The Best Menswear of the Year, From Kiton’s Tailoring to Celine Denim

Few designers make formality feel this easy—but then, few designers are Brunello Cucinelli. For his spring 2026 collection, the maestro of Italian sprezzatura and elegance proposed a striking alternative to standard black-tie garb: a shawl-collar dinner jacket with a barely there pinstripe, paired with fluid white trousers cut with his signature taper. The effect, like so much of this offering, achieved something hard to nail when you’re wearing head-to-toe tailoring: a true sense of occasion without any of the old-school effort required.

The late, great Giorgio Armani was rightly celebrated for his generation-defining tailoring—but his off-the-clock garb is no less worthy of acclaim. The look that stuck with us from his spring 2026 menswear collection, his final for the house, was this brown field jacket—officially, in brand parlance, a hemp blouson. The four-pocket style is unlined, except for the yoke, which gives its shoulders some structure but allows the rest of the light construction to drape easily. It’s packed with smart details: a zipper pocket on the left side of the chest, slanted pockets below for easy access, and an interior drawstring to give the waist a little definition, if you wish. It’s the perfect thing to wear on travel days, or any time you’ve got more to carry than your trouser pockets can handle.

It takes a great deal of expertise, wit, and sophistication to turn a pair of dress shoes into footwear that stands out for the right reasons. Fortunately, Church’s has all three of these qualities in spades, as evidenced by its fall 2026 Royal Collection. The English brand, owned by the Prada Group, showcased a series of shoes that splits the difference between oxfords and spectators. Each pairs different materials together in a minimal construction—quarters in one color or material, vamps in another—for maximum appeal. The most successful of these are shown here, joining black patent with calf leather, and they’d look just as good in the office as they would at your next black-tie outing. What it proves to us is that even the stuffiest corner of the menswear industry (specifically the one that makes Goodyear welted shoes in Northampton) can have a sense of play, which allows you to have a little fun with every step.

American designer Michael Rider has been at the helm of Celine for only about a year, but it hasn’t taken him long to demonstrate a peerless understanding of what guys on both sides of the Atlantic want. His ultra-wearable fall 2026 collection made a strong case for denim as the backbone of a well-curated wardrobe, not merely something you might wear on the weekend. He applied a decidedly French rigor and precision to the casual fabric: jeans in straight cuts, only occasional embellishments, and a broad array of washes. To drive home the importance of the Celine jean, Rider stacked them, totem-like and almost to the ceiling, in the company’s Paris headquarters. The point? These are closet staples intended for the long haul, crafted with a deftness that makes them look like you’ve already had them for years.

At this point, no one should be surprised that Louis Vuitton can create innovative suitcases. For the 10th anniversary of its Horizon rolling cases, which were made in collaboration with design star Marc Newson, the brand crafted a version in lightweight aluminum that’s stamped with its signature monogram. Newson’s design is otherwise unchanged: The telescoping handle still runs along the exterior of the case to maximize space for your belongings, the wheels are still incredibly quiet, and each corner is still capped in leather—a throwback to the French house’s original steamer trunks. The impressive metalwork is the icing on the cake and makes this covetable case an instant piece of status luggage.

Designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne electrified the New York menswear scene when they launched Public School in 2008. Their intelligent sportswear won awards, acclaim, and even a stint as creative directors for another Big Apple stalwart, DKNY. When the brand quietly closed up shop in 2018, the loss was palpable. So, it’s understandable that Chow and Osborne’s return to the runway for fall 2026 inspired no shortage of excitement for guys plugged into the sartorial realm. The collection made the wait feel almost purposeful, as if absence sharpened the duo’s already exacting vision. Generous proportions expressed a confidence and maturity that only comes with time, and luxurious materials (like the pebbled leather in this bomber jacket) felt considered and purposeful. Public School isn’t reclaiming its old stomping grounds; it’s establishing new territory.

Kiton’s fall 2026 collection has all the qualities of a great film: a solid narrative, confident pacing, and rich color combinations you can’t stop looking at. But these aren’t costumes, they’re clothes—and ones made ultra-wearable thanks to the company’s long-standing obsession with lightness. Take this double-breasted suit, a silhouette typically thought of as the boardroom equivalent of body armor. At Kiton, comfort is not a compromise; it’s the organizing principle for every design—which is why the jacket floats so easily from the shoulder and the trousers follow the body without clinging to your legs. To craft a suit that looks so polished yet feels so effortless takes unparalleled expertise. And when it comes to tailoring, few brands do it better.

For over half a century, Ralph Lauren has defined American style. But in the past several years, the designer has been collaborating with Native and Indigenous creatives whose crafts and skills predate the concept of American luxury—and even of America itself. His latest partnership, with silversmith Neil Zarama of the Chiricahua Apache Nation, includes this belt buckle inspired by the Ketoh, a wrist guard traditionally worn by archers. It’s weighty in more ways than one: The .925 silver is heavy, but its careful construction and symbolic richness result in an object built to last.

Shirts are some of the hardest working items in your closet, but Thom Sweeney has imbued one of its most notable examples with an ease that belies just how much mileage you’ll get out of it. Made from an ultrasoft cotton jersey, the design rewards a tone-on-tone approach to getting dressed. Seen here in navy with coordinating trousers, it brings an elevated sensibility to even the simplest of outfits. It has a spread collar, so you could get a tie around it in a pinch, but we prefer to leave it open. It’s the least complicated way to look well-dressed—not overdressed—and still stay cool.

Six years is not a long time in the luxury business. (To wit: Louis Vuitton, the oldest brand among this year’s style winners, is 172; Church’s, the second-oldest, is 153.) But in that short period, Akoni has established itself as one of the most serious names in fine eyewear, and this pair of sunglasses is the surest proof yet of that standing. Named Jura after the mountain range on the Moon and the observatory in Switzerland, it nods in various ways to the world of high horology. The titanium frames have 12-karat-gold details, which gives them a subtle warmth. The temples are knurled like the crown on your favorite watch, and the frame-within-a-frame design—enhanced by the exposed screws on the face—is substantial without feeling overwhelming.

Model: Hamid Onifadé 
Groomer: Kazuto Shimomura 
Market editor: Emily Mercer 
Fashion assistant : Sydni Lewis 
Photo Director: Irene Opezzo 
Digital tech: David Wirchansky 
Photo assistant: Jeremiah Cumberbatch
Location: Special thanks to Casa Cipriani