Following spring/summer 2012 fashion weeks, we take a sneak peek at summer trends coming into department stores

You might be surprised to be considering the forthcoming summer when we’ve barely even written our 2011 Christmas lists, but in the future-focused world of men’s fashion, the history books have already been written for our Olympic summer wardrobe.

Shoppers online and in store at department stores like House of Fraser are stocking up on mens fashion such as knitwear and dark tones – and they’ll be surprised to find that these trends are still going to be in the shade come the sunnier months.

Racing off the catwalks at the latest round of men’s fashion shows in London, New York, Paris and Milan this last September, we saw two main trends: sportswear, and dark shades.

So how to shop for summer now? Invest wisely and choose your fabrics carefully. That’s not to say avoid winter items – one chunky-knit cardigan or pullover from Jack and Jones will set you up for winter.

Dreaming of sunshine: we look ahead to men’s summer fashion

But consider the future too. Lighter knits such as the Howick fine stripe jumpers, and One True Saxon jumpers in beiges and browns, will last through winter and into the (inevitably not very scorching) summer.

Sportswear being an influence – obviously designers are looking forward to the Olympics – means that you need to be a little savvy. The idea is more Roger Federer off-duty than John MacEnroe, headband and mini-shorts.

Investing in a lighter Barbour jacket is a great idea for some outdoorsy chic without going straight down the shellsuit line. And pick your colours carefully. Navies and blues are classic staples, but this season’s men’s catwalks saw prints and patterns that had previously been monopolized by women’s fashions.

Think instead about black and grey bases with hints of orange, red and even fuschia streaks. And be imaginative when it comes to your sporty signatures – ‘track pants’ and joggers can come in linen, looking more like the loose chinos which were popular last summer.