First it was ankles, then thighs, and now men are baring their navels in shirts never designed to be tucked in. The trend for skimpier menswear is gaining momentum, with fashion weeks and high street retailers alike embracing shorter tops and shorter shorts.
The New York Times reported on the shrinkage of men's tops at New York fashion week, featuring models in tees and sweaters shrunken nearly to the navel, and button-up shirts stopping well above the waistline. In the real world, retailers are selling loads of shorter men's shirts, and DIY versions are popping up on TikTok as people cut the tails off their shirts.
This new silhouette balances out baggy trousers, creating a 50/50 sandwich effect. It's not the first instance of men's clothes getting skimpier: crop tops for men were big in 2023, and we've just lived through a 'thigh guy summer' with lots of male leg on display. Google searches for Speedos have increased 41% year on year in the UK, and some high street shorts boast 5in or even 3in inseams.
Stylist Luke Day explained that the biggest flex at the moment isn't a designer item but your body. People want to show how hard they have been working out, highlighting toned stomachs and thighs. There's also a 'queering of men's fashion', with men of all orientations enjoying being more playful in how they dress. Additionally, skimpy fashions use less fabric, which is good for the planet, though not buying new clothes at all would be even better.
