Vivienne Westwood reemerges at Milan Men's Fashion Week, emphasizing conceptual fashion over personal ego.
**Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear Collection Embraces Fluidity and Inclusivity**
Vivienne Westwood's latest menswear collection, titled "Colazione Da Andreas," made a striking debut at Milan Men's Fashion Week, marking the brand's first standalone menswear show since 2017. Presented at Bar Rivoli near San Babila, the collection showcased an unconventional approach to fashion, blending the elegance of early Renaissance dandyism with modern, non-binary silhouettes.
Under the creative direction of Andreas Kronthaler, the collection challenged traditional menswear norms by reimagining masculine style through a lens that celebrates fluidity and individuality. The designs featured a striking interplay between volume, textures, and shapes, ranging from relaxed silk drapes to sharply tailored pieces. The collection blurred gender boundaries with the incorporation of feminine-coded garments, such as sheer embroidered tops and bright floral boxer shorts.
The "Colazione Da Andreas" collection embodies contradiction, with masculinity and femininity, the past and the future, softness and sharpness colliding in a way that felt deeply human. The collection's bold artistic vision merged the nostalgia of "granny" fashion with dandyism, resulting in a lineup that felt both retro and radically fresh. This fusion pushed menswear beyond convention, inviting broader acceptance of diverse expressions in fashion.
The brand's approach to inclusivity and authenticity felt genuine and unscripted, aligning with current consumer trends. According to a Stackla report, 86% of consumers consider authenticity a key factor in choosing brands, while 52% agree that gender isn't binary. The show felt like a throwback to the early days of the brand, when Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren shaped a punk aesthetic.
The brand's legacy has often been about holding tension and turning it into art, earning pieces a place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and inspiring designers and models. The show also highlighted Vivienne Westwood’s enduring role as a pioneer of avant-garde and activist fashion.
The future belongs to leaders willing to exchange ego for ideas and presence for performance, and the "Colazione Da Andreas" collection embodies this sentiment. The collection's innovative use of silhouette, texture, and thematic storytelling demonstrates a progressive shift towards inclusive, fluid, and visually rich fashion.
According to Gen Z, who are actively rejecting rigid labels, true innovation stems from openness, not orchestration. The brand's "rebellious" tone, with a complete absence of ego and a focus on collaboration, resonates with this generation. The show's immersive experience, transforming the cafe into a symbol of the brand, caters to audiences who increasingly crave transparent and multi-dimensional brand narratives.
The collection's success is also reflected in consumer behaviour. According to the Edelman trust barometer, 81% say trust influences their purchasing decisions, while 82% of Gen Z say they trust a company more when real customers appear in its marketing. Moreover, 72% are likelier to buy from brands supporting social causes.
In conclusion, the "Colazione Da Andreas" collection is a critical milestone for Vivienne Westwood’s menswear, symbolizing a progressive shift towards inclusive, fluid, and visually rich fashion. The collection's bold artistic vision, unconventional approach to fashion, and focus on inclusivity and authenticity make it a standout in the fashion industry, reflecting the changing attitudes and preferences of consumers.
[1] Sources: WWD, Vogue, Business of Fashion, Stackla report, Edelman trust barometer.
- The "Colazione Da Andreas" collection by Vivienne Westwood under Andreas Kronthaler, showcased at Milan Men's Fashion Week, aligns well with the fashion-and-beauty sector as it challenges traditional norms, promotes personal growth, and supports education-and-self-development through itsemphasis on fluidity, inclusivity, and authenticity.
- In the lifestyle realm, Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear Collection not only offers fashion-forward attire but also serves as an educational tool, encouraging consumers to embrace personal growth, reevaluate gender constructs, and engage in conversations about inclusivity and authenticity in the fashion-and-beauty industry.
