There hasn’t been a more exciting time to suit up in recent memory. After a hazy pandemic full of athleisure and sneakers, guys are finally excited to get dressed again. Designers and brands are happy to cater to the desire, ushering in an era of modern suiting the likes of which we haven’t seen since the early aughts #Menswear boom, the age of the J. Crew Ludlow suit and All Slim Fit Everything. Modern suiting isn’t quite so stylized or tied to its era. Rather than try and update the suit for 2025, we’re seeing everyone from Dior to Suitsupply focusing on timeless styles and refined elegance. But we’re also seeing something we haven’t seen in a while: the return of the suit as a form of sensual dressing.
Simply put, suits in 2025 are hot. With respect to the Mad Men guys and J. Crew era, suiting these days is far less about looking professional and far more about looking like you know what you’re doing in the bedroom. It’s playful, louche, and features silhouettes far more in line with Mick Jagger’s than James Bond’s. Some of the biggest trends in the space emphasize this, from big-box retailers to up and coming designers in the high fashion space. For a suit that makes you look good in all the right ways, try a few of these trends on for size.
Soft Tailoring
Let’s start here: suiting in 2025 is unstructured (with rare exception). This means less restrictive canvasing in the interior of the jacket and suits that you wear rather than suits that wear you. Think vintage Armani, flowy beauties that draw from Neapolitan suiting rather than British or Brooks Brothers. Soft tailoring can be worn in less formal settings. It’ll look good with a vintage tee underneath or with a bespoke dress shirt or sweater. By removing the layer of structuring in between the fabrics it frees you up to a world of possibilities — and in 2025, that’s what suiting is about. SuitSupply is a great point of reference for guys looking to try this trend out without breaking the bank — they’ve got the best quality for your buck at that price point and work with a customization service that makes it easy to try almost any style in a softer cut.
Strong Shoulders
Alternatively, the inspiration of vintage Armani in the modern suiting era has very much brought back shoulder padding and structured shoulders in suiting. This isn’t entirely at odds with the idea of soft tailoring, though traditional soft tailoring usually won’t feature structured shoulders. The purpose of a structured shoulder in a suit is first and foremost to accentuate your silhouette. It broadens your upper torso, creating a flattering wear on the lower torso.
Furthermore, when paired with a softer and less-structured suit, it creates drape. In any suit — structured shoulder or not — your shoulders are home base for the way the fabric will fall. Good drape, meaning a suit that hangs from your body with grace, flow, and intention, can be elevated from a structured shoulder.
It can also give designers an opportunity for playfulness in design. Look at the tailoring released this year by rising sensation Willy Chavarria, which feature padded shoulders and intentionally piqued design where the arm is stitched to the shoulder itself. It lends weight to the idea that a suit silhouette doesn’t have to try and mimic the human form. It can, just as much, be an opportunity for it to create something intentionally (and stylishly) artificial.
Wide Open
If it wasn’t already evident from the J. Crew shade, skinny is out. This isn’t news to anyone who’s been keeping up for the last few years — if skinny jeans aren’t acceptable anymore, then neither are skinny suits. To go with the focus on flow-y tailoring, designers have been bringing back wider fits and proportions all around. This means baggier (but not un-tailored) trousers, wide lapels, and generous proportions. We aren’t exactly talking about a David Byrne-esque gargantuan suit here but more something along the lines of what Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God label does with tailoring: slouchy but without crossing the line from louche to tacky.
Prep is Back
One of the most notable sensations on the runway over the last year has been the reemergence of classic prep in menswear. Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut brought the designer’s signature approach to modernizing classic prep staples and making them sexy for the first time in decades. He’s not the only one getting in on the fun — Ralph Lauren is as much an icon to young dudes when it comes to getting dressed as he’s ever been.
Prep isn’t limited to suiting but its presence is felt there regardless. It means there’s a resurgence of navy blazers, gold buttons, striped dress shirts, and mixing suit separates — think a swanky, wide-lapelled navy sport coat with pleated khaki dress pants, or a sweater thrown over the shoulders of a well-worn suit. It’s not about looking like you already have a country club membership so much as looking like they wouldn’t stop you at the door when you try to get in.
