A$AP Rocky is leading the fuzzy menswear trend

The comfort-core trend isn’t going anywhere next season. We’re not sure whether fashion’s biggest conglomerates are trying to cheer us up as we enter a period of sober austerity, or whether they’re trying to warm us up as energy costs skyrocket to depressing heights. All we know is cheery, fuzzy-wuzzy, huggable menswear is everywhere next season.

We have Marni to thank for it. The luxury Italian brand has been championing the shaggy stuff in its recent collections – who could forget that spectacular Barbie-pink Argyle cardigan from AW21? And it’s doubling down this season with plenty more of the fluffy stuff. There were furry flashes of shearling at Prada, Hermes, Loewe and Jil Sander – on jacket collars and along hemlines. Whilst over at Versace, Donatella – normally a fan of sensual skin-baring – presented full-on cover-ups in the form of mohair jumpers and shearling tracksuits.

Practicality aside, we have a feeling this garb is going to feed our appetites for dressing up again too. After two years of fighting various forms of Covid, we’re all gagging to put on the ritz again as party season approaches. Come on, admit it – few things feel better than wearing something furry on the inside, or lined with shearling or faux fur on the outside.

It’s caught on in celebrity circles already. A$AP Rocky has shown fierce loyalty to a furry bucket hat while taking up residency in New York, while South Korean pop-star HyunA recently wore a shaggy 70s style gilet to Paris Fashion Week.

It’s a trend that’s set the tone for the wider season, which, in a nutshell, is all about having fun with colour and texture. Just make sure you keep out of the rain if you’re going to try it…