Merz b. Schwanen PANTS

The current state of contemporary designer men’s pants culls from a vast gamut of stylistic cues and a history-spanning range of reference points, yet remains indelibly grounded in the sartorial here-and-now. Yielding the ability to encapsulate a moment in time by way of silhouette and texture, pants are an immovable pillar of men’s dressing, which accounts for for the dynamic nature of this season’s offerings. While the elevation of slouchy loungewear remains a palpable undercurrent, the slimmed-down fits that dominated the early-21st century continue to prevail as a viable option for completing sleek ensembles. Bold all-over patterns vie for centrepiece status, instilling the logomania formerly restricted to sweatshirts and t-shirts into a garment that has been seldomly used as a vessel for brand histrionics. Contrarily, prim trousers carry on the tradition of bespoke formal wear, offering dignified silhouettes that effectively complement dressed-up ensembles or serve as a welcome contrasting element to casual sneakers and t-shirts. With familiar structures colliding with forward-thinking designs that are far removed from any pre-existing fashion context, the sheer scope of the latest in designer pants showcases the collated influences that inform contemporary menswear.