It's ironical that Pantone's colour of the year is a shade of off-white because the runway at the Paris Fashion Week Menswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 was all about hues and the personality each shade carries.
Across fashion houses, the message was loud and clear: menswear is becoming less about homogenous looks and more about personal curation. Each outfit carries a colour code and a visual clue into the wearer’s story and style philosophy.
Designers are pushing beyond classic winter neutrals into vibrant, expressive colour families to accentuate personality and visual presence, rather than using said hues simply to decorate.
Dior
The Dior Men’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection was one of the most talked-about shows of the season. Jonathan Anderson’s theme of “new aristocracy defined by eccentricity” brought us hues that felt expressive rather than neutral. The show caught attention not just for the clothes, but for its storytelling through silhouettes and colours. The models were styled to strike a balance between classic menswear and a punk edge. They walked in textured layering, jacquard tailoring, and distressed denim pieces, but it was the hairstyle and accessories that added to the attitude shift. The runway had mixed bright accents with eclectic references spanning from punk to historical tailoring. The beaded tops, elongated shapes, cocoon-like outerwear, and bold colour combinations felt both rebellious and refined.
Louis Vuitton
Pharrell Williams’s Louis Vuitton menswear show was nothing less than a theatrical experience, what with the live string orchestra and gospel-style performers. The collection was dominated by earthy foundation hues like tans, deep greens, and khakis with punctuations of vibrant colours such as bright pinks, blues, and greens. These injections of colour disrupted the typical winter palettes and ensured each look felt more character-driven. The models walked with an atmosphere of understated elegance, adding a touch of style with leather caps and under layers like scarves and long ties.
The collection played with contrasts even on the tailoring side, structured next to more relaxed overcoats, and technical fabrics blended with classic cuts.
Dries Van Noten
Julian Klausner used texture as a language in this collection rather than relying on flat fabrics. The collection featured cosy, oversized knits, Fair Isle patterns, and blurred floral prints, evoking a feeling of nostalgic comfort, as if the garments had been passed down for generations. The core palette was anchored in moody blues and greys, giving the collection a wintery base that felt grounded. But it was the pastel accents of soft pinks, muted greens, and washed-out florals that brought warmth and contrast to the base, turning subtle tones into something more meaningful rather than bold pops alone. The mix of loaded textures and hues brought warmth and personality to the winter menswear collection.
Solid Homme
Solid Homme FW26/27 used colour and texture to mirror the modern male identity: composed on the surface but complex underneath. The collection balanced structured silhouettes and classic menswear codes with sharp colour pops such as ginkgo yellow and electric blue against foundational tones like almond milk and hazelnut. This push-pull between disciplined tailoring and audacious colour play reflected how menswear is increasingly becoming more about individuality and experimentation rather than a rigid structure.
Auralee
This show was a shift from Auralee’s sometimes muted reputation toward a more optimistic colour language that still felt mature. The collection used colour and texture very strategically while not losing its expressive essence. The palette moved fluidly between clean brights and softened classics; royal blue, scarlet red, pale yellow, and muted purple were used not as accents but as standalone statements. Layering was key: red-and-blue flannel shirts tucked into relaxed pants or cobalt-blue duffel coats paired with purple scarves, giving the runway an authentic feel. These hues were a fresh take from the usual winter gloom, bringing lightness without slipping into novelty.
