Forget understated dressing — this season’s menswear celebrated creativity, craftsmanship, and the freedom to dress beyond conventions.

For decades now, menswear collections during fashion weeks have had this sense of familiarity and consistency — whether in London, Milan, or Paris. Season after season, we’ve witnessed many fashion houses lean into these classic silhouettes, basic palettes, and measured refinements, reflecting the long-established notions that men’s fashion should prioritize restraint, practicality, and timelessness.&nbsp;
Psychoanalyst John Carl Flügel described this phenomenon as the "great male renunciation," referring to the historical shift in the late 18th century when men in Western countries gradually abandoned elaborate ornamentation in favor of sober dressing — a cultural turning point that has continued to influence modern menswear.&nbsp;
However, recent years have shown that there’s a noticeable change with the younger generations as they have increasingly rejected these conventions. <a href="https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/the-rise-of-menswear-romanticism-the-new-aesthetic-reshaping-how-men-dress/2026033071474">With more than half of Gen Z consumers seeing that the future of fashion is gender neutral clothing</a>, it signals a growing appreciation of fashion as a means of personal expression rather than a uniform of practicality.
This transition was evident on the Spring/Summer 2027 menswear collections, as bright palettes, flashing embellishments, flowing fabrications, and gender-bending silhouettes emerged on runways. During this season, many designers and creative directors chose a more expressive and romantic vision of masculinity, where individuality is celebrated without compromising craftsmanship. From delicate details to playful forms, here are some standout pieces that showcase this new era of men’s style.&nbsp;

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Men En Pointe</h4>

Ballet flats silhouette has become one of fashion’s most coveted shoes in recent years — from the sneakerina’s boom to the jelly sandals trend. But after dominating women’s wardrobes, the silhouette has now officially entered menswear. With Jacob Elordi, Harry Styles, and Bad Bunny leading the charge, it has now become a marker of a new masculine aesthetic.&nbsp;

Capturing this evolution, several collections during the Spring/Summer 2027 menswear collections saw ballet flats make their way onto the runways — none more surprising than Ralph Lauren, a house long synonymous with classic tailoring, Ivy League prep, and timeless Americana. During its return to Milan after two decades, the label challenged its own codes by styling impeccably tailored suits with this traditionally feminine footwear, underscoring how even the most established names in menswear are now becoming more fluid.

When it comes to ballet flats for men, Dries Van Noten has long been ahead of the curve. For its Spring/Summer 2025 menswear collection, the brand styled an overcoat ensemble with strappy black square-toe ballet loafers, which was later on worn by Bad Bunny for a premiere of Happy Gilmore 2. Two years later, creative director Julian Klausner pushed this idea even further by leaning fully into the ballet reference — introducing ribbon-like leather ankle ties, slim soles, and pastel hues that celebrated its origins rather than boxing them.&nbsp;

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Treasure in Hand</h4>

When it comes to bags, men traditionally gravitate towards utility — simply to carry 'stuff.' Once defined by backpacks and briefcases, the category has now expanded into fashion territory as handbags have become one of menswear’s fastest-growing accessories. Celebrities like Jacob Elordi, Pedro Pascal, and Travis Scott have all been seen stepping out with arm candies, while athletes like Erling Haaland and Lewis Hamilton have made designer bags part of their personal style.&nbsp;

Taking the trend to new heights is Louis Vuitton, where creative director Pharrell Williams updated the iconic silhouette of the Speedy P9 bag with a striking seasonal storytelling. Mirroring the Spring/Summer 2027 collection’s homage to the ocean and surfing culture, the new iteration is enveloped in vibrant, coral-inspired embellishments that emerge from the now-crystallized Monogram — making the house classic a sculptural statement piece.&nbsp;

Carrying this maximalist spirit as well, Dolce &amp; Gabbana turned their everyday bags into wearable jewelry boxes — encrusting them with an eclectic mix of vintage-style brooches and ornate motifs. From cameos and crowned medallions to crystal insects, pearl clusters, and gilded baroque patterns, each piece reflects the current revival of brooches, proving that the modern men’s bag can be as playful and expressive as their outfit.&nbsp;

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Silky Situation</h4>

Silk scarves have long been a staple in women’s closets. Celebrated for its versatility, it can be used and styled in a lot of ways — whether worn around the neck, draped around the waist, tied into a bag, or fashioned into a headscarf. More recently, foulards have gained newfound appreciation beyond styling, with designers incorporating them as an integral part of the look. This season, menswear is following suit, adopting silk scarves in fresh and unexpected ways.&nbsp;
At Dries Van Noten, Klausner turned the foulard into the garment itself, reimagining it as halter tops that draped effortlessly over the body while leaving the back entirely exposed. Rendered in lightweight, washed silks in powdery hues and botanical prints, the pieces brought a romantic, carefree sensuality to the collection, highlighting its poetic inspiration and embrace of dreamlike movement and softness.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ralph Lauren demonstrated the versatility of the silk scarf. It appeared throughout the collection in familiar ways, such as being draped over the shoulder, knotted around the neck, and tied to bags. But more than that, it was also shown in more stylized ways — wrapped around the waist as a casual alternative to cummerbands, styled as neckties that added visual intrigue to tailoring, and utilized as a bag that is worn over the shoulders. With these varied applications, it showed how a classic accessory can be refreshed in different ways without losing its timeless appeal.&nbsp;

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Adorn You</h4>

For much of modern menswear history, ornamentation was only reserved for special occasions&nbsp; and celebrations, while everyday wardrobes continue to favor simplicity and practicality — a lingering influence of the "great male renunciation." However, designers this Spring/Summer 2027 season are slowly reversing that convention by integrating shimmering sequins, intricate beadwork, and heavy embroidery into garments. It’s a direction that’s already resonating with celebrated musicians like Harry Styles, Sombr, and G-Dragon, whose styles often use embellishments into their personal aesthetics.&nbsp;

Offering a compelling case for decorative menswear, EGONLAB made embellished lacework one of its defining materials this season, proving that personal style can also be expressed through delicate details. For the ANDAM Awards finalists’ collection, translucent textiles glistened with embroidered sequins and pearls, creating pieces that caught the light with every step down the runway. Romantic yet assured, the looks challenged familiar menswear codes through intricate craftsmanship and boundary-pushing silhouettes.&nbsp;

While the French label leaned into the lighter, more ethereal interpretation of ornamentation, Dolce &amp; Gabbana celebrated it with its most exuberant and opulent forms. Inspired by the traditions and artistry in Sicily, the collection layered coral-inspired appliqués, vibrant gemstones, sparkling brooches, and intricate beadwork onto everything — from fluid separates to classic tailoring. Enlivened with meticulously crafted finishes, it illustrates how adornments can lend a distinct artisanal character to a garment.&nbsp;

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Soft Launch</h4>

A perfectly tailored suit has long been the ideal symbol of classic menswear, but Spring/Summer 2027 suggests that it is now coming in with a renewed sense of ease and lightness. Rather than abandoning its foundations, designers explored the suit through sheer fabrics, relaxed tailoring, and lighter constructions. Through this, its traditional rigid structure was reworked to feel less restrictive and more adaptable — echoing a change toward contemporary elegance rooted in comfort.&nbsp;

Creative director Jonathan Anderson translated this vision at Dior by printing familiar suiting motifs, such as pinstripes, checks, and plaids, on transparent silk chiffon. By doing so, it preserves the language of formal dressing while giving it a fantasy-like silhouette that moves gently with the body. Styled with a crisp white shirt, it’s the kind of look that is perfect for the summer season, where refined tailoring meets an ethereal sense of movement.

Following its LVMH Prize win in 2025, Soshiotsuki made waves on his debut in Paris this year with a collection that is an ode to the languid rhythm of summer. Drawing from his childhood memories and imagined vacations in Hawaii, Japanese designer Soshi Otsuki continues to explore his signature ‘soft suit’ through unlined constructions, silky fabrics, and relaxed proportions. Finished with intentionally crumpled collars and loosely fastened belts, each garment captured the beauty of imperfection that defines modern tailoring, underscoring that true elegance can also be found not only in precision, but also in feeling at ease and lived in.&nbsp;

Menswear is Having Its Most Whimsical Era Yet

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