Six Street Style Trends From the Fall 2019 Menswear Shows

Is it just us, or did January feel like a really long month? Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Vogue Runway covered 278 menswear, Pre-Fall, and couture collections (and counting!). The menswear shows began just after the new year, and hardly a day has gone by since without some kind of fashion show coverage.

That means our street style photographers were busier than ever in January, too. Four weeks ago, we shared a few predictions about what guys and girls would be wearing on the streets: cross-body bags, animal prints, elegant coats, utility vests . . . all of which made frequent appearances in Phil Oh and Gianluca Senese's photos. Most of those trends were reflected on the men's runways, too: Luxurious coats (in leather, faux fur, satin, velvet, et cetera) and elevated "man bags" helped define the softer, more elegant kind of masculinity seen at Dior Men and Dries Van Noten, while animal prints lent some glamour and romance to Celine and Marni. The speed at which men's trends are trickling down from the runway (or up from the street) is faster than ever, a happy result of the newfound excitement surrounding men's fashion.

Below, we've called out menswear's top six street style trends, from beautiful outerwear to chunky sweaters. You might just see them again this time next week, when we'll move on to cover the women's ready-to-wear shows in New York.

Vivid, Supercharged Colors
Last season, we were blinded by bursts of neon thanks in part to Prada's highlighter-pink and orange Fall 2018 collection. What could have been a flash-in-the-pan trend exploded this month, with men and women alike dressing in fluorescent shades of yellow, turquoise, and lime green. One thing's for sure: A bright hue can do a lot to boost your mood in five-degree weather.

Fluff's the Stuff
Women have long understood the cozy, body-enveloping appeal of an oversize sweater, but the look is gaining traction with guys, too. We saw XXL cable-knits on the Fall 2019 runways of Sacai, Ami, and Raf Simons, and dudes on the streets wore sweaters so chunky, they didn't even bother with coats.

Investment Coats
Another thing guys have learned from us girls? Spend your money on a great coat! For several months of the year, it's the only thing anyone sees—both IRL and in street style photographs. This season, men continued to move away from puffers and parkas in favor of elegant, tailored coats in luxurious materials like wool, shearling, leather, and faux fur. Considering all the excellent outerwear at Celine, Officine Générale, Prada, and Lemaire, by this time next year even more guys will be leaning into the trend.

Howdy, Cowboys
How to explain dudes' sudden interest in buffalo plaids, cowboy boots, and Pendleton blankets? It could be an extension of the workwear trend we've seen for a few seasons, or maybe we can chalk it all up to Raf Simons's tenure at Calvin Klein 205W39NYC, where he brought Americana motifs, Western boots, and landscape prints to the fore. At the Pitti Uomo shows in Florence, we saw guys and girls accessorize their suits with big-gallon hats, while serape ponchos made appearances in Milan and Paris.

Loaded Cargo
Considering we saw utility vests in men's street style last June, it's safe to say this is more than a passing trend. The fact that Virgil Abloh put cargo vests in both of his Louis Vuitton menswear collections—and has worn them himself—is further proof that the look isn't going anywhere. But if that rugged vibe isn't quite your thing, there are other types of vests, too: fleece vests, plaid sherpa vests, even puffer vests. Just avoid the Midtown-uniform look and layer a hoodie underneath—not a button-down.

Checks, Mate
Plaid is the rare fashion statement that has about a dozen different associations. Maybe it reminds you of Clueless, or '90s grunge, or Ralph Lauren. The checked shirts, pants, and coats we saw outside the menswear shows seemed to check all of those boxes, and then some—and they came in nearly every color of the rainbow. One guy's turquoise and purple shirt and matching headscarf combined two trends in one with its vivid, eye-catching palette.