11 Style Trends We Hope Happen in 2014

Image via Complex Original

Last year saw a flood of gear that took aesthetic and fit cues from both baseball jerseys and hockey jerseys. That shit was dope as hell, and we're glad that sports had a prominent return to guys' style. But this year we're on that new-new, and we're hoping that America's game takes its turn in the sartorial spotlight. Supreme put out a football jersey that was one of the quickest items to sell out last year, as did Cam'ron, and it's likely that other brands are going to follow suit. 

Denim and chinos will always be wardrobe staples, and they're not going anywhere anytime soon. But in 2014, it'd be dope to see guys throw on suit trousers in a casual 'fit, as they would with regular pants. It's an unexpected added element of formality, but unlike when you throw on a blazer, you won't look like you just DJ'd a bar mitzvah. Mixing in dress trousers as you would a regular pair of jeans or chinos will be a dope way to mix it up this year, and we're hoping that these flourish.

Neoprene was a huge hit with stylish women in the past year, and lots of dudes have their fingers crossed that this futuristic-looking material will jump over to the men's arena somewhat soon. The (usually) matte black synthetic rubber offers up something that stands out without trying, and people might just assume you're a warrior from a post-apocalyptic Waterworld-esque future when you roll through rocking a bulkey neoprene piece.

Dad jeans snatched serious shine in 2013, so why not go all-pops everything in 2014? There are very few demographics that give less of a fuck than middle-aged fathers, and not providing any F's is a central tenet to dope men's style. Thus, by the transitive property, dad jeans, chunky yet comfy sneakers, and oversized tops will place you firmly in the top echelons of people who DGAF, alongside Kim Jong-un, Bill Clinton circa '97, and Ke$ha's ego.

ACG sneakers have been around for a minute now, and while certain models have made sneakerheads drool, their chunky, almost orthopedic appearances have never truly caught on as a whole. However, along with cozy boy, athletic-inspired gear, and the flourishing of sneakers in general, we're hoping that ACG and trail kicks catch fire. It's a simple formula, really. Combining technologies to fuse comfort and ruggedness means these can be worn around the crib or while out on a hike. If dudes don't catch onto that versatility, then that is some serious slippage.

These are kind of rare, but clothing with a 3D texture is incredibly dope. Whether it's an advanced construction method, or exaggerated embroidery that pops off the garment, 2014 will hopefully see many more additions to this somewhat empty genre. Right now, Juun.J and KTZ have a commanding lead in awesome 3D clothing, but there will certainly be contenders coming for the throne this coming year. Which is great news for all of us.

Opulence. You can has it. 2013 saw the return of baroque excess in all its glory, and 2014 should be the year that silk shirts make a return to wearability and acceptability. Yes, they should only be worn on rare occasions, but rocking a silk shirt should no longer be relegated to dudes cruising for sugar mama's (or daddy's) in Florida retirement homes. If you have the confidence and the ability to ignore the haters, this is something to try out in 2014.

A raw or unfinished hem is a subtle detail that will destroy minds. It's one of those tiny things that elevates a plain piece to advanced levels simply by providing something that's rarely seen, but is an essential part of the garment. Most people probably wouldn't even realize that this is what the second-to-last stage of their garment looks like, before it's fully polished and ready to ship to stores. High-fashion labels like Balmain and 3.1 Philip Lim have experimented with this technique, but the trickle-down effect will mean more accessible brands will start offering this dope detail in their pieces. Stay woke, and pretty soon you'll be wearing the lyric, "Ooh baby, I like it rawww."

Sure, you can have a central zipper, a balanced layout of pockets, and a level hemline just like everyone else. Or, if you want to venture into v interesting territory, you can rock an asymmetrical piece that might literally snap necks as people bend their heads to try and comprehend what you're stunting in. Again, high-fashion houses have been touting the non-symmetrical horn for years, but in a time when many more accessibly-priced brands can take inspiration and learn from these higher-ups, we're hoping that asymmetry shines in 2014. A definite risk, but if 2013 was all about individuality and creating your own look, then we're sure that this will trend throughout this year.

All-black everything will always be around, and we saw its counterpart—dipped head-to-toe in all-white—have a moment in 2013. But between the two, there's a lot more room to play without going into color territory. Mixing and matching greys actually has the potential to be a lot more complicated and interesting than sticking to one extreme, since there are a ton of hues and shades to mess around with. Pulling this off is no easy feat, but hopefully there are enough adventurous dudes this year who will enable this trend to take off.

3D printing is in its infant stages right now, and it seems like every article about the method of creation only expands the possibilities of what can be made. Style-wise, the majority of 3D printed objects have been women's shoes and glasses frames. However, as the technology advances and becomes more accessible, it's only a small matter of time before skilled men's designers start fucking with printers, expect the aesthetics of shoes, belts, accessories, and, eventually, complete garments, to progress very quickly. We're hoping 2014 is the year this happens.