With a new year comes fresh perspective in the men’s market.

While there is much hope that the supply chain conundrum of last year is resolved in the first half of 2022, retailers are also faced with rising inflation and the challenges of captivating consumers amid of resurgence of COVID this winter.

Overall, though, most storeowners are optimistic, and retailers are expecting to see a continuation of trends that blossomed during the last two years. Sneakers are continuing to dominate the footwear business, and tailored clothing is on the rise.

• What are your top-performing men’s categories right now?

Louis DiGiacomo, SVP/GMM of men’s at Saks: “Sneakers remain dominant in men’s footwear, with skate and runner styles as the most popular subcategories. We are also seeing growth in various subcategories of boots as men are increasingly purchasing more boots to round out their wardrobes for any occasion, including Chelsea boots, combat boots, and weather-resistant boots. Puffer shoes have also become one of the most coveted trends of the season following the popularity of puffer coats. Designers such as Prada, Dior and Moon Boot have reinvented the styles that were popular in the ’80s to bring in a fresh, cool spin on the trend. One of our top selling styles of the season is the Prada Lug Sole Leather Combat Boot. The Christian Dior Puffy Slippers have also been a standout.”

Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman: “Right now, we’re seeing lots of interest in all things menswear. I know that sounds vague, but it’s just absolutely true. We’ve seen a real return to interest in tailoring – that’s a huge category. Sneakers & sport sandals continue to be on fire. The designer market and runway driven sportswear is incredibly robust.”

• What will you be looking to add to your merchandise mix in 2022?

Pask: “The sneaker business is driving interest adjacent categories like sandals. The styles with more assertive outsoles that we’re seeing from designer brands are very fashion friendly. Styles like the Prada Cloudburst Thunder or the Loubi Shark or styles from Fendi. I mean, there are so many interesting players in the sandal world, which is really exciting for spring.”

Berkowitz: “Our customers have been responding positively to color and novelty and we’ll see that reflected in the spring assortment especially with woven knits and outwear.  Pieces that have more of an outdoor aesthetic are also popular such as technical apparel and utility fabrications. There’s also a rising interest in tailored clothing and sophisticated pieces as shoppers continue investing in more elevated apparel.”

• Are there trends you would like to see go away in 2022?

Berkowitz: “The hyper-casualization that was taking place last year has slowed down as customers shift their interest towards polished pieces that work in their home or out of home experiences.”

DiGiacomo: “ Our brand we’re very excited about going into 2022. They’re one of the first brands to offer fashion-forward genderless footwear, providing a unique and fresh option for our customers. And, Christian Louboutin continues to provide the best balance of footwear options for men. They’ve mastered their assortment to offer a standout mix of styles for any occasion.”