Winter comes with a wash of doom and gloom; rainy days, icy chills and a mood-altering lack of sunlight. But Ryota Iwai’s Auralee refuses to slip into seasonal blues. Instead, with its AW26 co-ed collection which was unveiled at Musée de l’Homme in Paris yesterday evening, the Japanese brand posed the question: what makes winter joyful?
Finding the beauty in the season’s blissful moments – that first breath of crisp air on the commute, the supple sun shining down from behind the clouds – the offering took shape in the optimistic pursuit of “lightness and clarity”. That meant volumes designed with air and levity, and winter staples that felt lifted rather than heavy. Think leather down blousons and sculpted vests that were supple and buoyant; nep-yarn knits and tweeds that were grounding but tactile. Throughout, tradition was quietly disrupted as substantial cold-weather garments were paired with sheer or lightweight layers.
That lightness didn’t mean the wardrobe wasn’t built for winter though. To the bright, tender pop sounds of Yo La Tengo’s Autumn Sweater models emerged wearing cashmere corduroy that reworked the familiar texture with softness and polish. Wool herringbone pile meanwhile added depth, and merino mouton shearling cocooned the body with smooth, compact warmth, all in a pleasing palette of springtime tones.
To answer the question raised, perhaps it’s the act of dressing itself that makes winter special – the layering, the weight, the way clothes shape the body against the cold. One thing we know for sure is it’s deliberate, and Auralee understands it. Having been around for over a decade and fast becoming one of the hottest tickets on the menswear schedule following its Paris debut in January 2024, the brand has built a reputation for precision and fabric-led design. And here, that focus felt sharpened. Auralee made a convincing case for winter as the most satisfying season to get dressed for.
Photography courtesy of Auralee.
