A handful of womenswear designers known for very feminine styles have been bringing their sensibilities into the menswear space of late. The move makes sense as the lines between womenswear and menswear are increasingly blurring, as illustrated by the rise of gender-neutral collections and gender-neutral pieces within womenswear and menswear lines.
Some recent examples:
- Laura Ashley, the 70-year-old, Gordon Brothers-owned British label known for romantic and nostalgic florals and ruffles and inspired by Victorian styles and country estates, partnered with Rag & Bone, the menswear brand that gains inspiration from British tailoring and American workwear. The 10-piece collection, which launched in September and is being distributed internationally, encompasses shirts, sweaters, pants, hoodies, jackets, and accessories that integrate archival Ashley florals into Rag & Bone styles.
- Lilly Pulitzer entered into a men’s resortwear collaboration with Southern Tide in a deal announced in May. The 16-piece, South Carolina–themed joint collection—including golf shorts, sport shirts and polos, boxers, and swim trunks, often with performance characteristics—will feature the Pulitzer label’s signature prints, many of them florals, integrated into key pieces from Southern Tide’s range. Both brands are owned by Oxford Industries and capture a coastal look and feel. Lilly Pulitzer has had some deals in the menswear space over the years, but this is one of its biggest forays into the category.
- In April, the Mugler label, headed by Casey Cadwallader, a designer GQ described as a “purveyor of high-femme sex appeal,” paired with H&M for an apparel collection including womenswear, gender-neutral accessories, and—in a first for Cadwallader—menswear. The menswear portion of the spring 2023 collection included glam and futuristic blazers, trench coats, trousers, and tops, with leather and denim being key materials. The Mugler label under its late original designer, Thierry Mugler, entered the menswear sector briefly years ago before discontinuing the line.
In addition to the blurring and blending of womenswear and menswear styles, these initiatives collectively touch on several of the menswear trends for 2023 as identified by industry watchers, including the continued strength of retro looks, all-over denim styles, a combination of performance and high fashion, and the use of floral prints.
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