JW Anderson remixes Dior heritage with audacious elegance, fall fragrances conjure smoky, memory laden moods, and cargo pants go full couture. Presenting three ways to flex timeless codes with modern edge consider this your ultimate arsenal for swagger on tap
by Archana Aithal Rose
SHAPE SHIFTER
Long before his hotly anticipated Dior debut, Jonathan Anderson had already proven himself as fashion’s great shapeshifter, a designer equally at home crafting artisanal knitwear at Loewe as he is twisting classics into the unexpected at his eponymous label. So when the house teased Andy Warhol’s Polaroids of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Lee Radziwill on Instagram, it was not a literal clue so much as Anderson setting a tone: eclectic, referential, and deeply curious about how images and identities collide. His Dior collection was not chasing another reimagining: Dior’s identity is already so firmly established that staging a seismic shift within it is difficult to creatively articulate, but rather channeling Monsieur Dior’s method, looking back to look forward. There were whispers of 18th century grandeur, a fixation on structure, and a playful clash of references: regency tailcoats spliced with denim, military frogging stitched onto button-downs, Dior’s iconic bustles reimagined in humble canvas, and cargo pants that winked at the maison’s femme fleurs, this time rendered for men. The result was a collection that felt at-once erudite and irreverent. dior.com
Diptyque Lazulio
One spritz, and Diptyque soars again. Inspired by the peacock’s majestic allure, perfumer Quentin Bisch blends rhubarb, benzoin, Haitian vetiver, and rose into a unisex fragrance that shimmers with elegance, while Nigel Peake’s artistry captures its visual magic. Will you answer the call? $340, diptyque.com
Le Sel d’Issey Eau De Parfum
Relive the last fragrance Issey Miyake crafted before his passing. Inspired by salt, it opens with marine seaweed and ginger, grounded by oakmoss, sand vetiver, and cedarwood, creating a fluid, modern aquatic experience that feels like a plunge into memory itself. $135, isseymiyake.com
Paco Rabanne Night Soul Eau De Parfum
If the spirit of a good time had a scent, it would be Night Soul. Palo santo, golden sandalwood, and balsamic cedarwood meet velvety tonka bean and fig cream, capturing the heady thrill of Parisian nights and the unbridled energy of Monsieur Rabanne’s 1980s nightclub, The Black Sugar. $325, pacorabanne.com
Louis Vuitton Tailored Wool Cargo Pants
LV luxifies the humble cargo with fine black grain de poudre wool, the same suiting-adjacent fabric used in the maison’s tailoring, and elevates utility with zippered leg pockets finished with discreet tone-on tone monogram embroidery. Equal parts swagger and function, they are the kind of pants that take you from front row to after hours without missing a beat. $1,480, louisvuitton.com
Rick Owens Cargo Bela Pants Rick
Owens leans into the roomy silhouette of the traditional cargo and twists it with an avant-garde sensibility. Crafted in a cotton blend weave with a mid rise, elasticated drawstring waistband, front zip, side slip pockets, and rear snap-button fastening pockets, these brown cargos add runway-ready edge to a wardrobe staple. $1,110, ln-cc.com
Sacai Belted Plaid Cargo Pants
Pairing utilitarian structure with the history of plaid, a pattern long associated with tailoring and formalwear, Chitose Abe reinvents the cargo pant into something au courant. Fitted with a belt and voluminous pockets, these barrel-leg trousers are equally at home on the street as the upscale steakhouse. $1,050, nordstrom.com
CARGO GOES COUTURE
Cargo pants have staged countless comebacks, but their latest revival is less mall-core throwback and more high-design reinvention. Designers from Prada to Ferragamo have elevated the silhouette with sharp tailoring and suiting-adjacent fabrics, transforming it from utilitarian staple to something sculptural, refined, and undeniably modern. Consider it proof that even the most functional uniform can stage a runway-worthy renaissance.