Speak softly and carry a big bag? Stylists on their 43 favorite spring 2026 men’s fashion picks

Madewell

1991 Loose Straight Jean

from $69.56

A simple but often overlooked update is to move beyond classic blue denim and introduce alternative neutral tones. A pair of neutral-colored jeans can instantly make familiar outfits feel more intentional while still pairing seamlessly with existing basics. Katy Anzola, a personal stylist focused on helping clients build capsule wardrobes

Madewell

1991 Loose Straight Jean

from $69.56

Bonobos

Everyday Linen Shirt

$73.50

A well-fitting elevated basic will do more than a trend piece. Pieces I like to pull include a more structured tee, a refined polo, or a lightweight button-down with a little bit of texture. Avri Bland, a personal stylist based in the Chicago area

Bonobos

Everyday Linen Shirt

$73.50

Salomon

XT-Whisper

from $140

My Salomons help me make my three-mile commute to the office a breeze. Their quick lace system means I can throw them on in seconds and the added silver detailing elevates them from your basic sneaker.

Salomon

XT-Whisper

from $140

Accessories often make outfits feel both complete and intriguing. They serve as great conversation starters: think hats with cities or teams you love, sunglasses with colored lenses, or unique watches. Erin Watton, a New York City based personal stylist, personal shopper and closet organizer

Breda

Pulse Watch

$195

Uniqlo

Unisex Harrington Jacket

$79.90

Do a spring edit on your closet. Focus on classic silhouettes that you won’t regret buying in a year. To me, that’s a straight relaxed fit, nothing too baggy or too slim. Lightweight layers like a Harrington jacket or an unstructured cotton blazer can be smart layers to add. Jabari Sandifer, a personal stylist based in Chicago

Uniqlo

Unisex Harrington Jacket

$79.90

Banana Republic

Banana Republic Slim Merino Ribbed Sweater

$39.99

When the temperature rises, remove the knit layer and drape [it] over your shoulders. It’s the chicest way to elevate your outfit while also dealing with a temperature change as the day warms up. If your plans take you into the colder evening temps, just add the sweater back into the look. Kelsey Ellstrom, a celebrity stylist who has dressed Zac Efron, Ben Affleck, and John Krasinski

Banana Republic

Banana Republic Slim Merino Ribbed Sweater

$39.99

Nike

Manoa Leather Boot

from $70

Alex Mill

Standard T-Shirt

from $68

In the early spring, it’s best to brighten your color palette gradually. Instead of diving straight into spring colors, start by swapping your black for your charcoal or navy or adding creams, taupes, or soft blues. Avri Bland

Alex Mill

Standard T-Shirt

from $68

Quince

Quince Cotton Pique Knit Blazer

$104

A lot of men tend to underutilize the power of layering. It can even be something as simple as a lightweight overshirt, a knit draped over the shoulders, even a lightweight casual blazer with a structured T-shirt underneath. Avri Bland

Quince

Quince Cotton Pique Knit Blazer

$104

Kuhl

Stretch Voyagr Jacket

$199

“The men’s cut skips the taper but still looks sharp.” And, the fabric is “gloriously soft and quiet, with none of that crinkly rain-jacket vibe”, Filter US contributor Heather Balogh Rochfort wrote of this PFA’s free rain jacket.

Kuhl

Stretch Voyagr Jacket

$199

Lacoste

Men’s Golf Quarter-Zip Windbreaker Sweater

$107.99

Cos

Cotton Wide-leg Pants

$129

A relaxed trouser in a soft fabric like cotton twill, washed linen, or even lightweight wool, make any outfit look effortless and cool. Wear it with a white tee and your favorite jacket, a sweater, or a relaxed fit button-up, worn untucked and loosely buttoned. Lily Montasser, a stylist based in New York City

Cos

Cotton Wide-leg Pants

$129

J Crew

1983 Oxford Shirt

$148

The Love Story and JFK Jr effect isn’t showing any signs of slowing down for spring. A striped Oxford shirt in a pastel colourway is a nice entry-level nod to the preppy mood. Tie optional. Chloe Mac Donnell, deputy fashion and lifestyle editor at the Guardian UK

J Crew

1983 Oxford Shirt

$148

Uniqlo

Washable Knit Polo Sweater

$39.90

Color plays an important role in spring. If brighter tones aren’t your preference, consider deeper, more muted shades like olive green, navy, or burnt orange. These still feel seasonal but are easier to integrate into an existing wardrobe. Katy Anzola

Uniqlo

Washable Knit Polo Sweater

$39.90

Mango Outlet

Water-repellent Belted Trench Coat

$183.99

If you live in a colder climate, there are adjustments you can make to participate in the fun that comes with dressing for spring. Layering is very key here. Think trench coat, crewneck or polo knit (play with color, texture, and pattern here), a white tee, denim, and loafers. Kelsey Ellstrom

Mango Outlet

Water-repellent Belted Trench Coat

$183.99

Buck Mason

Fox Sateen Ford Standard Pant

$188

One thing I always tell guys [is] to go ahead and invest in a lighter-weight pant. You’re coming out of winter, so you’ve been wearing heavier denim. When springtime rolls around, it’s really good to just have some lighter-weight canvas and then also to start to wear off-white colors. Bentley Caldwell, a personal stylist based in Nashville

Buck Mason

Fox Sateen Ford Standard Pant

$188

Rhythm

Awake Herringbone Jacket

from $100

Two words that I’m constantly using with my clients are: structure and texture. Especially in those early spring months, it’s sometimes best to mix your winter structure with your spring textures. This means pairing your heavier pieces like coats or structured jackets with lighter fabrics like cotton or linen underneath. Avri Bland

Rhythm

Awake Herringbone Jacket

from $100

Vans

Sneakers

from $54.99

Madewell

Linen Zip-front Jacket

$168

I think a linen jacket will be just enough insulation for right now, but it can very easily carry you into the warmer weather, or summer nights. Kin Moy, a personal stylist based in Boston

Madewell

Linen Zip-front Jacket

$168

Akila

Eyewear Ascent Sunglasses

$160

Every man should have one or two pairs of colored shades this summer. Dan Lee

Akila

Eyewear Ascent Sunglasses

$160

Cos

Short-Sleeved Cotton Shirt

$89

We typically view layering as a cold-weather concept. However, layers add a necessary dimension to your look. Adding an oversized short-sleeve button-down over a white tee can be a great spring look that feels relaxed and stylish. Erin Watton

Cos

Short-Sleeved Cotton Shirt

$89

Rodd & Gun

Fordell Jacket

$149

If you were to add one piece that you could use to make many outfits from what you already have, I recommend this cropped, lightweight jacket with a double zip. The zipper allows you to show more of the rise of your pants. It can do a lot for tweaking the proportions of your outfit. Kin Moy

Rodd & Gun

Fordell Jacket

$149

Levi’s

501 Jeans

from $48.65

Jeans have never been more confusing. Go back to basics with a straight leg in a dark wash. Levi’s 501s are a classic for a reason. They now run from a waist 28 to 56 and length 28 to 38 which makes finding your ideal fit even easier. Chloe Mac Donnell, deputy fashion and lifestyle editor at the Guardian UK

Levi’s

501 Jeans

from $48.65

Les Deux

Boston Ombré Stripe Cardigan

from $199

I’m all for versatility. Lightweight layers, like structured blazers, light cardigans, button-downs, and elevated knits. This allows you to transition throughout your day while adding dimension and polishing your look. Brian Lamont Daves, a wardrobe stylist and personality shopper with over 10 years of experience

Les Deux

Boston Ombré Stripe Cardigan

from $199

Pairs

Wool Knee High Socks

$35

Todd Snyder

Cotton Gurkha Short

$178

The dress short will be at the forefront of a lot of spring and summer men’s wardrobe decisions. You can wear it with a T-shirt and a cool hat and some sneakers, but you can also wear it with a button-up and a pair of loafers. It elevates the look more than your normal cargo or khaki short. Dan Lee

Todd Snyder

Cotton Gurkha Short

$178

J Crew

Camden Leather Loafers

$168

A lot of times, guys wear boots in the wintertime, and then they wonder: “How do I transition from boots?” And they usually just go to sneakers. A chocolate-brown loafer is a really great way to dress up even a very casual outfit. Bentley Caldwell

J Crew

Camden Leather Loafers

$168

Banana Republic

Jacquard Chore Coat

$150

My Theresa

Box cotton jersey T-shirt

$180

Earthy neutrals are a great way to have fun with color. Tobacco browns, mossy greens, warm terracottas, dusty greys. You can’t go wrong mixing and matching, and it still goes with everything else in your wardrobe. Lily Montasser

My Theresa

Box cotton jersey T-shirt

$180

Buck Mason

Japanese Denim Standard Jean

$198

You would be surprised at how much of an upgrade straight-leg denim can be from a tapered pant. Denim is typically worth investing in, as well-made pieces can last you decades. Erin Watton

Buck Mason

Japanese Denim Standard Jean

$198

Into the AM

Graphic Tee

$29.95

Filter US contributor Jon Chan sung this graphic tee’s praises, writing, “I wasn’t trying to invest in ironclad clothing when I bought my first Into the AM graphic tee in 2019 – the company’s in-house artists just made some real bangers I couldn’t resist.”

Into the AM

Graphic Tee

$29.95

Mango

Wool-blend Turtleneck Sweater

$79.99

Get rid of the jacket and then incorporate a turtleneck. If you run warm, leave the jacket at home. Jeffrey Ampratwum, a celebrity stylist and adjunct professor at Fashion Futures CUNY

Mango

Wool-blend Turtleneck Sweater

$79.99

Wrangler

Cowboy Cut Denim Jacket

from $57.74

Another recommendation from our Filter UK colleagues was incorporating denim into your spring wardrobe: “Wear it as a clean, understated layer that adds depth instead of taking over,” wrote contributor Peter Bevan.

Wrangler

Cowboy Cut Denim Jacket

from $57.74

Marc

Men’s Holden Hooded Parka

from $157.97

American Eagle

Open Knit Sweater t-shirt

$52.50

Open-knit T-shirts are a great way to take a really basic piece of a T-shirt and elevate it to make it more interesting. Kin Moy

American Eagle

Open Knit Sweater t-shirt

$52.50

Uniqlo

Washable 3D Knit Polo

$59.60

[Try] a full-sleeve polo when a T-shirt feels too casual and a shirt feels like too much. Sindhu Sridhar

Uniqlo

Washable 3D Knit Polo

$59.60

Abercrombie

Cotton Baggy Trouser

$95

Don’t be scared of lighter pants – spring is the perfect time to brighten up your outfits and switch things up. Think light-wash denim, cream trousers or even a great olive pair of chinos to keep your look fresh and elevated. Madison Gustini, a wardrobe stylist based in Los Angeles

Abercrombie

Cotton Baggy Trouser

$95

Brunco Marc

Fashion Casual Dress Sneakers

$45.99

Leather laces elevate the look. Jeffrey Ampratwum

Brunco Marc

Fashion Casual Dress Sneakers

$45.99

Buck Mason

Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee

$62

In the spring, you’re wearing fewer pieces, so your basics really have to carry the outfit. That means investing in high-quality T-shirts and well-fitting trousers. When the foundation is strong, the whole look feels intentional. Madison Gusitini

Buck Mason

Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee

$62

Royal Robbins

Men’s Vogelsang

$110

[My husband] appreciates the warm yet breathable nature of this flannel’s fabric, which has stayed surprisingly soft after multiple wears and washes. Despite being a “performance tech flannel”, the Vogelsang’s attractive pattern and flattering fit make it blend in nicely at social and professional events, wrote Filter US contributor Paige Triola.

Royal Robbins

Men’s Vogelsang

$110

Wax London

Ladder Stripe Turin Polo

Now $61.67, was $153 at Jules B
$205 at Stag Provisions
It’s a great way to do something that’s not a T-shirt. I think a lot of time in warmer weather, guys get caught in this thing of like, ‘it’s either a short-sleeve button-down or a T-shirt’. Bentley Caldwell

Wax London

Ladder Stripe Turin Polo

Suit Supply

White Leather Sneaker

$229

Paying attention to footwear is one of the easiest ways to instantly elevate a spring outfit. In the winter, you can rely on the same boots most days, but spring gives you the opportunity to rotate into so many different shoe styles and really play with your looks. No matter how good the outfit is, the shoes are what people notice first. Madison Gustini

Suit Supply

White Leather Sneaker

$229

Cos

Mock-neck Twill Blouson Jacket

$229

Invest in a lightweight jacket before anything else. It’s the piece my clients are almost always missing because there’s this idea that transitional seasons are minor and we just need to “wait it out”. Sujin Kim

Cos

Mock-neck Twill Blouson Jacket

$229

Cotton Linen Trousers:

Linen Blazer:

Loose summer suits were a hit on the Fendi and Boss catwalks. Get the look via Toast with its cotton/linen blazer and matching trousers. Wear them as a set, wear them as separates, wear them to work, wear them to dinner. Chloe Mac Donnell

Toast

from $430

Billy Reid

Billy Reid Waxed Lodge Jacket

$798

It’s got like a little bit of camouflage. It’s a great way to have utility but also be stylish. Bentley Caldwell

Billy Reid

Billy Reid Waxed Lodge Jacket

$798

Coach

Mott Messenger Bag

$550

I think it’s so chic for a man to carry a big bag. Whether it’s for weekend trips, travel, or an easy Sunday. It’s very cool when worn with a casual outfit. (Think Jacob Elordi). Lily Montasser

Coach

Mott Messenger Bag

$550