Blog: Cleaning up the act

Clean, neat tailoring is the look for the high street for spring 08

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Having previewed the young menswear on the high street for spring 08, I can confirm that the smartening up is continuing with clean, neat tailoring infiltrating the likes of New Look, River Island and Next among others.

All nipping at Reiss's heels, these collections have a sophisticated aesthetic that seem to give punters a bit more bang for the buck, with jackets, bib-front shirts and layered knitwear looking like key items.

Now you don't have to be a pundit to have spotted this trend but there was another element to these collections. While most still had a heavy dose of slim fits, there was also a swathe of more relaxed styles. When these were combined with the smart casual ethic, suddenly there were suits and crew necks combined. And in neutral palettes with a few pieces of neon thrown in. Can you see where this is going yet?

After the riot of 1980s revivalists, there seems to be a cleaner, relaxed 1990s look emerging. Perhaps it is a natural reaction – after chaos, people feel a need for sobriety. What do you think – will there be stark black and whites, minimalism and sportswear? Certainly there is already a grunge comeback underway.

Do you welcome these constant and ever-quicker comebacks?