluminous trousers will be required at all but the most aesthetically attritional eco-lodge (when board shorts will be fine).

Denim and cashmere evening shirt, ￡235, Turnbull & Asser

Otherwise, consider swapping out last year’s linen for an ultra-chic unlined corduroy suit (the fabric of next summer as much as it was last), and in-line with the coming trend for lighter colours, consider too, the ultimate hurrah: a pure white suit. If ever there was a moment to rock one, the balmiest days of 2019 will be it.

Bill Prince is the deputy editor of British GQ

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