Saul Nash AW26 “Masquerade”
At Milan Fashion Week, Saul Nash’s A/W 2026 collection, Masquerade, arrived as both a visual study and a personal reflection, one that examines how clothing can be used as a tool to shape, protect, and project identity. Presented at Via Pietrasanta 14, the collection unfolded with quiet confidence, blending the rigor of tailoring with the ease and freedom of sportswear.
Inspired by the art of masquerade, Nash began his research after attending Notting Hill Carnival, where costume, performance, and mimicry intersect as forms of expression and cultural storytelling. That curiosity expanded into Venetian masquerade traditions, where masks historically allowed wearers to both conceal and transform themselves. Through these references, Nash reframes the masquerade not as a disguise but as empowerment.
Viewed through the lens of growing up in London, Masquerade introduces a modern interpretation of power dressing, one that rejects rigidity. The collection explores how garments can shift between formality and ease, allowing the wearer to inhabit multiple versions of themselves without compromise. As Nash explains, these are clothes meant to act as a personal masquerade, enabling individuals to embody who they choose to be.
The narrative begins with the tracksuit, a foundational element of Nash’s identity and design language. A technical tracksuit printed with the silhouette of a tailored suit becomes a pointed commentary on dress codes and belonging. It reflects moments when Nash felt underdressed for certain spaces, offering a solution that honors authenticity while navigating expectation.
Throughout the collection, tailoring is deconstructed and reassembled. References to 1980s British and Italian power suits appear in jackets with built-in hoods, detachable sleeves, and shirts marked by precise horizontal and vertical lines. Crafted from stretch cotton, these pieces translate Nash’s movement-driven philosophy into a more elevated, sculptural form. Formalwear continues to evolve with pinstriped all-in-one jumpsuits made from merino stretch wool. Cut wide and intentionally warped, the silhouettes respond dynamically to motion, echoing the theatrical nature of masquerade costumes while expanding the brand’s exploration of tailoring.
Outerwear plays with proportion and versatility. Military-inspired drill jackets feature transformable collars worn multiple ways, while cropped trench coats employ Nash’s kinetic cutting technique. Lightweight padded jackets with elongated ribbed sleeves and exaggerated hems add drama without sacrificing functionality, thanks to PRIMALOFT® Gold insulation.
The color palette, greens, navys, and earthy browns, anchors a rich mix of textures. Silky utility trousers crafted from Viscose LENZING™ are paired with crinkled recycled nylon zip-ups, mohair blazers, and intimate knitwear in alpaca and merino wool. Sensual yet restrained, the materials enhance the collection’s emotional depth.
The idea of the “mask” becomes literal in compression tops printed with hazy body motifs, creating the illusion of wearing another person’s form. A raw denim twinset lasered with a sculpted physique nods to classical representations of the male body, reinforcing themes of transformation and perception.
The collection is grounded by Nash’s debut footwear design, the Julien Boot. The high-top sports shoe features a mesh upper, a leather base, a Velcro fastening, and a broken gum sole engineered for movement, an extension of the brand’s commitment to functionality and motion.
Also previewed during the show was SLNSH Spring 2026, Nash’s ongoing collaboration with Lululemon. Select men’s and women’s looks hinted at a softer, nature-inspired direction, with transformable jackets, barrel trousers, and technical accessories that continue to blur the line between performance and lifestyle.
With Masquerade, Saul Nash offers more than a collection; he presents a meditation on identity, self-expression, and freedom. It’s a reminder that clothing doesn’t just dress the body; it carries intention, movement, and the power to transform how we show up in the world.
Photo Credit Ik Aldama