Dear Shaded Viewers,
John Alexander Skelton’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, unveiled in London, marking a quietly radical moment in contemporary menswear. Skelton, long celebrated for his instinctive approach and reverence for craft, has sidestepped the rigidity of fashion narratives in favor of something more personal, tactile, and distinctly lighter in spirit.
The collection’s defining motif is a deliberate embrace of softness and lightness—not just in fabric and silhouette, but in mood as showcased in the atmospheric photography of William Waterworth. A white linen double-breasted suit, cinched delicately at the waist and flaring gracefully, sets the tone. There’s playful charm in a dark green waxed jacket with a double row of buttons, and a muted palette of off-whites and soft pinks, most vivid in a whimsical floral series, whispers of spring’s gentle optimism. Skelton’s decision to work with these tones and textures is a subtle act of rebellion against the creeping informality that has swept through menswear in recent years. “There’s something about that trend that I really find unappealing, which drives me to create something that is extravagantly formal—and not necessarily refined,” Skelton explained, underscoring his commitment to a kind of formality that feels both extravagant and idiosyncratic.
This season, Skelton has traded his usual, often research-driven narratives for a more instinctive process. The collection emerged from a personal reflection on his own wardrobe and that of his clientele, he simply wanted to create pieces that he felt inclined to wear. The result is clothing that feels lived-in, approachable, and yet still carries the designer’s unmistakable signature—an alchemy of tradition, craft, and contemporary sensibility.
The accompanying lookbook, shot on the west coast of Ireland by William Waterworth , is more than just a backdrop; it’s an extension of Skelton’s design ethos. The designer’s longing for connection—with real people, real places—infuses the collection with authenticity and warmth.
In a fashion landscape often obsessed with spectacle and novelty, John Alexander Skelton’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection stands out for its quiet radicalism. It’s a celebration of formality without stuffiness, of softness without fragility, and of a designer’s instinctive dialogue with the world around him. Skelton’s work reminds us that true innovation often lies in the subtle, the personal, and the deeply felt—a lesson as timely as ever.
Later,
Diane
