From street style to online commentary to editorials, it is hard to deny menswear’s impact. Fashion week only proved that. “[The] fashion showcase does stay true to classic menswear principles: good quality fabrications, sourced from reputable mills and innovative pattern cutting,” says Richard Biedul, creative director and menswear model.

Call it recession dressing, or pin it to the normalisation of gender-fluid fashion – but, in 2023, there is greater interest in quality and practicality when it comes to dressing. If last year was about wardrobe staples, then recent collections hinted at a re-envisioning of how we style them.

Here are four trends insiders spotted in January and tips on how to incorporate them into your existing wardrobe.

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All about the collar

The small but mighty collar may be all you need to revamp a wardrobe favourite for 2023.

“The collar, although a small detail, is an important element of any considered outfit and can either form a symbiotic or singular relationship with the outerwear layer,” says Biedul. He points that, as an example, that designer Christophe Lemaire often keeps everything within the same colour palette and softly tailored.

“The [shirts] and their collars are all similar shades or tones to the outwear, or the same. It is often cut from the same [fabric] as the outerwear and will follow the same dimensions as any outer lapel, creating a subtle relationship between the two.

“A collar can also be cut in a shape that does not echo the outerwear. [Complementary or] contrasting fabrication can be structured if the outerwear is louche, and vice versa. It’s this juxtaposition for me that creates the interest.”

Keep it simple: start with a cohesive base, such as an all-black outfit, and raise the collar. Pair two shapes on top of each other – a round collar and a sharp collar, for example – for something more defined.

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Experimental layering

To avoid feeling drowned in too many layers, focus on textured knits instead of chunky fabrics – or pair chunky fabrics with oversized outerwear. Dress up the look with a coat and blazer, and layer lapels for a high-contrast look.

If you are used to experimental layering, wear the same type of garments on top of each other: tanks over long-sleeved shirts à la Givenchy, or hang your Oxford shirt from your waist to create a skirt-like silhouette, as seen at Egonlab.

Do be a square

Sometimes you just need that one special accessory to tie an outfit together, and the square scarf’s versatility makes it a year-round staple.

“I love tying scarves around my neck: loosely like a necklace or tightly in a stewardess style,” she says. “It also allows me to utilise my wardrobe more efficiently and it’s a simple way to update my wardrobe to fit the latest trends without consuming more every season.”

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To style a scarf, fold it into a triangle and tie it around your neck, finishing it off with a knot at the front.

While subtle, the sharp collar of a button-down shirt makes this easy change look high-effort.

A hands-on approach

Opera gloves trended in 2022 in fabrics like satin and tulle, but 2023 features a more wearable take on the statement piece. Swap synthetics for materials such as wool, leather, cotton or cashmere, as favoured by Allegra Shaw and Shirin Soltani of Canadian apparel brand Uncle Studios.

Regardless of your choice of fabric, Shaw and Soltani say the accessory is the “perfect way to add depth and texture to sleeveless looks” and combat the notion that women’s accessories are frivolous.

Pair elbow-length gloves with short-sleeved garments of the same colour to create a cohesive statement look, or pair darker-toned gloves with a bright base to create contrast and draw the eye.