Fashioning Masculinities in London: How the V&A Is Rewriting Men’s Style Rules

The Fashioning Masculinities V&A London project has become one of the most influential conversations in global fashion over the past few years. Born from the Victoria and Albert Museum’s 2022 exhibition “Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear,” the project continues to expand through international tours, digital content, public talks and collaborations.

In a cultural moment where men’s style is evolving at high speed—from red-carpet experimentation to gender-fluid design—the V&A’s work serves as a crucial landmark in understanding where menswear has been, and where it’s going.

A Groundbreaking Project That Changed the Menswear Conversation

When the V&A first opened Fashioning Masculinities, it marked one of the museum’s most significant contributions to contemporary fashion debates. The exhibition explored:

• The history of menswear

• The cultural politics of masculinity

• The influence of art, photography and music on male identity

• How designers reinterpret masculinity today

Featuring archival garments, haute couture, sportswear, historical tailoring and contemporary gender-fluid pieces, the exhibition offered a multi-layered look at how men express themselves through dress.

Its impact didn’t end when the doors closed in London—the project continues to travel and inspire institutions worldwide.

Why Fashioning Masculinities Still Matters in 2025–2026

The conversation the V&A sparked has only grown more relevant. Today, menswear sits at a key intersection of identity, culture, performance and gender expression. In both the UK and globally, we’re witnessing:

• Men embracing colour, silhouette and embellishment

• Designers challenging old tailoring codes

• Increased visibility of non-binary and gender-fluid fashion

• A merging of streetwear and luxury

• Celebrities pushing boundaries on red carpets

The Fashioning Masculinities V&A London project provides historical grounding for these shifts, showing that experimentation in menswear is not new—but part of a long artistic tradition.

The V&A’s Continuing Influence

Although the original exhibition concluded in 2022, the V&A continues to build on its success through:

• International touring versions of the show

• Digital archives and films that keep the work accessible

• Talks, lectures and programming focused on menswear history

• Collaborations with designers, photographers and stylists

• Research into global and cultural perspectives on masculinity

The museum remains a global reference point for scholars, students, stylists and creators working within menswear and gender studies.

A Bridge Between Arab Menswear and European Style

One of the reasons this topic resonates for Niche Magazine is its ability to connect different style worlds.

Arab menswear—rich in tailoring, craftsmanship, cultural symbolism and evolving interpretations of modern masculinity—sits comfortably in the same conversation the V&A helped popularise.

The themes explored in Fashioning Masculinities align naturally with the Arab region’s rising menswear designers and the global interest in their work.

This makes the Fashioning Masculinities V&A London narrative a meaningful bridge between:

• Gulf luxury menswear

• North African tailoring traditions

• British sartorial heritage

• Avant-garde European design

• Diaspora influences across London

It’s a story of how different regions contribute to a new, global definition of menswear.

The UK as a Hub for Evolving Menswear

London remains one of the most experimental and diverse men’s fashion cities in the world. From Savile Row and emerging designers to music-driven style subcultures, the UK has long shaped how men dress.

The V&A’s project taps directly into this ecosystem, showing how British fashion has both preserved core tailoring traditions and embraced progressive expressions of masculinity.

What Makes the V&A Approach Unique

The V&A doesn’t treat menswear as a trend—it treats it as culture. The project:

• Uses fashion as a lens to study identity

• Elevates craftsmanship and design history

• Includes voices from art, photography and performance

• Highlights how clothing becomes political

• Encourages audiences to rethink assumptions about “masculine” dress

It’s an approach that resonates deeply with today’s conversations about gender, expression and representation.