Stray Kids’s Hyunjin was shining on the front row at Dior’s Fall/Winter 2026 menswear show in Paris Fashion Week—and it wasn’t just from his star power alone. The K-pop idol was dressed in a dazzling Dior wool cardigan woven with metallic yarn and sequins trend. Very fancy. Hyunjin’s look was a hint of what was to come: at the Dior show, models in bright yellow wigs and spiky hair came down the runway sporting sequin vests, sparkling sweaters and polo shirts topped with crystal epaulettes.
Such flashy offerings made up Jonathan Anderson’s spectacular sophomore menswear collection for Dior, which was largely inspired by the French couturier Paul Poiret. (Anderson had noticed a plaque honouring the designer outside of Dior’s headquarters in Paris, which sparked his curiosity.)
Poiret was enamoured by the aesthetics of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa; he shook up early 20th-century Western fashion with his kimono coats, harem pants and loose, draped dresses that allowed women to ditch the corset. The designer, who called himself the “King of Fashion”, also favoured opulence: he used swathes of shimmering jacquards and silk lamé to craft his coats, and lavished sequins, rhinestones and beads upon his evening dresses.
One such Paul Poiret dress inspired the Dior sequin tops, which are among Anderson’s boldest propositions for contemporary men’s fashion yet (the bermuda shorts from his debut Dior collection, featuring mille-feuille-like folds jutting out on the sides, still take the cake). Are men ready to walk around in public in sequins, a la Timothée Chalamet?
Anderson thinks so: he offered some ideas on how to make his shiny clothes work in the real world. Instead of going full disco, the sequin tops were styled with skinny jeans (which, as we know, are having a moment thanks to the “Hedi Boys” and the revival of indie sleaze). The Dior man can also turn to the equally trendy and equally casual jorts in the collection; these are embellished with military-style buttons, which are assuredly masculine.
Anderson isn’t the only designer thinking of how to add more shine to the modern man’s wardrobe. At Milan Fashion Week, the Giorgio Armani menswear show presented elegant, dark velvet suits and shirts crafted in iridescent silk. At Louis Vuitton, Pharrell also turned to glimmering textiles to update menswear staples and offer what he called “timeless luxury”. Monogrammed jackets and hoodies came in suede coated with high-gloss lacquer, inspired by Louis Vuitton’s patent leather Monogram Vintage Vernis bags. The results were slick. There were also what seemed, at first glance, like classic shirts and coats—but which glittered as models walked. These pieces were embroidered with tiny crystals meant to resemble droplets of water.
Sparkling embroidery also transformed the wearable, everyday men’s pieces at Kartik Research, the New Delhi-based label that is becoming a favourite for those in the fashion circle. (And the political one: New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani wore one of the brand’s silk ties when he was sworn in.)
For Kartik Research’s sophomore show in Paris, designer Kartik Kumra, who collaborates with Indian artisans skilled in centuries-old textile techniques, showcased their craft on jeans and jackets featuring floral embroidery with shimmering sequins.
The rising popularity of Kartik Research—which has stockists in Paris, New York, London, Tokyo, Chengdu, Shanghai and Seoul—is a sign that more men around the world are now seeking out pieces that add just a dash of flamboyance to their outfits. It’s not a crazy concept: recall the excitement around the bold red carpet looks worn by male celebrities at last year’s Met Gala, which put the spotlight on Black Dandyism. A standout was Lewis Hamilton’s suit, which was lightly embellished with pearls, beads and shells. It was created by London designer Grace Wales Bonner, who also made men’s sequin sneakers a thing through her viral Adidas collaboration last year. Who knows what other flourishes will be introduced to men’s fashion when Wales Bonner starts her new job at Hermès?
If you’re looking to add a dose of glitz to your wardrobe, those Wales Bonner sneakers are a great place to start. Aside from designs embellished with sequins and crystals, you can also consider wearing shirts or jackets in high-shine fabrics like satin or lamé for a touch of flamboyance—pair them with jeans. Discover more glimmering pieces to nail the Fall/Winter 2026 trend below.
Loewe crystal-embellished cotton-poplin shirt
Ann Demeulemeester SS13 single breasted Mimosa blazer jacket