Menswear Fashion Trends: 4 Accessories to Boost Your Style

Photo: pexels.com

It’s a great time for men interested in fashion as countries like the UK see a boost in menswear despite the ups and downs of the economy. The market is looking at an 11% growth in the next three years, outperforming the larger womenswear market. 

With the rise of digital resources, more men are becoming privy to tips and trends that can help them cultivate their personal style. In the pursuit of establishing aesthetic identities, this has also opened up the opportunity for new brands and big players to expand on the options available in various styles. 

Even men who don’t label themselves fashion enthusiasts have more confidence and interest in mixing and matching pieces to express their personality. Since there is an increasingly diverse range of options out there, it comes down to finding the right accessories to boost your style. 

Sunglasses

Eyewear has long been a staple in men’s fashion because it effortlessly combines practicality and style. You can find men’s sunglasses with practical advantages in different situations while allowing you to exude coolness, sportiness, or whatever vibe you want to put down. Be it a premium Ray-Ban gunmetal pair of shades or more affordable ones like the Grayson from TheCollection, there are countless options in different frames and colors that do a good job of elevating the look and protecting your eyes from UV rays, glare, and dust and debris. GlassesDirect makes it easier to browse through different price points and brands, so it comes down to finding the one that fits your tastes. 

Feel free to try various styles to see which strikes your fancy, but a good starting point is to check what frame suits your face shape the most. To simplify the process, just remember to pick the opposite shape of your face. Angular faces look better with rounded frames and vice versa, and you can balance the size by measuring your face from temple to temple. A classic example of a fashionable man who rocks sunglasses in different frames and tints is Brian Sacawa, known for being an elite-level bicycle racer and creator of He Spoke Style; he usually opts for chic square frames with brown or black tinted lenses. 



Photo: pexels.com

Rings 

If you want the confidence to wear rings beyond the marital kind, look to popular fashion influencers and models like Wisdom Kaye. Rings are ripe for aesthetic flexibility as you can match them with other bling like chains, necklaces, and watches. You can mix and match how many rings you want to wear and on what fingers you want to put them on. Simply browsing through collections from Hatton Labs or Mejuri already shows the potential of styling yourself with rings, especially as you have a whole selection of materials, designs, and cuts. 

Choose metals that complement your skin undertones if you want your rings to be subtle or bold. Warm undertones look better with yellow and rose gold. Otherwise, silver, platinum, or white gold looks nicer with cool undertones. A good way to check your undertone is to look at your veins - green veins tend to be present in warm skin tones, while purple or blue is more common in cool skin tones. You can also take a personalised take with your rings; celebrity Harry Style adds a layer of identity to his collection, sporting chunky gold rings shaped like an “H” and an “S” to denote his initials. 

Bags

Men have worn bags as a part of their daily essentials for centuries, but the exact style of bag comes and goes. If you’re feeling hesitant due to notions of looking less mature or manly, take comfort in the fact that it’s the age of the men’s statement bag. Be it a clutch, “murse” (man purse), or bum bag, some of the most fashionable men in the world have embraced the power of a solid bag in improving an outfit. From Jacob Elordi to A$AP Rocky, more men have embraced pieces like the classic Louis Vuitton Speedy and the Dior Men’s Saddle bag. Even rising stars like Kit Connor have taken to carrying around Bumper bags by JW Anderson. 

Bags also took the runway by storm during the 2024 menswear collections of Paris Fashion Week. Backpacks, clutches, and slings have even seen oversized variants having their renaissance after years of minimalist preferences. Whether you want a bold design or prefer singular colours, you may want to wear a smaller bag (or a micro bag) and see how you like it before moving up to bigger totes or purses. 

Hats

One of the reasons hats remain a prime accessory is because there are so many style options for every preference, all while serving a practical function. You can protect your head from the sun, rain, or snow and have a more eye-catching look in the process. Digital menswear creator Drew Joiner breaks down the impact of headwear in fashion with his coverage of beanies, bucket hats, bandanas, caps, knitted hats, and more as a part of Western style. 

With so many colours, styles, and materials available, you have a lot to play with. Since it comes back to preference, a general rule is to find a hat that complements your face shape. It’s the same principle as sunglasses, where opposites attract when it comes to roundness versus sharpness. From there, you can figure out whether you’re more of a Borsalino brushed trilby guy, a Laird beret man, or a Kangol beanie dude. Musician Pharrell Williams has tried on different hat styles during his time, and it seems like the distinct buffalo hat is one of his favourite shapes to appear taller. Likewise, Bruno Mars tends to use hats to add a retro flair to his outfits, pairing bold patterned silk shirts with his vast collection of fedora hats, so men can take inspiration from his casual but timeless and sophisticated style.