The trend cycle moves at a breakneck clip, and keeping up can be a royal headache. Which is why, at the start of every new season, we like to wipe the slate clean and start fresh, setting last year’s trends entirely aside—sorry, flip-flops and butter yellow—in order to to clear make mental (and wardrobe) space for all the style swerves the next few months might have in store.
To predict the can’t-miss men’s fashion trends awaiting us this spring of 2026, we scoured runway stills, street style shots, and our very own personal mood boards to make sense of where the state of our highly specific union might be headed next. We also challenged ourselves not to predict anything too obvious: Yes, we expect prep’s return to march on, and bombers to again be relevant, but really this story really is a place to take some bigger gambles.
Below, you’ll find a not-quite-comprehensive list of all the weirdest, wildest menswear moves we’re expecting to clock as the year goes on—along with a handful of brands doing them best—hand-picked by the GQ Recommends squad.
Fuller Chinos
Chinos are neither new nor particularly trendy. But there seems to be something about a fuller, more relaxed chino that’s resonating with the greater menswear zeitgeist. Recession indicator? Perhaps. A refreshing break from jeans? Definitely. Whatever it is, be it the classic mid-century proportions, the formal-casual versatility, or the durable twill fabric, a wardrobe without a good pair of roomy chinos is a wardrobe with a gap.—Gerald Ortiz, commerce writer
