Menswear Goes Bold: Playfulness Meets Polished at SS26 Fashion Week
Spring/Summer 2026 menswear collections signal a significant shift: streetwear is evolving into a more refined aesthetic while maintaining its playful spirit. Fashion weeks worldwide showcased this maturation, proving that growing up doesn’t mean sacrificing humor and creativity in men’s fashion.
The Great Shorts Divide
The SS26 season presents a clear division in shorts styling. While brands like Prada and Saint Laurent showcase ultra-short cuts that blur the line between shorts and underwear, other designers embrace the opposite extreme. C.R.E.O.L.E and PDF present oversized Bermuda shorts extending beyond the knee, offering maximum comfort for the modern man. Meanwhile, lower-slung trousers revealing vintage-inspired boxer shorts pay homage to 1990s hip-hop culture, appearing in collections from Études to Dolce & Gabbana.
Shoulders Take Center Stage
Voluminous shoulders dominated menswear presentations, symbolizing the weight of current industry pressures. Designers equipped blazers with dramatic structures, while pointy, exaggerated collars from the 1970s and 1980s made comebacks on open shirts. This emphasis on upper-body architecture creates a protective, armor-like silhouette against today’s economic uncertainties.
Beyond construction, slogans and mini-prints across garments added personality to collections. Brands incorporated social media-inspired wisecracks and hidden-object-style graphics, bridging the gap between casual streetwear and contemporary digital culture. Workwear aesthetics persisted through utility overalls paired with unconventional styling elements like sandals and wool hats.
Accessories evolved too, with lavallière scarves and statement belt buckles featuring bold letters becoming essential menswear pieces. Traditional folk-inspired designs, reinterpreted in modern materials like latex, further blurred boundaries between heritage and innovation.
The SS26 menswear narrative ultimately celebrates sophistication seasoned with irreverence—proof that men’s fashion can be both grown-up and genuinely entertaining.