Introduction#
Every June, the same question lands in my inbox: does menswear actually change season to season, or is it just women’s trends with a three-month delay? Having tracked runway-to-retail translation for several summer collections now, I can say 2017 is one of the more interesting years for men’s style specifically because the trends that stuck were the practical ones, not the spectacle ones. Yellow tailoring, waist-tied jackets, backpacks over messenger bags, wooden-soled loafers — none of this requires you to dress like you’re at a show. It requires you to be willing to update a few defaults in your closet.
This guide skips the runway theatrics and focuses on what’s actually showing up on well-dressed men this summer, what’s worth buying, and what I’d pass on. If you’re trying to figure out where to put your budget for men’s [[[[summer fashion](/brands/valentino-leopard-print-chain-clutch-review/)](/brands/kenzo-disney-jungle-book-collection/)](/buying-guides/designer-beachwear-buying-guide/)](/buying-guides/top-designer-straw-bags-for-summer/) trends 2017, this is the honest version.
Everyday-Wearable Clothing Trends#
Most seasonal “trends” are really just runway moments that never make it past the front row. The three below aren’t that. I’ve seen all of them worn well, off-duty, by men who dress for their actual lives.
Yellow, in small or large doses. Yellow had a real moment this summer — not mustard-as-an-accent, but yellow as a primary color choice, from polos to outerwear. Prada’s yellow panther-embroidered polo is a good example of how a house can make a loud color feel considered rather than costume-y. The honest caveat: yellow is unforgiving. It photographs beautifully and reads as confident in person, but it’s not a color you ease into gradually. If you’re not used to wearing color at all, start with a yellow accessory before you commit to a yellow jacket.
The jacket-as-waist-accessory. This is a straight pull from ’90s style, and it resurfaced hard this season — a lightweight jacket tied around the waist rather than worn. It works best with jackets that have some personality: a bold print, a bright hue, something that reads intentional rather than “I got too warm and didn’t know where else to put this.” My honest take: it’s a great styling trick for outdoor daytime events — festivals, brunches, city walks — but it can look try-hard in a more polished setting. Know your room.
Neutral and military-inspired looks. This is the trend with the longest shelf life of the three. Sandy, ecru and stone tones in linen and lightweight cotton give you an effortless, put-together look with almost no styling effort. If you want something with more edge, military and camouflage detailing — Valentino’s camo-print leather high-top sneakers are a good example — brings a harder, more masculine note without tipping into costume territory. Both directions work because they’re built on classic menswear proportions, not runway exaggeration.
The Backpack Takes Over#
If there’s one accessory shift worth actually paying attention to this summer, it’s this: the backpack has taken the place of the messenger bag as the go-to men’s carry piece. This isn’t a minor lateral move — it changes how the bag sits on the body, how it reads formality-wise, and what materials brands are using.
Why the shift happened comes down to practicality. Messenger bags put weight on one shoulder and tend to slide, which is annoying the second you’re walking any real distance in summer heat. A well-made leather or technical-fabric backpack distributes weight evenly, keeps both hands free, and — when designed well — looks just as sharp with tailoring as it does with weekend clothes. Brands leaned into this by producing backpacks in structured leather rather than purely sport-technical fabric, which is what makes them work with a blazer instead of just gym kit.
What to actually look for if you’re buying one: a silhouette that’s slim enough not to bulk out under a jacket, hardware and stitching that reads considered rather than sporty, and a strap system that’s adjustable enough to sit close to the back. Skip anything oversized or overtly “travel bag” in shape — that reads more airport than street style. This is one of the few bag trends I’d call genuinely investment-worthy rather than seasonal, because the functional case for it (versus a messenger bag) doesn’t go away when the trend cycle moves on.
Footwear: Loafers, Sandals, Sneakers and Boots#
Loafers, sandals, sneakers and warm-weather boots have all been in rotation for a few seasons already. What’s new for 2017 is the detailing, not the categories.
Loafers with wooden soles. The classic loafer keeps coming back for good reason — it’s one of the few shoes that moves between casual and semi-formal without effort. Burberry’s suede tassel loafer is a solid reference point for the silhouette. The detail actually worth noting this season is the wooden sole: it gives the shoe a more textural, artisanal look than a standard leather or rubber sole, and it reads dressier in photos than it does in person. If you’re buying a new pair specifically for summer, this is the version to look for.
Sandals, off the pool deck. Sandals moved firmly onto the street this year, and in some cases into surprisingly formal settings. Hermès’ croc-embossed sandals are a good illustration of how far upmarket this category has gone — this isn’t a beach accessory anymore, it’s being styled with tailored shorts and even trousers. My honest opinion here: this only works if the sandal itself looks expensive. A basic slide with a suit is a fashion risk that rarely pays off; a well-made leather or exotic-skin sandal is a different conversation.
Summer boots — yes, really. I know “summer boots” sounds like a contradiction, but lightweight lace-up sneaker-boots, like Salvatore Ferragamo’s leather styles, have genuinely earned a place in warm-weather rotation. They work because they’re built from breathable materials and low-profile soles rather than heavy leather. If you’re skeptical, that’s fair — this is the trend on this list that requires the most trust in the execution. Buy from a brand that’s clearly designed the boot for warm weather, not a heavy winter boot in a lighter colorway.
Sneakers. Camouflage and military detailing carried into sneakers as well this season, which ties back to the neutral/military clothing trend above. If you’re already leaning into that look elsewhere in your wardrobe, a pair of camo sneakers is an easy way to extend it into footwear.
How to Style These Trends#
The trends above work best combined, not worn in isolation. Here’s how I’d actually put them together:
- Pair neutral or sandy linen separates with a leather backpack for an effortless daytime look that reads put-together without trying hard. This is the easiest combination on this list and the one I’d recommend to anyone unsure where to start.
- If you’re wearing a yellow piece, keep everything else neutral. Yellow polo or jacket, sandy trousers, wooden-sole loafers — one statement color, everything else quiet.
- Save the waist-tied jacket for genuinely casual, outdoor settings — think daytime events, not dinner. Tie it over a plain tee and shorts rather than over another statement piece; two loud elements fighting for attention rarely works.
- Military and camo detailing pairs best in one place at a time. Camo sneakers with plain trousers, or a camo print top with neutral bottoms — not both at once unless you genuinely want the head-to-toe statement look.
- Sandals work hardest when you commit to them as the “shoe” for an outfit, not an afterthought. Pair with tailored shorts or lightweight trousers and keep the rest of the look clean and minimal.
Buying Advice: What’s Worth Investing In#
Here’s my honest breakdown, because not every trend above deserves the same budget.
Worth investing in: the backpack. The functional argument for it over a messenger bag doesn’t disappear when summer ends, and a well-made leather backpack from a house like the ones referenced above will carry you through several seasons, not just one. Wooden-sole loafers are also a reasonable investment if you already wear loafers regularly — the detail is distinctive enough to feel current without being so trend-specific that it’ll look dated in two years.
Worth trying, lower commitment: neutral/military tones and sandals. These are safe enough silhouettes that even if the “trend” cycles out, the pieces stay wearable — a good sandy linen shirt or a well-made sandal doesn’t stop being useful just because it’s not the season’s headline anymore.
Seasonal, buy cautiously: the yellow trend and the waist-tied jacket. Both are genuinely fun and photograph well, but they’re also the two most closely tied to this specific moment in menswear. I wouldn’t spend serious money on either unless you already know you’ll wear the piece on its own merits, not just because it’s “in” right now. A yellow jacket you’ll wear once a summer isn’t a great use of budget; a yellow polo you’ll wear regularly is a different story.
The wildcard: summer boots. They’re a smart idea executed well by the right brands, but they’re also the easiest category to get wrong if the materials aren’t genuinely breathable. I’d only buy from a brand with a clear track record in lightweight footwear construction.
FAQ#
Are these 2017 men’s summer trends still relevant if I’m shopping now? The core pieces — backpacks over messenger bags, neutral/military tones, wooden-sole loafers — have aged well because they’re built on functional or classic foundations rather than pure novelty. The yellow trend and waist-tied jacket styling are more time-stamped to that specific season and read more “trend-driven” if worn today.
What’s the single easiest trend from this list to adopt? The backpack swap. It requires no styling risk, works with almost everything you already own, and solves a real practical problem — uneven weight distribution and shoulder slide — that messenger bags never fully solved.
Is the wooden-sole loafer detail purely cosmetic? Largely yes, but it changes the shoe’s overall character — it looks more artisanal and textured than a standard sole, which is why it stood out as the loafer detail worth mentioning that season, even though the comfort and function are comparable to a well-made leather sole.
How do I wear sandals without it looking too casual? Pair them with tailored shorts, lightweight trousers, or elevated separates, and make sure the sandal itself is well-constructed — a refined leather or exotic-skin sandal reads intentional, while a basic rubber sandal will always read beach-only, no matter what you pair it with.
Should I follow all of these trends at once? No. Pick one or two that suit how you already dress — start with the backpack or the neutral/military tones if you want low-risk, high-payoff updates — rather than trying to incorporate every trend into a single outfit.
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