Easy Does It

We explore how Hermès is rewriting the codes of menswear with its spring/ summer 2019 collection.

- Karishma Tulsidas

Three years ago, American company JP Morgan circulated a memo to its 200,000-plus employees, stating that it would embrace ‘business casual’ as its daily dress code. It was not the only company doing so, and nor was the decision completely out of the left field. In the past two decades, fuelled mainly by Silicon Valley, dress codes have relaxed considerably.

But what this means is that a completely new style guide is being written for men – suits are giving way to a more ‘smart casual’ approach. This has had a trickle-up effect on fashion, as traditional menswear designers have had to adapt their aesthetic to reflect the changing needs of today’s man.