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From the Prada Spacesuit to New Balance loafers, 2024 had some pretty remarkable fashion trends, to say the least. Here are the best men's fashion moments of 2024.
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Let’s face it, 2024 had some pretty remarkable fashion trends, to say the least. From the Prada Spacesuit to New Balance loafers, it was a year that saw some surprise releases and a swathe of new product collaborations—many of which we never saw coming. So, what better way to reminisce on the year just passed than to reflect on the best men’s fashion moments of 2024? Here are our top picks for the best fashion releases of 2024.
Best Fashion Releases of 2024
Our list of the best men’s fashion moments of 2024 includes the following.
- Most unexpected: New Balance 1906L Loafers
- Best footwear moment: MM6 Maison Margiela x Dr. Martens
- Most Innovative: On Cloudboom Strike LightSpray
- Best collaboration: Aime Leon Dore x Porsche Collection
Now we’ve rounded up our favourites, let’s check out the full list.
Aime Leon Dore x Porsche Collection
Teddy Santis’ New York fashion label has become so synonymous with contemporary luxury that it practically dominates the cultural zeitgeist. From London to Sydney, you are hard-pressed to find a well-dressed man without a piece of Aimé Leon Dore clothing in his collection, and naturally, collaborations have come thick and fast. In 2024, the fashion and lifestyle brand known for its focus on high-quality products teamed up with another icon of design, releasing a capsule collection with automaker Porsche, not to mention a bespoke Porsche 993 Turbo.
While Aimé Leon Dore’s restoration of the classic vehicle is worthy of note, the accompanying collection delivered no shortage of show-stopping extras for good measure. Inspired by the exclusive Mulberry Green Porsche 993 Turbo, the collection featured a range of apparel and accessories, including a leather duffle bag, driving gloves, and the long-awaited Leather Club Jacket.
Crafted from ultra-premium leather, the jacket became an immediate collector’s piece; benefitting from a fusion of retro-inspired stitching and satin interior lining, which in itself was a nod to classic Porsche racing jackets. As Nicola Ader, director of marketing & PR at Porsche Lifestyle Group explained, the collaboration spoke to the brand’s shared ethos of preserving heritage whilst pushing the boundaries of contemporary life.
“It has been a refreshing experience to work on this capsule with the ALD team”, Nicola Ader, director of marketing & PR at Porsche Lifestyle Group said. “The result is the perfect match for the car and a great way for both communities around the world to become part of this project.”
New Balance 1906L Loafers
Who knew a sneaker and a loafer could blend so seamlessly? With so many people pairing sneakers and hiking shoes with formal wear, it’s a no-brainer, really. The new, limited-edition 1906 Loafer takes the open-holed mesh upper, the curvilinear synthetic overlays, and the 860v2 sole unit and reimagines them in the shape of a classic penny loafer. The result? A whole new genre for shoes and one of the best fashion releases of 2024.
As Charlotte Lee, senior footwear designer at New Balance, explained upon the release, the rising popularity of loafers, combined with an emerging preference for mixed-use athleisure, made this unique approach a no-brainer. It seamlessly adapted the designer sneaker aesthetic with the classic silhouette of the loafer, enjoying the best of both worlds.
“When Lani Perry (Senior Product Manager at New Balance) and I were observing the loafer trend, we felt like it was a natural evolution for us as a brand,” said Lee. “Our 2002R had evolved into a mule for a few projects, and the loafer felt like a more progressive version of that. We talked a lot about the luxury fashion space and how there is no longer a hard line between sports and luxury. With our previous heritage marketing campaign, ‘What the Well-Dressed Runner Wears’ it felt like a relevant space for us to play in. These conversations resulted in me taking the 1906R artwork and merging it into a loafer form and ideating colour application.”
Barbour x Noah Bedale Jacket
British mainstay outerwear producer Barbour is enjoying a steady revival in streetwear circles and its ongoing collaboration with Noah is a big reason why. In 2024, the two organisations again teamed up for a collaborative capsule collection, offering fans a rare glimpse at the cross-section of heritage and modernity.
Released in November, the Barbour x Noah Bedale Jacket was undoubtedly the highlight, harking back to a bygone era of hunting jackets and archival prints. The unisex coat, modelled after Barbour’s top-selling style, features a blend of canvas and wool construction. As Brendon Babenzien, Noah’s creative director, explained in a statement, the goal for this collaboration was to evoke a sense of timeless design that stretches beyond the changing of the season.
“For this season’s Barbour collaboration, we stuck to the classic jacket shapes we’ve always loved from them,” said Brendon Babenzien, Noah’s creative director, in a statement. “We used some of our favourite fabrics like Casentino Wool, Donegal Wool, and Cotton Canvas that feel right for the season. We always aim for materials that are tough and built to last. Barbour jackets, more than any other, have a timeless quality that allows them to get passed down from one generation to the next.”
A classically British jacket, the Barbour x Noah Bedale Jacket is available in colours such as black, dark green and tangerine, alongside a traditional waxed cotton Bedale. Perfect for a weekend camping or even just a brisk morning walk, this ultra-versatile release married a decades-long legacy with one of fashion most exciting contemporary brands.
Nike Air Max Dn
The harmony of white, metallic, and silver paired with a futuristic design instantly makes these Nikes stand out. Looking closer, they only get better. The Air Max Dn boasts the latest in technology, featuring a Dynamic Air unit system of dual-pressure tubes, creating a reactive sensation. In 2024, the sneaker enjoyed a retro revival, spotted on the feet of Corteiz’s Javel Berlin, which kicked off a frenzy of interest.
The March launch of the Nike Air Max Dn marked a “new generation” in cushioning technology, containing the brand’s three-decades-long commitment to comfort. According to Juliana Sagat, lead footwear designer for Nike Lifestyle, however, the real success of the sneaker was its ability to translate colour palettes and textures.
“Playing with a rich, endless palette is its own innovative tool”, Sagat said. “When I think about keeping an Air Max model fresh, colour is actually the first thing I think of. You usually think about the visible air unit carrying the emotion, but we see colour as a holistic tool to bring more emotion to a silhouette. The Dn was designed so that colour works precisely and in unison with the Dynamic Air platform, the upper and the general profile of the shoe. When you can do that, your form of self-expression is limitless”.
The Bear x J. Crew Collection
FX’s series The Bear has become a breakout smash, and the cast’s penchant for American workwear has spurred a new generation of Carhartt lovers. Capitalising on this trend, The Bear joined forces with J Crew for a new collection that could be considered merch but feels much more like a true capsule release.
Arriving just in time for the show’s third season, the limited-edition collaboration featured work jackets, sweatshirts, trucker hats and T-shirts emblazoned with the fictional Matter of Fak company logo. The design is simple and vintage in a way that feels so authentic that most people will think you’re sporting your dad’s old clothes.
MM6 Maison Margiela x Dr. Martens
This collab is a godsend for those who want a new pair of Dr. Martens, but want to stand out of the crowd with something a little different from the usual offerings. The very first collaboration between Dr. Martens and MM6 Maison Margiela, the result is a unique collection that merges four core Dr. Martens designs – the Original 1460 boot, the extra tall 1490 boot, the 1461 shoe, and the Penton loafer to form three hybrid silhouettes with an MM6 twist.
P. Johnson x Haulier International
When it comes to Australian men’s fashion labels, two names stand above the rest and this year, they joined forces. In July, suiting magnate P. Johnson teamed up with innovative design house Haulier International for a collaborative collection that celebrated relaxed tailoring, the perfect crossover of design approaches. The collection features tees and caps, as well as a handkerchief available in navy, brown and khaki.
The star of the collection, however, was undoubtedly the collaborative motocross tee. A take on Haulier’s much-loved sportswear staple, the co-branded release sported the P. Johnson logo splashed across the chest and was inspired by racing jerseys of the past. Crafted from an exclusive mesh fabric developed from 100 per cent cotton mercerised yarn, the Canyon motocross Tee also featured contrast-coloured ecru sleeves and a co-branded sleeve print.
Globe-Trotter 007 ‘Goldfinger’ Carry-on Suitcase
One of the best fashion releases of 2024 for avid travellers, the Globe-Trotter 007 ‘Goldfinger’ Carry-on Suitcase is inspired by James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and grey and white Glen check three-piece suit. Expertly crafted, the release features a swathe of 007-worthy details, including a high-gloss metallic silver finish that mirrors the iconic Bond car. Of course, Globe-Trotter’s signature corners and handles remain consistent, with the inside boasting a familiar Glen Check pattern lining.
The collection was released on Globe-Trotter’s website as well as flagship stores in London, Paris and Tokyo in October; however, it arrived in extremely limited quantities. Only 60 cases were ever made, so if you didn’t get nab it upon release, you’ll probably need a licence to kill to secure one
Wrangler Men’s Cone Denim White Oak Selvedge Jean
With the success of Yellowstone bringing Western wear back into the fold, American staple Wrangler is reviving an old favourite. This year, the brand introduced a White Oak selvedge denim jean based on its much-loved 13MWZ Cowboy Cut release. This version comes with all the original icons, including seven belt loops, the leather patch, the five-pocket styling, the ‘W’ pocket stitching, flat rivets, and a self-finished edge meant to be cuffed or rolled.
Most important of all, however, was the use of Cone Demin, an American-milled fabric that originated in Greensboro, North Carolina. Once a proud and bustling denim haven, the area has suffered from globalisation as more brands move production offshore, but for true denimheads, Cone remains a favourite.
Wrangler’s new collection, which also includes a trucker jacket (22MJZ), makes use of selvedge crafted using the Greensboro legend’s unique shuttered mill. The fabric is a 3×1 right-hand twill, 14 oz. 100 per cent cotton raw indigo, with red selvedge ID. If you love denim and want a pair of jeans that lasts, Wranglers latest is a tribute to great American ingenuity.
On Cloudboom Strike LightSpray
These shoes are our top pick for all runners out there or for those who just like to pretend they run. Made with LightSpray technology, the On Cloudboom Strike LightSpray shoes combine robotics and material innovation to create one of the lightest shoes you will ever wear. Running in these shoes truly feels like gliding, and the sleek, simple, and seamless design only makes us love them even more.
Worn by a total of 66 athletes across the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including world no. 1 tennis player Iga Świątek and Australian runner Claudia Hollingsworth, Cloudboom was everywhere this year, and they weren’t hard to spot. With a design that looks unlike any other sports footwear on the market, the sneakers have no laces and are largely made of one single piece of unbroken material. The resulting shoe is lighter, more sustainable, and recyclable which, as journalist Dean Blake explained earlier this year, was just the beginning for On.
The brand has introduced a new manufacturing process, using robotics to spin a semi-translucent monofilament into a custom-built shoe made to fit a particular person’s foot. The resulting shoe has no laces, weighs only 170 grams, and has a carbon footprint 75 per cent less than On’s more traditionally made shoes. While the Cloudboom LS has only been available in specialty drops, On did reveal that the innovative sneaker should be available from the brand’s website in the near future.
Haider Ackermann’s Snow Goose by Canada Goose
Canada Goose’s winter 2024 collection, headed by actor and activist, Ethan Hawke, as the face, is suave, practical and classy. The collection features the ‘Rider Parka’, inspired by a mid-90s Canada Goose archival style that blends an oversized look with hits of reflectivity, utilitarian pockets and a clinchable waist. The collection also features the ‘Celestia Jacket’ which is a new take on the classic shirt jacket.
J. Crew Spring 2024 Menswear
We love J. Crew Spring 2024 Menswear so much, we couldn’t pick just one thing. Arriving two years after Brendon Babenzien (founder of the aforementioned New York-based Noah Clothing) stepped in as men’s creative director, the collection is perhaps the brand’s strongest yet.
Continuing J. Crew’s recent theme of retro preppy design, the 2024 menswear release explored multiple dress codes and fabrics, focusing on lightweight, classic cuts and subtle sophistication. Think pleated chinos, linen-blend blazers and overzied oxfrod shirts. Classy while remaining effortlessly cool, we wouldn’t mind if our entire wardrobe was from this spring capsule.
Prada Spacesuit
Quite literally a spacesuit, you’ll be channelling Neil Armstrong (or Kanye West) in this get-up. Prada and Axiom Space, a leader in the space industry and the creator of the first commercial orbital station, have teamed up to produce NASA’s new spacesuits for the Artemis III lunar mission, the first crewed Moon landing since December 1972, when the Apollo 17 mission concluded. Combining innovation, creativity and style, this suit not only looks cool, but its robust design will also enable human exploration of the lunar south pole for the first time.
Admittedly, this release is less about fashion and more about technology, but the simple fact that Prada holds the keys to the future of intergalactic exploration is worthy of note. According to Axiom, the new spacesuit differs from previous iterations in that it utilises a single, foundational architecture. This structure, which is described as evolvable, scalable and adaptable for missions on the lunar surface and in low-Earth orbit (LEO), arrived through a joint venture between the space exploration organisation and Prada.
The Italian maison’s design and product development team was responsible for providing customised material recommendations and innovative sewing methods to increase comfort while improving the materials’ performance. According to Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s chief marketing officer and head of corporate social responsibility, the decision was not commercial in nature but rather a reflection of the pioneering “spirit of Prada”.
“Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision. I’m very proud of the result we’re showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space,” Bertelli said. “We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features, and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot. I’m sure we’ll continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons, and build new scenarios together.”
The Bachelor’s Handbag
Probably the most comedic release of 2024, this hilarious mock of the infamous ‘bachelor’s handbag’ ie. men carrying home a roast chicken from Woolies or Coles as a complete dinner, solidifies the trend with a streetwear-inspired shoulder bag. With a thick strap, a lightweight bag made from 180-micron thermoplastic and a classic roast chicken flame design, the bag is not only hilarious but actually looks good, too. A classic Aussie fashion accessory.
How Man of Many Chose the Best Men’s Fashion Moments of 2024
To arrive at this list of products, the Man of Many team went through hours of rigorous testing, implementation and analysis before culling our shortlist down to the very best. Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked on curated products that push boundaries and pioneer new fronts, across the automotive, fashion, lifestyle and technology verticals. Sure, we love getting the latest piece of kit in our hands, but being able to point out the benefits and shortfalls objectively is at the heart of what we do.
As a result, this list is primarily comprised of products that we tested in-house and use extensively first-hand. While there are a few exceptions to the rule, generally due to scarcity and availability, we made note of the cultural significance surrounding each product should we not have been able to review it personally.
More Man of Many 100 Stories
Want to know what else made the Man of Many 100 list? Check out all of our coverage for this year, including developments in cars, fashion, tech, and alcohol.
