The trend cycle moves at a breakneck clip, and keeping up can be a royal headache. Which is why, at the start of every new season, we like to wipe the slate clean and start fresh, setting last year’s trends entirely aside—sorry, flip-flops and butter yellow—in order to to clear make mental (and wardrobe) space for all the style swerves the next few months might have in store.
To predict the can’t-miss men's fashion trends awaiting us this summer of 2026, we scoured runway stills, street style shots, and our very own personal mood boards to make sense of where the state of our highly specific union might be headed next. We also challenged ourselves not to predict anything too obvious: Yes, we expect prep’s return to march on, and bombers to again be relevant, but really this story really is a place to take some bigger gambles.
Below, you’ll find a not-quite-comprehensive list of all the weirdest, wildest menswear moves we’re expecting to clock as the year goes on—along with a handful of brands doing them best—hand-picked by the GQ Recommends squad.
Bandwagon Swag
Who knew there were so many die-hard Knicks and Arsenal fans living among us? Sorry to go Grinch mode, but some of these jerseys are looking just a little too crispy and bright to be believed. With the World Cup on the horizon too, it's looking like a generational season for the FOMO crowd. New Summer 2026 trend: Hopping on the trend.—Louis Cheslaw, contributing editor
Technical Backpacks
It's been a well-known thing that backpacks aren't really a style additive, to put it nicely. But around these parts we've noticed trickles of stylish dudes glomming onto svelte, technical packs over the usual tote bag. Made from lightweight nylons and replete with zips, mesh, and straps, the rucksack 2.0 is being tossed in with jeans and white tees, blazers and ties (JFK Jr. coded), and pretty much anything else that's not built for the hiking trails.—Gerald Ortiz, commerce writer
Yes, Chore Coats
Reports of the chore coat's demise have, apparently, been greatly exaggerated. As our eagle-eyed contributor Tyler Wingco wrote last month, seemingly every hot celebrity—from Styles to Elordi to Butler to JAW—has recently been papped in a broken-in blue chore coat. The more things change, the more they stay the same.—LC
No-Shoe Shoes
Shoes have been disappearing into thin air. In this health-obsessed age, it was inevitable that the orthopedic side of the algorithm would finally seep into real-deal fashion trends. Enter the barely-there, no-shoe shoe. Be it a way to ground your body, increase your overall foot health, or add a little freak factor to your outfits, the prescription is clear: chunky shoes are out.—GO
The Dressy Short Sleeve
Looking like you work in the Dunder Mifflin warehouse? Based. This summer, menswear's leading brands are leaning into what tour guides the world over have long known: Nothing breathes better and feels sharper in the summer than a crispy, roomy short-sleeved shirt. Pro tip: Pop a tee under it to extend its life between wash cycles.—LC
Layered Jersey Knits
Maybe we're tired of the plain white tee, or just desperate to have some semblance of layering in the summer that isn't a camp shirt over a tank, but we're seeing a ton of labels and cool guys doubling up their jersey tees in all kinds of vivid color combos. From the quiet confidence of Auralee to the wacky wobbly designs of Camiel Fortgens to the DIY-ness of copping a few cheap-o tees in a gang of colors, the jersey layering beat has never been so bustling.—GO
Fuller Chinos
Chinos are neither new nor particularly trendy. But there seems to be something about a fuller, more relaxed chino that's resonating with the greater menswear zeitgeist. Recession indicator? Perhaps. A refreshing break from jeans? Definitely. Whatever it is, be it the classic mid-century proportions, the formal-casual versatility, or the durable twill fabric, a wardrobe without a good pair of roomy chinos is a wardrobe with a gap.—GO
More Trends for the Rest of 2026
We first came out with our highly accurate trend predictions at the beginning of the year. And while we trust that our team of menswear Nostradamuses are infinitely wise, we may not see every fortune told until the year is complete. But mark our words, these are the rest of the trends you can expect to see.
Lace-Forward Sneakers
Yes, we wrote about approach shoes earlier in the year, and you'll find that trend discussed further down. But more recently, a second sneaker trend has emerged, one that takes a defining feature of the approach shoe—lower, tighter lacing—but does away with the bright logos and highly technical materials, in favor of soft suedes and more muted color tones. Calm.—LC
Field Jackets
We've sensed the rise of field jackets for a few seasons now, and they still have plenty of motion left. (Though we can tell you now that this fall is when they'll fully arrive.) Whether it's more of a classic vintage military field jacket you thrifted, or a high-end riff, the silhouette seems to be well-timed to the descent of the menswear golden ratio. Or maybe they just look cool.—GO
Brown Suede Shoes
If you caught our investigation into the hottest shoe trends on the runways, you'll have spotted plenty of rounder, more casual, almost slipper-like styles leading the conversation. And if we're talking about slipper-like styles, we have to talk about suede. The fabric is supple, humble, and ages beautifully. (It also makes your feet sweat less than shiny leather shoes.) So yes, this is a trending look, but it's also a very practical one.—LC
The Henley
For all the anti-henley agendas that certain GQ editors (me, Gerald Ortiz) have pushed forth in recent years, it's totally rich to say that we (me, Gerald Ortiz) have finally come around to them. No longer are henleys the detritus of the 2010s menswear era. In fact, they're more louche, a little grungey (complimentary), and a powerful layering piece in the warmer months. Here's to maturing.—GO
Nylon Jackets
Light, rain-deflecting jackets have always been essential for April and the months that follow, but we're seeing the industry turn away from your typical gray and navy windbreaker colorways in favor of those that pack a little more punch, from iridescent green at Alex Mill to a glowy red at Literary Sport or a polar white at Patagonia. And where black is still being deployed, it's happening in a more fashion-forward, tailored cut.–LC
Tinted Sunnies
I'm sad, because they're the classics, but the classic frame-lens combinations of black and black or tortoiseshell and brown aren't quite cutting it at the moment. The world's more stylish dressers are creating visual interest—for the paparazzi, but also themselves—by wearing lenses that show the world in a whole new light. And couldn't we all use some of that?—LC
Handbags, Finally
Men and small bags are no strangers, but 2025 was the year the gentleman’s handbag came into sharp focus: hard to miss on the runway, and front and center as that read as a sensible statement. It’s a pragmatic carry solution that men have avoided for far too long thanks to a handful of dopey, outdated norms, and as the warmer months of 2026 arrive, I’m expecting more guys willing to experiment and ease into smaller, structured bags that feel polished and practical. —Michael Nolledo, commerce director
A Little Fun, As A Treat
As I surveyed this Spring’s collections last summer in Paris, I noted that in and amongst the serious, dark tones of the cooler showrooms, every so often I’d come across something designed simply to make the wearer smile. At men’s-minded jeweler Bleue Burnham, there was a fine signet ring that said ‘Creme Brulée’ and a gold brooch that said ‘Olive Oil’. At Yoke, a cardigan attached to a shirt—or was it the other way around? At Gajiroc, a whimsical silk lining covered in chess pieces. The sense of play wasn’t limited to Paris, either: It seems that over in New York, the tee of the year was Emily Dawn Long’s tongue-in-cheek ‘Take Off Your Clothes’ reversible fader. My guess is that having a sense of humor, and wearing something that shows it, is going to become a move that shows you’re not just dressing to prove you know what’s up. —LC
High and Tight Vs
Sometimes, something is so out for so long that it comes full circle, and it’s imminent in-ness starts to feel inevitable. Such is the case with the v-neck, once relegated to the annals of indie sleaze and reruns of Jersey Shore. In 2025, I felt myself begin to crave v-neck knitwear for the first time in nearly a decade, and looking ahead to 2026, I can sense (against all odds) a v-neck tee in my future. But—importantly, integrally—not all Vs are created equal. In 2026, your v-neck should be tight and high; anything that reveals more than a whisper of clavicle should remain banished to the past ... for now. —Tyler Lee Sparling, contributing commerce editor
Approach Shoes
I know damn well the only thing I’ve approached in my La Sportivas is my local cafe for a pour-over, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great-looking shoe, and one I think is about to gain serious traction in your footwear rotation very soon. Long a staple for climbers who need something that can handle a scramble, the approach shoe combines the gorp-ness of a hiker with a slimmer, torpedo-like silhouette.—Jordan Bowman, commerce editor
Mid-Length Car Coats
I love a dramatically long topcoat as much as the next performative male, but I think that it’s a matter of nature that menswear try-hards (such as myself) will try to make mid-length, thigh-grazing coats a thing. TikTok has pummeled the menswear golden ratio into the ground, insisting that outerwear has to be either cropped to the waist—often much shorter—or fall well past the knee. There’s a reason this formula works, but the early adopters and innovators will want to rail against the algorithm. That’s where the car coats come in. Think of the coat that Dennis Quaid wears in The Parent Trap and you’re in the right place. —GO
Engineer Boots
(Other) Tyler, I hear you, I respect you, but I counter your ballet flats with this: engineered boots. Cowboy boots have been huge recently, even for us city folks, but I’m pretty sure 2026 is going to get a little less yee-haw and a little more … whatever sound engineering makes. Clunkier, usually black boots are sure to make a statement in the upcoming year, and they’re especially great for us short (5’ 9” and under) kings. —Tyler Chin, associate commerce editor
3-Button Suits
Around 2022, I asked a fashion friend of mine whether or not he thought 3-button suits would ever come back into vogue. He’s one of those dudes that’s very into bespoke tailoring and classic menswear, and after he explaining how 2-buttons and 3-roll-2s complement the male body, it made sense that they’d held their ground for so long. Naturally, he wasn’t convinced 3-button suits would see a resurgence anytime soon. I’ve been stewing on that idea ever since, and I think now is the time. Designers have always included them in their collections, of course, but I think we’ll see them become more popular with the broader fashion audience. —GO
Braided Belts
The menswear scene has been oversaturated with western belts over the last few years. Once men sink their teeth into an accessory, they hold onto those things with a falcon’s grip, but I’m begging us to let go. Those dainty metal tips end up dangling at your side like a loose tag you forgot to cut off, just a flap of leather blowing in the wind. I’m offering a worthy successor, the humble braided belt, which still can add a pop of texture to your fit. —JB
Argyle Sweaters
I used to despise argyle sweaters. They were frumpy and decidedly uncool. But recently, I’ve started to see them pop up in different lookbooks, or being worn by cool guys the world over. Suddenly, my third eye opened, and I saw the light. Of course, the knits that I’m talking about have been chopped and screwed and flipped into something more fun, but I expect you’ll see the pattern cropping up more frequently. After all, the pattern is a reminder that diamonds really are forever. —JB
The Last Shoes Standing
For a certain corner of the style crowd—the more, let’s say, artisanal leaning—the sneaker (or at least, getting publicly excited about sneakers) has been dead for a very long time. At the same time, the loafer seems to have died a quiet death too. The logical endpoint of all this hating? Unless you’re a Chelsea boot-wearing Hedi Boy, all anyone’s going to be left with is the final boss of footwear, the black derby, which can anchor suits and denim alike, and fears no rainy conditions. Menswear’s best boutiques are increasingly stocking them, cult brands are designing them, and if you pick up a resoleable pair, you’ll even be making one of the rarest things in fashion: A sustainable purchase. —LC
Sexy Metal Frames
The reign of acetate frames is about to end. Whether they were thick chunky frames or daintier feminine ones, popular eyewear in recent years has tended to be mostly made from plastic. But I’m seeing metal frames starting to gain the edge. The difference this time around? These ones aren’t designed to disappear into your handsome face, but to draw attention to it. —TC
