Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Retro Futurism Shapes New Menswear Season
The new menswear season is all about looking back to the future.
Designers like Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton and Jonathan Anderson for Dior are taking inspiration from the 1980s and 1970s, as well as their own personal memories, to create clothing that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
They're using innovative materials like vicuña and silk, and playing with proportions and details to give classic pieces a modern twist.
Some collections, like Paul Smith's, feel lived-in and comfortable, while others, like Dior's, are more punk and edgy.
Overall, the season is about embracing the past while looking towards the future.
Designers are revisiting their childhood memories and early influences for the new menswear season, with a focus on retro futurism and vintage aesthetics.
Louis Vuitton's Pharrell Williams proposed a timeless wardrobe with a retro-futuristic elegance, featuring reversible nylon or silk suits and vintage-feel parkas.
Dior's Jonathan Anderson drew inspiration from Paul Poiret, creating a collection with punk elements like sequinned tops and spiky yellow hair.
Craft-led innovation was a key trend, with designers experimenting with materials like vicuña, silk, and suede, and techniques like overdying and laser-cutting.
Other notable trends included sartorial finesse, clothing with a lived-in feel, and pieces inspired by personal moments and family memories.
- Who
- Designers including Pharrell Williams (Louis Vuitton), Jonathan Anderson (Dior), and Sam Cotton (Paul Smith)
- What
- The new menswear season is characterized by retro futurism, craft-led innovation, and vintage influences
- When
- The trends were showcased during the recently concluded Milan and Paris menswear fashion weeks
- Where
- The trends were showcased in Milan and Paris
- Why
- Designers are revisiting their childhood memories and early influences, as well as exploring innovative materials and techniques
- Designers
- Pharrell Williams (Louis Vuitton), Jonathan Anderson (Dior), Sam Cotton (Paul Smith)
- Key Trends
- Craft-led innovation, sartorial finesse, lived-in clothing, vintage core, personal moments
- Inspirations
- 1980s, 1970s, Paul Poiret, Jean Cocteau, personal family memories
- Materials
- Vicuña, silk, nylon, suede, cashmere, crocodile leather
- Notable Collections
- Louis Vuitton, Dior, Paul Smith, Prada, Zegna, DSquared2, Tod’s, Canali, MSGM, Umit Benan