Starting a new chapter does not mean beginning from a blank slate. After all, every decision, conscious or not, stems from our collective history and memories — all unspoken agreements that string us together. There is no nothing, only something that stems from everything. Nothing is novel, although something new can emerge from a shift in perspectives. As seen on the finest male models of Southeast Asia, the Dior Winter ’26 men’s collection embodies Jonathan Anderson’s take on Christian Dior, both the man and his legacy, through the lens of romance, regality and rebellion.
(On Ridzman) Jacket, pants, all Dior
(On Raihan) Jacket, shirts, shorts, sneakers, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
(On Suraj) Coat, shirt, shorts, loafers, belt, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
(On Kenji) Polo shirt, jeans, all Dior
(On Suraj) Coat, shirt, pants, belt, all Dior
(On Kenji) Polo shirt, jeans, all Dior
(On Raihan) Jacket, shirt, shorts, sneakers, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
(On Suraj) Jacket, collar, jeans, belt, all Dior
(On Raihan) Jacket, collar, shirt, pants, all Dior
Jonathan Anderson may be new to Dior, but his ideas did not conjure from sheer whim. As a student of the arts and a close observer of Christian Dior, the question begs: how far can he stretch his ideas? Do they need to be tethered to the house and all of its codes? Does it actually matter? From Poiret-inspired silhouettes to punks swaddled in military coats, you can assess that Anderson might not have a conclusive answer, either, or does he want to hurry into settling into a stance.
Jacket, pants, all Dior
Coat, shirt, shorts, loafers, belt, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
(On Kenji) Polo shirt, jeans, all Dior
(On Suraj) Coat, shorts, loafers, necklace, Médaillon messenger bag, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
Collar, Dior
The Winter ‘26 men’s collection is romance, regality, and rebellion all wrapped up in a velvet ribbon. Toughness emerges from a sheer devil-may-care attitude, rather than a spotless, impenetrable armour. Denim has been roughened and distressed to achieve a soft, lived-in appearance; blazers are shrunken to near-fault, alluding to the traces of time. Time has the effect of fading scars, tinting memories, and turning the banal into something significant. The Denim Bar Jacket encapsulates a few of these ideas: now a legendary silhouette, inseparable from the maison, and reinterpreted in washed denim, a utilitarian fabric known to wear better with time. So now, is it precious because it is immaculately crafted, or is it less precious because it, by virtue of its make, is technically a piece of workwear meant to endure wear and tear?
(On Kenji) Polo shirt, jeans, loafers, all Dior
(On Ridzman) Jacket, pants, loafers, all Dior
(On Raihan) Shirt, shorts, necklace, all Dior
(On Ridzman) Jacket, pants, loafers, all Dior
Shorts, sneakers, necklace, Bolt weekender bag, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
Contradictions are part and parcel of creating tension, a vital part of what makes art alluring. Less of viewing Anderson’s insistence on reinterpreting Dior’s codes as a creative crutch, it comes as a reflection of his ongoing exploration. What is Dior, anyway? Does it need to be a ghost of its past to be rendered as faithful, or can it mean something entirely different in a time when the concept of luxury has been cheapened and bastardised by excess? You say these are just clothes, but these are clothes we will talk about for years to come.
(On Suraj) Coat, shirt, shorts, loafers, belt, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
(On Raihan) Jacket, shirts, shorts, sneakers, all Dior; Socks, Stylist’s own
(On Ridzman) Jacket, pants, loafers, all Dior
(On Kenji) Polo shirt, jeans, all Dior
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Photography Lock Chee Wei
Grooming ChuFan
Hair Keith Ong
Fashion Coordination Liew Hui Ying
Photography Assistant Max Ong
Models Kenji Tay | NOW Models Management; Suraj Aku | Nomad Management; Raihan Fahrizal | RF Model House; Rizman Zidaine | Topboi Citizen
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