The Fall/Winter 2021 Men’s Fashion Trends Champagne Papi Loves
As your resident Fashion Month expert, I feel it's my duty to inform you that— based on the hundred-something hours I've spend analyzing fashion trends from the Fall/Winter 2021 runways— men are about to start dressing a whole lot like Drake.
Before divulging on fall's men's fashion trends further, I must first provide a slightly embarrassing disclaimer. I listen to a lot of Drake, as in my Top Artist of all time on Spotify (receipts can and will be provided upon request) a lot. Wake up, Drake. Workout, Drake. Party, Drake. In my feelings, Drake.
Speaking of feelings, Fall 2021's men's fashion trends are all about embracing your soft side. Wearing styles that were traditionally considered feminine— think fuzzy cardigans, pastel colors, and silky blouses— and still looking like an absolute hunk is the newest way to flex your unshakeable masculinity. Hence why I couldn't stop thinking about one stylish softy in particular: Champagne Papi.
These men’s fashion trends from the Fall/Winter 2021 runways are guaranteed to have you in your feelings come fall.
Turtleneck Sweaters
The ultimate layering style for fall is the humble fitted turtleneck, ideal for revealing rippling arm muscles and framing perfect facial hair. Wear one under a suit instead of a traditional button-up or sport one solo to show off your chiseled pecs.
Etro
At Etro, cashmere turtlenecks replaced boring button-downs under luxurious velvet suits. One baby blue turtleneck, in particular, styled with a gold chain necklace and casually-slung shoulder bag, had me dreaming of Drake’s upcoming Certified Lover Boy era.
Jil Sander
At Jil Sander, turtleneck sweaters proved their versatility. Simple black and cream turtleneck sweaters were paired with casual tracksuits, cardigans, and oversized wool coats and accessorized with chains and chunky lug-sole combat boots.
In addition to turtleneck sweaters, simple rib-knit turtleneck tees were a frequent sight on the Fall/Winter 2021 men's runways. Layer under cardigans and button-up shirts, both buttoned-up and unbuttoned.
Robe Coats
Over the past year, we've all come to know our sweatshirt collection far too well. So this for fall, designers served up a more elevated loungewear option: the robe coat. Though some looked like straight-up bathrobes, most resembled something closer to a belted wool coat inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's 70s outerwear.
Isabel Marant summed up the casual trend perfectly in an interview with Vogue, stating: “If you’re staying at home in your pajamas, you don’t want any pajamas, you want your exact pajamas.”
Louis Vuitton
After the success of last year's LV-monogrammed sherpa bathrobe (peep Drake above), I was unsurprised to see more robe coats on Louis Vuitton's fall runway. Paired with casual, work-from-home-friendly button-ups and trousers, Virgil Abloh's modern bathrobes are fully acceptable to wear out of the house.
Fendi
On Fendi's neon-lit fall runway, Siliva Fendi unveiled a pastel-colored collection of casual tailoring and plush robe coats fit for our pandemic lifestyle. In an interview with Vogue, Fendi described this season's comfort-focused clothes as being “very tactile—so soft you can sleep in them—and also very functional. Clothes that make you feel good. Because I do think that fashion can have a therapeutic aspect.”
Cardigans
Though Champagne Papi prefers tight-fitting crewneck sweaters these days, he sported cardigans quite often during his Young Money days. Throughout the late 2000s, he often paired CDG Play's heart-logo cardigans with a basic tee and washed-out baggy jeans.
Based on the recent menswear shows from top streetwear brands, I'm expecting Drake's cardigans to make a full comeback this fall.
A-Cold-Wall*
At streetwear label A-Cold-Wall*, cardigans were layered under slim-cut suits for a Zoom-friendly take on a traditional three-piece suit. Sleek silhouettes and jewel-toned palette brought a put-together feel to the laid-back collection.
ACW's multi-layered knits reflected a growing trend in casual men's fashion: ribbed loungewear. Variations of thermal tees, leggings, joggers, and long johns were also shown at Fendi, Samuel Ross, and Dries Van Noten.
Missoni
In addition to traditional cardigans, Missoni offered another work-from-home-friendly interpretation of the open-front sweater: knit blazers. Worn over matching sweatsuits and knit layers, they brought an elevated feel to this season's casual looks.
Bomber Jackets
Bomber jackets have become one of those classic outerwear pieces that never go out of style. While wool and leather varsity jackets are still a popular choice, the nylon flight jacket still reigns supreme in 2021.
In Drake's Tootsie Slide video, he sported a camo-printed "Riot, Riot, Riot" bomber jacket from Raf Simon's Fall/Winter 2001 collection, which is widely recognized as one of the most influential menswear collections of the decade. The rare piece reportedly resold for over $30,000, making it one of the year's most expensive grails.
Rick Owens
Though many designers stuck to classic silhouettes and materials, Rick Owens offered a more adventurous spin on basic nylon bomber jackets. Some combined multiple textiles while others played with proportions. One noteworthy style we expect to blow-up was an impeccably-fit cropped bomber with thick ribbing on the cuffs and bottom hem.
Isabel Marant
Isabel Marant's bomber jackets felt a bit more casual. Her athleisure-filled menswear collection was filled with 90s athleticwear references and grungy plaid prints.
Luxe wool, suede, and shearling fabrics elevated Marant's otherwise simple bomber jackets. Thanks to sporty details, like striped ribbed cuffs and oversized chest monograms, the timeless outerwear had an athletic, letterman jacket feel.
Silk Shirts
During the 2010s, Drake wasn't afraid to sport a silky button-up. Paired with simple jeans and sneaks, his pajama-inspired shirts had that just rolled out of bed je ne sais quoi. Like most rappers, Champagne Papi has an affinity for Versace and their quintessential Barroco print silk shirts.
Dries Van Noten
This season, menswear designers presented high-fashion interpretations of humble pajama sets. At Dries Van Noten, Fendi, and Études, button-ups and matching trousers were shown in rich jewel tones and luxurious silk fabrics that looked ideal for staying in.
Dior
The printed silk shirts at Kim Jones' latest collection had more of an art school kid vibe. Dior's airy button-up shirts featured painterly graphics designed by Peter Doig, a Scottish painter Jones is particularly fond of. Filled with tilted berets, knee-high wellies, and military-inspired coats, the "Dior Doig" collection was inspired by the attire worn at the 19th-century Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris and London's art school scene in the 80s.
Technical Outerwear
Without a doubt, Drake is one of the most prominent celebrity influences on men's streetwear. One of Champagne's staple pieces for court-side seats and winter nights out is a weather-resistant windbreaker.
In fashion, you'll often see weather-resistant coats and windbreakers like the ones above referred to as technical outerwear. The 'technical' part simply means that the jacket is made using high-performance materials that provide additional benefits such as being insulated, waterproof, or sweat-wicking.
Heron Preston
In 2021, technical outerwear continued to be one of the most important streetwear garments. At Heron Preston, windbreakers, puffer coats, and zip-up jackets were designed using flame-resistant and waterproof fabrics guaranteed to withstand many winters to come. Their eponymous designer aims to make the brand's workwear OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certified in the future to provide more authentic functionality and longevity.
Balenciaga
After a year that felt like the first fifteen minutes of an apocalypse movie, it's no surprise that designers turned to hardcore survivalists for inspiration. Despite their outdoorsy vibes, this fall's trendiest coats stuck to streetwear-approved design details like oversized pockets, zippers, and waterproof nylon fabrics.
Per usual, Balenciaga took a more literal take on the technical outerwear trend for fall. Their virtual runway featured commonplace protective coats like a NASA spacesuit, a construction worker's neon safety jacket, and an even more avant-garde interpretation, a medieval knight's armor.
Pastel Colors
This season, designers dressed their men in fuzzy textures and pastel colors that previously were considered too feminine for "real" men. According to top designers like Fendi, Prada, Hermès, and Loewe, real men— ahem, Champagne Papi— wear pink. And baby blue. And lavender. And lemon yellow.
MSGM
While pastel colors were once reserved for spring, they've now made their way into our wardrobes year-round. At MSGM, retro winter apparel was reimagined in lively shades of lavender, baby blue, chartreuse, and fuchsia. The collection's vintage ski-printed jackets and silk shirts are sure to resell at absurdly high prices next year.
Prada
One of the season's most noteworthy collections came at Prada, the first menswear collection co-designed by Miuccia Prada and the newly-appointed Raf Simons. The duo's slim-leg trousers, colored leather, and single-breasted pastel coats offered a 21st century take on mod 60s fashion.
Runway images c/o Vogue Runway
