Fashion for Men Consumer Insights

Implications - Whether it’s the rise in openly gay marriages, or simply a desire to dress up more for romantic encounters in general, men are expressing a yearning to dress in erotic, fem-style lingerie. This trend opens up an unlimited amount of new product categories that only need a simple refit.

Implications - The appeal of surprises continues past childhood, as made evident by the popularity of “unidentified features” of certain products or services. This can range from a hidden object embedded within a product, such as inside soap, or risking the chance of getting something fun by ordering mystery gifts.

Implications - The tie symbolizes polished male sophistication, and while some have abandoned it, others are looking for a redesign. Reinventing a classic can bring it back to mainstream, but often it also targets new demographics. Some of these ties appeal more to youth or eccentrics, rather than traditional businessmen.

Implications - Gold fashion popped onto the pop culture radar for women back in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2008 that it was notably integrated into menswear. As influential designers like John Galliano for Dior highly impact mainstream trends, expect to see everything from golden shoes to bronze pants for men.

Implications - Perhaps macho innovation is the a backlash to politically correct sensitivity. Controversy aside, customizing every-day products with macho imagery allows marketers to generate a lot of viral buzz in a segment hungry for aggressive innovation.

Implications - Young adults joining the workforce were raised to value individualism. As they join the professional world, they shake up traditional environments with more laissez-faire, be-yourself attitudes. They celebrate diversity of interest, style, learning techniques, and are thus revamping traditional work cultures.

Implications - As high heels for men and tuxedos for women become socially accepted and even admired, new markets open up to designers. The blurring of gender lines is allowing designers, retailers and marketers to tailor what are considered traditionally female-targeted products to men, and vice versa.

Implications - Men are increasingly comfortable with their masculinity, no longer fearing bright colors or prints typically considered feminine. Moving past blacks and browns and into pinks and purples, more men are enjoying dressing flamboyantly and looking at fashion as a form of self-expression.

Implications - The murse, or man purse, has officially made its way into the mainstream as men have abandoned overly formal briefcases and too-casual laptop bags for more fashionable and practical alternatives. As modern work requirements change, fashion styles and stereotypes reflect the work culture evolution.

Implications - As more men take pride in their appearances, tailored menswear has come into style for all generations. For a time, women were the driving force behind more dapper choices for many men, but now more men are choosing leaner cuts that flatter the figure and show off a manly silhouette on their own.