The AW26 Menswear Trends To Take To The Office
By
9 minutes ago
Get ahead of the curve in your weekday uniform
We live in enlightened times – at least when it comes to what we can wear on our backs. But despite our brave new world of menswear and an easier approach to dressing, it can still feel like a game of sartorial roulette to wear your style persona to the office, beyond what’s on your wrist and the print of your tie. If you’re keen to make more of an impression during the nine-to-five, these more palatable AW26 menswear trends from the fashion powers that be will translate to your weekday office wardrobe without landing you in company dress code detention.
How To Take AW26 Menswear Trends To The Office
Sugar Coating
(L to R) Hermès, Burberry, AMI
It might seem a little too early to don an armour-like coat with this year’s balmy summer still simmering in our minds, but for AW26, the power coat is packing a punch – and given how the weather in Blighty can turn in an instant, there’s sense in being prepared. Sculptural forms, structured shoulders, ankle-skimming lengths (one for the lofty lads) and fuzzy, texture-rich fabrics as seen at AMI, Celine, Burberry, Hermès and Kid Super set the tone. Longline overcoats, tailored just-so, paired with sporty accessories like baseball caps and retro sneakers at AMI, struck just the right balance between formal and casual – a look that’s more likely to raise compliments from your co-workers than eyebrows.
The Necktie Renaissance
(L to R) Ferragamo, Soshiotsuki, Paul Smith
The tie – once the emblem of corporate conformism – has been refashioned in a more rebellious guise by powerhouse brands and young, sartorially fluent artsy types. This season’s runways were awash with neckwear in a myriad of materials and patterns, worn in particularly off-kilter ways at Celine, Ferragamo, Dries Van Noten and Sacai – tucked, layered up, or finished with glossy embellishments (perhaps a look for after hours). Elsewhere, Japanese brand of the moment Soshiotsuki paired ties with roomy ‘80s Showa-era leathers, proving that a tie during the working week doesn’t need to feel stiff and starchy when worn with a devil-may-care attitude.
The Workbag 2.0
(L to R) Prada, Fendi, Louis Vuitton
Time was when a man’s default workbag was a briefcase of the hardshell variety, but as lifestyles and tastes have changed, the weekday carryall has evolved too. The new-age briefcase, in soft, buttery leathers with a slew of compartments and pockets for your tech – and perhaps a desk snack or two – was a highlight at Montblanc and Berluti, which debuted the poetic-sounding Writing Traveller bag and Un Jour de Plus. The slouchy, oversized tote and holdall, with enough space for your office essentials and maybe your gym kit, also bagged a prime spot for AW26, with Prada and Fendi offering an array of commodious carryalls, while Hermès’ Plume – a reinterpretation of its 1960s jet-age cabin bag – is ideal for toting your weekday tools around.
Earn Your Stripes
(L to R) Zegna, Qasimi, Sacai
Once the preserve of Gordon Gekko types, pinstripes were spotlighted by the industry’s design mavens for AW26 – and this time they’ve left the confines of Wall Street and the Square Mile. Milan powerhouse Zegna showed subtle pinstripes in superfine Trofeo wools on jackets with lightly nipped waists, while Dolce & Gabbana went full-on swagger with its dark, double-breasted pinstripe suits. Hermès combined pinstripes with its leatherworking prowess, showing a sleek calf-hide suit topstitched with the motif. At the more experimental end of the spectrum, brands like Qasimi, Saul Nash and Sacai applied pinstripes to casual windbreaker jackets, smock-like shirts and layered tailoring, giving the once-formal pattern a contemporary flavour – and food for thought on how to show your stripes in a fresh light.
Step Lightly
(L to R) Lemaire, Celine, Kenzo
Chunky derbies, sell-out sneakers and hiking boots might have dominated the shoe rack in recent years, but there’s a definite change afoot from what was seen at the AW26 menswear shows. Sleek, slimline loafers with a lightweight, deconstructed feel and clean, elegant details like pie-crust ruching brought a quiet erudition to the footwear offering this season at Kenzo and Lanvin, while Celine turned out simple elegance with ballerina-flat loafers that fold down into mules. Lemaire – a champion of clean-cut savoir-faire – offered up at-home comfort with slipper-like shoes in supple leathers and textured hides that would still pass muster in the boardroom. Meanwhile, Gucci and Prada declared it’s hip to be square with their blocky-toed flat slip-ons. The message is clear: leave the chunky soles at home and stay light on your feet for the nine-to-five.
