It's unfair to call it a trend; it's more of a shift, in more ways than one. Menswear is constantly evolving (albeit at a slower pace than women's fashion) but it has since been opening up, changing the notions of what menswear entails, and adopting typically womenswear tropes. It helps too that a large segment of society is experiencing a shift in mindset of what it means to be a man, and whether the clothes truly maketh the man.
We're seeing a softer approach to menswear in luxury fashion houses. Under Kim Jones, Dior Men is taking reference from Dior's couture sensibilities and heritage, and applying them to a menswear vision that's a stark contrast from the punk-influenced aesthetic of former creative director Kris Van Assche. At Givenchy, Clare Waight Keller sticks closely to Hubert de Givenchy's penchant for sharp tailoring but anchored with a swagger exemplified by the likes of Mick Jagger and Prince. And Gucci's Alessandro Michele, the creative director responsible for fashion's cultural shift, continues to push the boundaries between masculinity and femininity.
Perhaps it's also thanks to a younger A-list crowd that has embraced a new masculine ideal—one that is individualistic and not marked by any sort of social convention. These celebrities—Troye Sivan, Cody Fern, Ezra Miller and Timothée Chalamet, among others—are signs that the times are changing.
Shot on the streets of Paris, we took the idea of soft and fluid tailoring, as well as taking some inspiration from the ladies, for a fashion editorial that challenges you to see men's fashion and tailoring through a new lens. It's time to open up and discover that the limits are being broken.
Photography: Chuck Reyes
Styling: Asri Jasman
Hair: Heitai Cheung
Make-up: Jay Kwan
Model: Thomas R / Success Models
