Let’s hear it for the boys: your men’s high street guide

In fashion terms at least, it’s a very good time to be a woman. The British high street has never looked better (see Marks & Spencer’s LFW makeover, & Other Stories’ renewed relevance and Cos’s continued brilliance), while the industry’s game of creative director musical chairs has delivered some divine designer collections.

If you’re not shopping on a Matthieu Blazy budget, there are seemingly no end of independent labels to discover, as well as disruptor brands to try and Vinted algorithms to shape to your whims. Between Substack, Instagram and good old-fashioned journalism, it’s pretty easy to stay abreast of womenswear trends, too — if you so wish.

But… what about the boys? Other than Cos or Uniqlo, the high street options feel a little limited on the menswear front, even more so if Vince and Sunspel price points are feeling like a stretch. The trends don’t exactly trip off the tongue either. Despite this, a more thoughtful approach to men’s dressing seems to be going mainstream and there’s plenty of great stuff out there if you know where to look.

Percival

Consider Pinterest’s 2026 Men’s Trend report, entitled The Intentional Man — a nod to the fact that menswear is becoming more “considered” of late. One of the report’s key findings was that workwear increasingly represents an unofficial menswear uniform; searches for “workwear outfit men” were up more than 300 per cent, while “vintage workwear outfit” were even higher, up 442 per cent.

The idea of blue-collar cosplay is hardly new. It boomed in the early 2020s, when brands including Carhartt and Dickies shifted from sartorial indifference to statement of fashion intent. Everyone learned what a chore jacket was and they’ve stayed relevant ever since, still as visible on catwalks from Lemaire to Feng Chen Wang as they are in the queue for an east London cold brew.

A great name to know if you want to look like you’ve done an honest day’s labour is Universal Works. Founded in 2009 by David Keyte, who was inspired by his Midlands upbringing and the workwear worn by his father and uncles, Universal Works is now sold around the world.

Conveniently, there are two London stores — one on Berwick Street in Soho and one in Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. Pieces to look out for include fine cord overshirts and quilted jackets, all of which are reasonably priced, well made and perfect for layering. On that note, layering just might be the key to getting menswear right this season.

It was a focus for Rose Forde, a stylist known for her distinctive approach to men’s clothing, when she partnered with Bicester Village for the latest instalment of its Stylist Sessions series. “For the edit, I have focused on layering, as it’s been so prominent on the runways, where we are seeing lots of artful layering, from Celine to Jil Sander to Prada,” she says. “I’ve seen a surge in mixed textural moments and an undone feel: collars popping over shirts, shirts over shirts, knits on knits, blazers with statement coats and so many belts and accessories piled on.

This season, layers are really at play, and the more you add, the more relaxed it feels.” Arket looks to have got the memo, with an autumn/winter collection that layers zip cardigan over Henley (or brushed flannel shirt) over T-shirt, as well as cord overshirt over cardi over tee.

Wax London is a good brand to have in your arsenal in this regard, with overshirts that stray just the right distance from the norm with quilted, reversible and vibrant plaid iterations. For chunkier knits and great classic-with-a-twist outerwear, Percival takes some beating. All in all, the more-is-more approach to layering feels unpredictable-weather-proof as well as on trend.

Five fabulous menswear gems

Workwear-inspired pieces, layering, colour pops — there’s plenty to love about menswear this season. Here are five easy pieces to put some pep in your autumn/ winter step.

Another thing to consider is jewellery, a growing category in menswear. According to Pinterest, searches for “men chain necklace” are up more than 350 per cent, while searches for more unexpected accessories including silver cuff bracelets and leather bag charms have also seen considerable growth.

Jeweller Rachel Boston says that her male clients are asking for chunkier, bolder forms and more sculptural shapes. They’re also embracing diamonds, which is why she has just launched a range of men’s diamond rings called Relic, inspired by ancient Roman jewellery. “I think men’s confidence in being more playful and expressive with fashion has really increased, and jewellery is a natural extension of that,” she says.

“Ten years ago, men’s jewellery could feel either extremely classic and traditional, or quite overtly masculine. Now there’s this much broader space in between. Men are being offered genuinely interesting designs, different proportions, gemstones and diamonds, and I think that naturally encourages people to experiment.”

The men’s jewellery movement hasn’t quite caught on in high street stores, though Cos has multiple pieces, including strings of beads as well as classic box-chain necklaces. There’s no harm in looking to mid-price women’s brands too; Mejuri has plenty of pieces that would look just as good on men as women, be it subtle or statement.

“I think fashion is much less binary than it used to be and jewellery is becoming the same,” says Boston. “There’s less interest in whether something is technically a ‘men’s’ or ‘women’s’ piece and more interest in whether you actually want to wear it.” This season and beyond, that will be the key to adding a note of intentionality to your wardrobe.