Men’s seventies-inspired silk shirts are about to make a comeback

You either love them or hate them, but silk shirts inspired by the 70s are back, says Sarah Young

Friday 25 August 2017 16:13 BST

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Hot on the heels of the pyjama trend – a notion where what you might traditionally wear in bed, you wear outside too – swagged-out silk shirts are an unlikely menswear trend that’s seriously garnering strength right now.

But, will mean really wear silk?

Why not, we say. A fabric that suits the modern, masculine silhouette down to the ground, men have been wearing silk for decades – think pocket squares, ties and even socks – so the evolution to full-on slinky shirt seems only natural.

Aside from the usual feminine associations though, pulling off this trend without looking like a drug lord or as though you’ve just rolled out of bad takes some consideration.

A true lover of bold prints, designer Katie Eary offered a perfect example of how to introduce the silk shirt into your wardrobe and despite the fact her collection was inspired by Paul Raymond – a man who transformed London’s red light district – it felt entirely wearable.

Here, the style came in autumnal hues of orange and plush purple and swathed in classic ‘70s deco motifs.

Similarly, at Louis Vuitton a collection inspired by the glory days of New York artists in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s mused on creatives like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, Robert Mapplethorpe.

Louis Vuitton autumn/winter 2017 (Getty) (Getty Images)

As such, the clothes demonstrated a sense of ease with loose, boxy silk shirts swathed in graphic prints and half-tucked into baggy black bottoms.

There’s no convincing you when it comes to this trend, you either love silk shirt or you hate them. But, if is the former, then remember to wear them with jeans or a well-cut pair of trousers for a laidback look.

It’s also best to ditch any unnecessary frills or fancies to avoid Hugh Hefner territory.