Five key trends from London Fashion Week Men’s AW18

Strong line-up: Xander Zhou’s designs backstage at London Fashion Week Men’s (Getty)

With the 11th season of London Fashion Week Men’s over and done with, menswear obsessives are already taking stock of what to wear come autumn 2018.

And, while the four-day menswear circus offered a host of extravagant garb that only six-foot-something models could pull off, it also served up some serious real-world outfit inspiration.

Here, we take a look at five of the best trends that you might just be wearing in the months ahead.

Wild Style

Spurred on: Cowboy fashion from Astrid Andersen

For autumn-winter 2018, ranch dressing stomped all over the catwalk with multiple brands going west for inspiration. Inspired by the Buffalo movement of the 1980s, Astrid Andersen introduced plaid checks and cowboy hats combined with technical sportswear, while John Lawrence Sullivan brought back the cowboy boot with heavy-heeled, pointed footwear in python print.

Velvet Underground


 Waiting for my man: Oliver Spencer goes rock & roll 

One of those plush fabrics that rear their heads as soon as the chill sets in, velvet is going to be back in a big way next autumn. Ubiquitous on the catwalks, Oliver Spencer used the lavish textile for turned-up trousers in seasonal shades of brown and mustard yellow. Elsewhere, its presence continued when it came to tailoring – with Blood Brother serving up a berry red suit jacket while Band of Outsiders opted for a forest green two-piece.

Back To Work

We can work it out: Uniform style from Tinie Tempah

Utilitarian menswear looks set to take over our wardrobes, with a host of designers looking to workwear for inspiration. At What We Wear Tinie Tempah offered a contemporary take on uniforms, citing the capital’s public service workers and manual labourers as the influence behind the collection. Here, slimline tracksuits were intertwined with utility trousers and suits inspired by DLR operators. Similarly, Christopher Raeburn championed clothes worn by sea rescue crews while Cottweiler adopted harness belt straps, sturdy footwear and boxy cuts.

Get Leathered

Take the red pill: Matrix-inspired getup (Getty) (Getty Images)

The humble leather jacket is one of those pieces that never goes out of style, but this time round the classic luxe fabric has levelled up. At John Lawrence Sullivan, the tough textile was worn all-over, with boxy bikers paired with matching trousers, boots and gloves, while another look saw cinched floor-length coats a la Neo from The Matrix worn with blue denim.

Layer Up

What lies beneath: Many layers are better than one (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Clever layering is a key element to any well-dressed gentleman’s wardrobe, and for autumn-winter 2018 it’s only stepping up a gear. At Blood Brother, there were roll necks layered under boxy jackets, while at Liam Hodges they were worn under everything from shirts to formal suits. For Jordanluca, though, the ubiquitous hoodie was layered with check coats, and T-shirt and bomber jacket combos were cocooned by puffed-out duvet-style scarves.