Paris fall 2017 menswear picks up on several of the themes we’ve seen in London and Milan.  Comfort is key with loose cuts, baggy pants and oversized silhouettes.  Layering allows for individual style statements and solid wardrobe building blocks.  Chunky knits, rich velvets and plush shearlings provide warmth and luxury.  And across the collections statement outerwear dominates.

PARIS Fall 2017 Menswear Collections Begin

Though we still prefer the slimmer cut suits with their sophisticated polish, we are warming up to the easy cuts and versatility of the baggy suit.  With a crisp shirt and tie these suits can be dressed up for the office, while with a t-shirt and sneakers they are pure casual chic.

Just like suits, designers are heeding the call for easier fits in pants.  This season they are coming in wider legged versions, pajama pants and even elephant bells.  For the more ath/leisure look the ubiquitous track pant stakes its place as a wardrobe staple.

But as they say in Paris, chacun à son goût (to each his own).  Hearing this call for individualism, designers are delivering structured silhouettes that alternate between looser cuts and oversized looks and trim tailoring in everything from topcoats to suits to pants and jackets.

Whether it is a response to the crazy weather of the last few winters or the uncertainties of our times, the focus is on the thick, rich textures that make us feel safe and warm.  Wrap yourself in a thick cable knit or a great chunky knit and you are ready to go out and take on the world, whatever it may bring.  The sumptuous shearlings are the ultimate in men’s fashion armor.  Even the soft, sleek velvets serve their purpose, confirming luxury but without overstating the case.

Layering is another form of fashion protectionism and for fall 2017 designers are giving the guys plenty of great options to mix and match to create individual style statements.  No rules here.  This is creative dressing at its best.

Perhaps because they evoke memories of simpler times, the 1970’s and 1980’s seem to be influencing designers this season.  Patch pocket treatments, prints and plaids and deconstructed looks pay tribute to these eras. Punk has a place too as subversive attitudes begin to form a response to current events.

It seems we keep coming back to this, but the focus on outerwear is undeniable.  From the beautifully tailored double cashmere coats at Valentino and the elegant, lean trenches at Le Maire to the over exaggerated puffer  coats at Rick Owen, the billowing anoraks at Haiden Ackerman , the and the oversized, elongated coats at Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Balenciaga designers pushed the envelope with outerwear this season.  Loewe’s multi-colored striped shearling stood out for its rich texture, visual pop and pure artistry.   For Louis Vuitton the statement came in a breathtaking shearling-lined crocodile jacket that takes luxury to new levels.

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