In this sense, flares may give way for a slimmer silhouette in general. “Just as wide-leg shapes caused straight fit to overtake slim as the top invested denim shape, this season, flares could cause a switch back to slimmer-fitting jeans in 2025,” says Karis Munday, menswear analyst at retail intelligence firm EDITED.
According to EDITED research, baggy jeans are still on the up (rising 27 per cent year-on-year) — but growth is slowing considerably. The previous year, baggy jeans were up 150 per cent in menswear. Munday says she has noticed “an uptick in slimmer shapes on the AW25 runway”. This all has an impact on footwear choices too, adds Leitch.
Will men buy bootcut?
The genuine impact of a viral trend can differ in menswear compared to womenswear. “Menswear, in contrast to womenswear, has traditionally been less influenced by viral internet moments,” says Heuritech’s Tordhag. “While trends in menswear don’t necessarily take longer to develop, there has historically been less interest in following the rapid shifts in aesthetics and trends that often dominate the fashion world.”
Nevertheless, men are “just as bombarded” by shopping inspiration as female consumers, says Lubin, so it can differ depending on the segment of male consumer. “There are clusters of menswear shoppers who are highly influenced by new drops from brands they love — whether that’s brands in the sportswear, contemporary or luxury space,” she says. “A viral moment for these shoppers isn’t necessarily driven by a global mega-celebrity, it could be more about the community of shoppers and tastemakers surrounding that brand all posting about or wearing a new product.”
There are some figures who are more prominent tastemakers than others, Lamar being one of them. “Certain celebrities create viral moments just about anytime they step outside wearing something unexpected. Kendrick is one of those people — he and his stylist Taylor McNeill know how to use clothing to stir conversation,” says Hine. “I do think these viral moments have an impact because a huge audience of men are seeing Kendrick — a superstar who embodies a very modern sense of masculinity — trying something out of the ordinary, which gives them license to do the same. That said, menswear tends to move slowly. It’s still a relatively niche style.”
