With fashion week attendees now meticulously planning their fashion month wardrobes as standard, street style pictures of menswear’s major players offer plenty of food for thought.

Here, we run down the key themes that developed off the runways this season.

1. White Legwear

Legwear in white (or shades of off-white) might not exactly be a game-changing development but while these trews are a true summer classic, their popularity at the recent spring/summer 2016 shows verified they’re no longer a niche choice.

Milan proved to be the trend’s biggest proponent, with show attendees mostly opting for cropped chinos and linen trousers in white, cream and ivory. Here, they were teamed with a tee or shirt and a blazer or denim jacket, with almost all looks elegantly punctuated by a pair of loafers.

The effect was one part Riviera refinement and another nonchalant urban style.

Get The Look

• ASOS SKINNY FIT SMART TROUSERS IN COTTON SATEEN
• ASOS SLIM CHINOS
• TOPMAN WHITE STRETCH SKINNY CHINOS
• BERLUTI SLIM-FIT WASHED COTTON LINEN AND SILK-BLEND CHINOS
• UNIQLO MEN DRY STRETCH TROUSERS
• REISS HAMPTON SLIM-FIT TROUSERS WHITE
• J.CREW URBAN SLIM-FIT LIGHTWEIGHT COTTON TROUSERS
• TOPMAN PREMIUM OFF WHITE TROUSERS
• AUSTIN REED PREMIUM OFF WHITE TROUSERS

2. Neutral Suiting

While checks – from Prince of Wales to tartan – came up trumps at the autumn/winter 2015 shows, this season saw tailoring devotees change tack. Whether in a bid to stave off the summer heat or simply switch up their suiting colours, fashion week’s most-watched opted for neutral hues for the SS16 shows.

In London – possibly in keeping with the dim natural light – shades of grey were the clear favourite, with single-breasted suits (sometimes featuring subtle checks) in stone, pewter and slate grey all spotted.

In Milan, however, fashion month regulars went for brighter neutrals like cream and ivory, either adding a shirt in a similar hue for a head-to-toe tonal look or creating a well-executed contrast with a sky blue button-down.

Finally, upholding its reputation for one of the most colourful showcases of street style on the fashion week circuit, Pitti Uomo featured suits in rich neutrals like camel and ecru.

Get The Look

• HE BY MANGO SLIM-FIT LINEN-BLEND SUIT BLAZER
• TOPMAN STONE SKINNY FIT SUIT
• REISS WILSON B FLECKED SLIM-FIT BLAZER STONE
• REISS SHANNON B SLIM-FIT BLAZER STONE
• RIVER ISLAND CREAM COTTON WOVEN SLIM SUIT JACKET
• NEXT TAILORED FIT SUIT
• SUITSUPPLY HUDSON LIGHT BROWN CHECK
• SUITSUPPLY LAZIO LIGHT BROWN PLAIN
• J. CREW CROSBY TRAVELER SUIT JACKET IN ITALIAN WOOL

3. Sun Hats

Like them or loathe them, when it comes to savvy summer dressing, hats aren’t just considered finishing touches, they’re practical sun guards.

They came in all shapes, sizes and colours for the spring/summer 2016 show circuit (predominantly fedoras and trilbies), whether used as a debonair touch to head-to-toe tailoring or as a counterpoint to contemporary, urban looks that mixed tailored pieces with casual separates. There were bucket hats and snapbacks too, but casual styles gave way to more classic headwear overall.

We even spotted a hat in Paris that could’ve doubled as a lampshade – best not to try this one at home, gents.

Get The Look

• TOPMAN BLACK TWILL BUCKET HAT
• TOPMAN CAMEL PURITAN
• RHYTHM POCKET TRILBY HAT IN GREY
• HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO LAKE REVERSIBLE BUCKET HAT
• TOPMAN STRAW PORK PIE HAT
• M&S COLLECTION LUXURY PANAMA HAT
• OLNEY WIDE BRIM PANAMA HAT NATURAL
• RIVER ISLAND WHITE STRAW PANAMA HAT
• LORO PIANA TOQUILLA STRAW PANAMA HAT

4. Double-Breasted Blazers

Statement tailoring isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, it seems. While there were markedly more single-breasted suits than usual at London, the double-breasted (DB) jacket still made its presence felt, with street style stalwarts kitted out in everything from pastel linen designs to on-trend striped versions.

But, overall, menswear’s finest seem to be losing their fondness for the full on double-breasted three-piece suit, switching instead to a more flexible sartorial option: tailored separates. The DB blazer was one of the key choices outside spring/summer 2016 show venues, worn either in navy, light blue, red or neutrals with contrasting plain colour or patterned trousers.

And while it might seem on first glance a fairly conservative, restrictive choice, the men we shot proved it’s anything but – with some taking the traditional route of shirt and tie, and others swapping shirts for v- or scoop neck tees, and trousers for jeans.

If you’re looking for lessons in smart-casual dressing, look no further.

Get The Look

• BURTON LIGHT GREY DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER
• TOPMAN SELECTED HOMME GREY BLAZER
• TOPMAN STONE DOUBLE BREASTED COTTON BLAZER
• NOOSE & MONKEY DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER WITH SILVER CHAIN IN SKINNY FIT
• NEW LOOK BURGUNDY DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER
• HE BY MANGO DOUBLE-BREASTED PIQU? BLAZER
• RIVER ISLAND BLUE PREMIUM DOUBLE BREASTED SLIM BLAZER
• REISS PITTI B DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER NAVY
• LORO PIANA UNSTRUCTURED DOUBLE-BREASTED COTTON BLAZER

5. Denim Jackets

When fashion’s most formidable – from Tom Ford to Miuccia Prada – agree something’s going to make it big, then you’d better believe them. Having showed denim-filled collections in their droves for spring/summer 2015, designers quickly heralded the return of this utilitarian fabric – most notably in the form of the denim jacket.

Only recently a bad 1990s memory we’d all been trying to forget, the denim jacket is well and truly back, with fashion buyers and press sporting white, light wash and raw jean jackets at the SS16 shows.

Some stuck close to this outerwear staple’s humble roots, keeping it casual with chinos and trainers, while others elevated the jacket from rugged to something much more refined, teaming it with a shirt, cropped trousers and monk-straps.

This is one easy-access trend you don’t want to miss out on.

Get The Look

• TOPMAN MID WASH DENIM WESTERN JACKET
• ASOS DENIM JACKET IN SKINNY FIT
• PAUL SMITH JEANS DENIM JACKET
• ALLSAINTS RIDGEWAY DENIM JACKET
• HE BY MANGO DARK DENIM JACKET
• HE BY MANGO VINTAGE WASH DENIM JACKET
• BURBERRY BRIT DRY-DENIM JACKET
• NEW LOOK BLUE BASIC DENIM JACKET
• ACNE STUDIOS JAM DENIM JACKET

6. Coloured Lens Sunglasses

Like the perfect hem pinroll or an exceptionally well-knotted tie, choosing the ideal style of sunglasses is one of those subtle details that can take a look from unremarkable to outstanding in an instant.

This season, menswear’s most stylish chose coloured lens sunglasses to lend their looks an extra dimension; sometimes worn in a colour that provided a point of contrast to an understated ensemble, but more often worn in shades that offered tonal accents to the outfit’s core palette.

Get The Look

• RAY-BAN ROUND POLARISED SUNGLASSES 0RB3447
• TOPMAN LTD X EYE RESPECT REVO BLACK SUNGLASSES
• HE BY MANGO MIRRORED LENSES SUNGLASSES
• RIVER ISLAND AVIATOR SUNGLASSES
• RETROSUPERFUTURE PANAMA COVE II SUNGLASSES
• LINDA FARROW LIGHT HORN HALF-FRAME SUNGLASSES
• CUTLER AND GROSS METAL MIRRORED AVIATOR SUNGLASSES
• RAY-BAN POLARISED AVIATOR SUNGLASSES
• L.G.R D-FRAME ACETATE SUNGLASSES

7. Streetwear/Sports Luxe Looks

Thanks in part to Kanye and Jay Z’s big love for Paris, the French capital has taken to streetwear looks like a ‘Ye fan to a Yeezy trainer.

From longline white T-shirts to Nike sports socks to jet-black drop crotch trousers, the City of Light’s most stylish showed off some seriously impressive monochrome getups. One of which was Ports 1961 creative director Milan Vukmirovic’s floral motif polo, cropped chino and mid-top trainer combination – a masterclass in high-low dressing.

Meanwhile, in London, monochrome is still making its presence felt. Stylist Chris Benns’ smart-casual take on monochrome teamed a classic white shirt and rolled chinos with minimal canvas trainers and a statement Calvin Klein Jeans ‘CK’ sweatshirt – effortless at its best.

Get The Look

• ALLSAINTS SODIUM PISTOL JEANS
• NEW LOOK CHINO SHORTS
• TOPMAN WHITE LONG LINE FIT ZIPS TEE
• REISS BANSHEE GRAPHIC PRINT SHIRT BLACK
• LONGLINE CREW NECK T SHIRT
• UNIQLO MEN SWEAT LONG SLEEVE SHIRT
• ZARA TECHNICAL BERMUDA SHORTS
• REISS 1971 WALLACE SLIM-FIT JEANS WHITE
• UNIQLO MEN WAFFLE HENLEY NECK LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT

8. Statement Trainers

There’s often very little ‘peacocking’ at men’s fashion weeks, but this season, what little statement-making there was came in the form of boldly coloured, panelled, unusually shaped or luxuriously fabricated trainers.

Although minimal black or white leather styles have by this stage consolidated their place in the men’s style pantheon, bold and multi-coloured trainers are still burgeoning in menswear’s upper echelons.

But, as this season’s shows proved, it’s only a matter of time before they’re considered cutting edge style.

Get The Look

• ASOS TRAINERS
• FILLING PIECES MENS WHITE LEATHER SNEAKERS
• ADIDAS ORIGINALS EQT RACER 2.0 TRAINERS M19194
• ADIDAS ORIGINALS STAN SMITH REFLECTIVE-DOT LEATHER SNEAKERS
• VITALIY
• Y-3 RETRO BOOST LOW-TOP TRAINERS
• NIKE NSW FREE INNEVA WOVEN MESH AND LEATHER SNEAKERS

Final Word

As the conventional divide between the streets and designers’ studios crumbles, you could argue that what’s seen on the street is just as important an indicator as to what we’ll be wearing in months to come as runway shows.

Look to these men if you’re lacking in sartorial inspiration, and be sure to let us know which trends you’ll be trying out in the future in the comments section.