After two and a half days of checking out the latest apparel, footwear, and accessories at the PGA Show, we’ve identified 11 trends worth watching. Now, we’re not saying these are destined to become full-blown ‘things,’ but they may give you some ideas as to what you will be wearing on the fairways in 2018 and beyond.
See Also: PGA Merchandise Show: 2018 GolfThreads Style Award Winners
Pull the Cords
Corduroy and golf haven’t exactly hung out in the same clique over the years, but when industry leaders like Greyson, Ralph Lauren, and Puma all have corduroy trousers in their lineups for Autumn/Winter 2018, you have to take notice. Don’t get us wrong, these aren’t those heavy, wide wale Garanimals that you rocked back in the day. Instead, they feature a fine pincord or needlecord texture and they are built for performance with a cotton/poly/stretch blend.
Let’s Collaborate
It is no surprise to see the most progressive brands in golf like Greyson, G/FORE, Jones, Seamus, Peter Millar, and Sugarloaf Social Club teaming up on some sick products and collections.
Remember, G/FORE and Peter Millar hooked up on a ridiculously stylish shoe collab in 2017 (Peter Millar also just acquired G/FORE). Greyson partnered with Jones on a cool herringbone carry bag last year and the duo is at it again with a navy blue camo bag for 2018 (the line to purchase starts behind me). Greyson and Seamus also got together on some matching herringbone headcovers. Sugarloaf and Original Penguin have created a 5-piece collection for Spring 2018. Billy Horschel is even teaming up with Ralph Lauren on a 5-outfit capsule collection for the PGA Championship.
There are other brilliant collabs coming down the road that we can’t even talk about yet. Will there be some GolfThreads collabs? Hmmm….
Victory Violet
Pantone recently named UltraViolet the Color of the Year for 2018. This hue is considered to communicate originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking. Brands like Ralph Lauren, G/FORE, Greyson, and Chase54 have healthy doses of this provocative and thoughtful shade of purple in their Fall 2018 Collections.
Carrying over from Fall 2017 are dark and rich wine colors (merlot, cabernet, burgundy, etc.). Olive green is another great color for autumn that is more versatile than you may think. Make it the dominant color in your outfit and then accent it with splashes of yellow, orange, red, navy, purple, or black.
Classics Never Die
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Athletic-inspired shoes have dominated the golf scene for a few years, but we are quietly seeing more timeless designs work their way back to the course.
For those of you who have been lamenting the loss of FootJoy’s iconic Classics shoes, the brand’s new collection of 1857 shoes will be a welcomed site. The collection of old-school brogues and saddles is perfect for discerning golfers. The shoes in the collection are handmade with luxurious leather uppers and soles and feature the same Goodyear welt construction as the Classics. If you have a spare $750 laying around, why not?
On the other hand, G/FORE is bringing a refined rebellion to traditional silhouettes. Its collection for 2018 includes everything from new-age saddle shoes and modern wingtips to a loafer with a kiltie, a women’s shoe with tassels, and even a lace-up boot. The off-course kicks in the collection find themselves on trend with thick lug soles.
Heads Up
Proving that style goes well beyond the clothes you wear, headcovers have replaced belts as the hottest accessories. For years we’ve been detailing the reasons why you should ditch those OEM billboards doubling as headcovers in favor of something more stylish and personal. It appears that merchandisers and golfers agree as the Dormie, Seamus, and Stitch booths were at max capacity throughout the show.
Sunday Funday
Can you feel the winds of change? Traditional 18-hole Par-72 championship courses are out and short nine-holers are in. Seeing this trend, brands like Seamus, Jones, and Stitch are creating bags that are small in size but big on style. Whether you call it a Sunday Bag or a Par-3 Bag, Seamus’ waxed canvas and leather bag was one of the coolest items at the show. The new Jones Rover Bag is a magnificent mashup of the brand’s Original Carry and Utility Stand Bags. Two straps, no stand, enough room for 14 clubs, and a colorway inspired by a pair of retro Jordans.
Lofty Warmth
Five years ago, the thought of wearing a puffer jacket on the golf course was laughable. Now, thanks to stretchy fabrics and lightweight insulation, it is an outerwear essential. Many brands are utilizing PrimaLoft, a super lightweight synthetic insulation that is water resistant, breathable, and packs down to virtually nothing. These days, we’re all in on Ping’s collection of PrimaLoft jackets (it won one of our Style Awards), Ralph Lauren’s Cool Wool Jacket, and J.Lindeberg’s Hybrid Jacket.
Shades of Style
Protecting your eyes from the sun is no joke, but for years, wrap-around styles have been the de facto option for the course. Functional? Yes. Fashionable? Not really.
Finally, we are starting to see more stylish options. Electric took home a GolfThreads Style Award for its Zombie S with a 1960s inspired-frame, lenses with UV and Blue Light protection, and performance grip nose pads. Under Armour has a collection of modern and sporty styles for on and off the course that possess all the technical bells and whistles. The off-course lenses are also said to help your eyes recover. Go figure!
Power to Prints
While we aren’t saying stripes are out, we are saying that prints are definitely in. Nearly every brand has a range of prints in its lineup for 2018. The key is finding the ones to match your personality and game.
Greyson’s collection is loaded with bold, yet sophisticated designs. Your mind will be playing tricks on you with the optical illusions created by the prints in Galvin Green’s Edge Collection. Bonobos’ flamingo print polo is a fun and intricate design. Original Penguin’s bold all-over prints have a retro feel. Devereux’s florals have a laidback vacation vibe. For a more subtle approach, Chase54’s dobby print polo actually wears more like a solid than a pattern.
Camo Continues
I really thought camo would die a quick death a few years ago. Not only is it still relevant, but it seems to be gaining momentum. Even Peter Millar, traditionally a ‘buttoned-up’ brand, has worked a tonal blue camo into its new and hip Tour Fit Collection. The cool thing is, camo continues to evolve and become more sophisticated. While the urban greys and blues along with the digital designs still have a freshness to them, the Black Watch camos from Greyson and Ralph Lauren really caught our attention. Both brands took this traditional Scottish tartan and reimagined it in a modern way. Bravo!
Strong Accents
J.Lindeberg caught my eye when Charles Howell III showed up at the 2002 Masters in a pair of white trousers with a wide green stripe down the side of both legs. It was a real juxtaposition of styles; sporty like a pair of track pants, but formal like tuxedo pants.
Well, fashion-forward brands are bringing the accent stripe back in 2018. J.Lindeberg’s Frank Trouser is a bit of a throwback to the CH3 days. Galvin Green’s Edge Collection includes a street-inspired pant with a bold racing stripe and a slight crop. On the women’s side, luxury brand Golfino has a slim-fitting pant with contrasting stripes along the outseams.
The Puma stuff always looks sharp but I really like the BillyHo line from RLX. The Color purple always look good and goes with everything. Fantastic color.