The Return of Substance: Timeless Menswear Style, Updated for Now

Menswear is finding its way back to the classics, but with a fresh perspective. This season, we’re obsessed with the pieces that make timeless style feel current: supple suede, oversized bags, sharp suits, silk ties, pleated tailoringTailoringThe craft of cutting, fitting, and altering clothes to suit an individual's body, from adjusting trouser hems to creating an entire suit. Good tailoring transforms how clothes look and feel,Go to Tailoring Glossary, animal-inspired leather, relaxed separates, and plenty of jewelry. Familiar, but never predictable, these are the clothes and accessories worth paying attention to right now.

Soft Focus

Suede is having a soft-launch comeback. Less rugged cowboy, more well-dressed insider—now punctuated with unexpected pops of color that do the talking for you.

Carry All

Spacious, practical, and surprisingly polished, this oversized essential carries everything you need—and a little extra confidence to boot.

Jean Scene

DenimDenimA durable cotton twill fabric, most commonly dyed indigo and used for jeans, jackets, and shirts. Denim ages with the person wearing it, developing fades and creases, and a goodGo to Denim Glossary-on-denim gets a fresh update with Jonathan Anderson’s playful take on proportions, making the classic staple feel more fashion-forward than utilitarian.

Seeing Classic

Classic silhouettes are back in focus. Think aviators, wayfarers, and refined metal frames. Proof that timeless style, much like great sunglasses, never ages.

Boardroom Hours

The suit and tie reclaim their place in the office, bringing sharper fits, relaxed confidence, and a renewed appreciation for dressing with purpose.

Knot Bad

A silk tie does what a pocket squarePocket SquareA small piece of fabric folded and placed in the breast pocket of a jacket as a decorative accent. A pocket square adds color and personality to a suit orGo to Pocket Square Glossary can only aspire to: it adds personality, polish, and a little confidence without trying too hard.

Fold Theory

Pleats are putting in overtime—from jackets to trousersTrousersThe formal term for pants worn from the waist to the ankle, found in tailored, pleated, wide-leg, and cropped styles. The trouser's cut and drape shape the entire outfit, andGo to Trousers Glossary—adding shape, volume, and just enough flair to make standing still a statement.

Wild Side

Animal-inspired leathers are prowling through menswearMenswearClothing, footwear, and accessories designed for men, spanning tailoring, casual wear, streetwear, and everything in between. Menswear has grown more expressive and experimental in recent years, and it blends classicGo to Menswear Glossary, adding texture, attitude, and just enough danger to make your basics feel a little less domesticated.

Easy Does It

TailoringTailoringThe craft of cutting, fitting, and altering clothes to suit an individual's body, from adjusting trouser hems to creating an entire suit. Good tailoring transforms how clothes look and feel,Go to Tailoring Glossary loosens up with playful prints, relaxed fits, and sneakers in place of dress shoes—because looking sharp shouldn’t just feel like work.

Mixed Signals

Men are piling it on—stacked rings, two-tone straps, layered chains, and a fearless mix of silver and gold proving that more is, in fact, more.

A version of this story appears in the September 2026 issue with the title “The Return of Substance”

SHOOT CREDITS:

Story edited by THE GQ PHILIPPINES TEAM. Photography by ROJ MAGUYON. Groomer: NEAL ALLEN LAUREANO. Producer: KEVIN GONZALES. Art Direction: MARC YELLOW. Models: HAROLD CANTOS & RUSLAN BEISEMBEKOV of MONARQ.