Think of menswear and womenswear as two adults at different life stages—one in their 20s, the other in their 40s. The 20-something, like womenswear, is bold, experimental, and constantly evolving. One day, it’s a barely-there dress; the next, oversized tailoring. It thrives on reinvention, pushing boundaries and reshaping the conversation with every season. Menswear, by contrast, has long been more reserved, clinging to classic silhouettes, neutral palettes, and an unshakable sense of tradition. But here’s the thing about men: the more you try to change them, the more they resist. 
 

Much like menswear itself, men operate according to Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, comment, or critique, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Tell a guy to ease up on the shots, and he’ll order four more just to prove a point. Suggest he can’t fight a bear, and he’ll spend hours researching bear anatomy just to see if he could. Menswear is no different. The more you try to reinterpret or—as the “dude bros” say—“make it woke,” the more it digs in its heels, clutching its suit and tie like a family heirloom. 

AMIRI FW/25

For years, classic menswear—the kind that requires a tailor, not an app—was pushed to the margins, dismissed as too rigid, too formal, too out of step with modern, casual sensibilities. Instead, wardrobes filled up with hype pieces: hoodies that screamed status, despite the city humidity. Sneakers that cost more than rent, and graphic tees that wore the man instead of the other way around. Logos became the new luxury, and exclusivity was measured not by craftsmanship but by drop dates. 

But now, classic menswear is making a quiet yet deliberate return—not as a fleeting trend, but as a reaction to the overwhelming saturation of fast fashion and branding fatigue. The pendulum is swinging back, and men are rediscovering the understated power of well-cut wool trousers over joggers with a giant swoosh, the quiet luxury of soft cashmere over polyester-heavy blends that double as mobile billboards. 

Hermès FW/25

This resurgence isn’t about nostalgia; it’s about recalibration. It’s about redefining the future while honouring the past, reintroducing sharp tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and precise cuts—but with a modern, relaxed edge. Oversized blazers with fluid movement, loafers that add personality without demanding attention, statement accessories that punctuate rather than overpower. It’s refinement with a wink, a nod to tradition without the stiffness. 
 

The shift also signals something deeper: a reassessment of masculinity itself. For decades, dressing well was either seen as a necessity (corporate power dressing) or a frivolity (fashion-forward experimentation). But the modern man is rejecting those binary choices. He’s embracing style not as a performance, but as a form of self-expression, an extension of personality rather than societal expectation. 

Louis Vuitton FW/25
 

Take Paris Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2025 shows. Luxury houses like Louis Vuitton and Hermès demonstrated that embracing history doesn’t mean rejecting modernity—it means refining it. 

At Louis Vuitton, Pharrell Williams continued his mission to redefine luxury menswear by blending the casual ease of streetwear with the meticulous craftsmanship of heritage tailoring. A varsity jacket embroidered with intricate monograms? Check. A double-breasted blazer layered over relaxed denim? Absolutely. The collection wasn’t about choosing between past and present; it was about harmonising the two. 

Hermès FW/25
 

Meanwhile, Hermès, the pinnacle of quiet luxury, took a different approach—subtlety. Its collection leaned into elegant restraint, updating traditional silhouettes with softer constructions, fluid draping, and a neutral, sophisticated palette. There were no gimmicks, no loud statements—just an unwavering confidence in the power of refined simplicity. It was a masterclass in how luxury doesn’t need to shout to be heard. 
 

These collections, and the larger menswear movement they reflect, prove one thing: the era of excess is waning. The dominance of logo-driven fashion is being replaced by a desire for craftsmanship, longevity, and quiet confidence. 
 

At its core, this shift is a rebellion—not against fashion, but against excess. Against the overwhelming informality of the last decade, where sweatpants became dinner attire and hype culture overshadowed actual style. The return of classic menswear isn’t about rigid dress codes or outdated rules; it’s about rediscovering the quiet power of a perfectly tailored blazer, the weight of hand-stitched leather shoes, and the kind of fabric that speaks for itself. It’s a mindset shift—one that values craftsmanship over trends, longevity over hype, personal style over performative consumption. 

AMIRI FW/25
 

Interestingly, the lines between formal and casual are blurring. Tailored wool trousers with a graphic tee? Absolutely. A sleek blazer with sneakers? Done right, it’s effortless. Modern menswear is finally embracing the fluidity that womenswear has long enjoyed—playing with structure, proportion, and self-expression without losing its identity. It’s not about clinging to the past; it’s about evolution. 
 

So, what does this mean for the future? It means style is no longer static. Men are realising that elegance isn’t about rigid traditions; it’s about reinvention. The modern man no longer dresses out of obligation but out of choice—embracing sophistication without sacrificing comfort, tradition without ignoring innovation. 
 

Much like the man who’ll take on a bear just to prove he can, menswear is stepping up to the challenge. Whether it’s defying expectations or rewriting the rules, the modern man is ready to break free from the old mould. Because, in the end, style isn’t about fitting in—it’s about standing out. And if menswear can evolve, so can you. 

Image Credits - AMIRI, Louis Vuitton, Armando Grillo for Hermès