How Dusty Pink Became Menswear’s Hottest Colour of Spring

If you paid close attention to the spring 2026 menswear shows, it was hard not to notice the prevailing presence of clothes in shades of muted, dusty pink—a colour palette typically more associated with feminine fashion than with what most guys wear day-to-day. Yet there it was, on suits and separates at Brunello Cucinelli, on leather goods and outerwear at Louis Vuitton, and on all manner of garments at Zegna and Dior.

“It’s gentle, gentle pink,” says celebrity stylist Jeanne Yang of this colour of the moment, calling it one of her signatures. “I remember sending a swatch to Fendi years ago for Jason Momoa. It was really before we saw much peacocking on the red carpet.”

For today’s menswear makers, crafting clothes from these rosy hues seems less about pushing the sartorial envelope and more about referencing history. Go back long enough and pink was considered entirely appropriate for creating a commanding, masculine look.

In the 18th century, natural red fabric dyes made from Indian madder root and South American brazilwood were key to producing the pink fabrics that both men and women wore during the reign of King Louis XV. Celebrated Rococo portraitists, including Maurice-Quentin de La Tour, François Boucher, and Jean-Baptiste Perronneau, frequently used these soft shades in their paintings, indelibly linking pink with wealth, power, and sophistication. (See also: the salmon fabric draped around the figure of Apollo in Boucher’s The Rising of the Sun and the all-pink suit in Perronneau’s 1756 portrait of shipping magnate Olivier Journu.)

This is exactly the period that Jonathan Anderson referenced in his debut menswear outing for Dior, for which he also applied the colour to preppy staples such as a cable-knit sweater and a pair of pleated trousers. “Pink has always been a welcome colour in the prep wardrobe, from button-down shirts to polos to well-worn chinos or shorts,” says Jian DeLeon, men’s fashion director at Nordstrom. “With that particular style more relevant than ever, it’s no surprise to see it gaining steam once again.”

So how do real guys get in on the look? First: Stop worrying that it’s going to make you look odd. “Pink is probably one of the most brightening tones for anybody,” Yang says. “It makes you look so alive and gives you colour.” Second: Don’t think you have to buy a new wardrobe to make it work for you. “If you’re going to introduce it, you have to do it with muted tones,” she adds. Take the season’s Hermès show, which styled pink scarves with a casual black jacket and brown trousers—items you might already have in your closet. Third: Try it out at the office. “Pink’s real sophistication emerges at work, where restraint is key,” says David Thielebeule, fashion director at Bloomingdale’s. “A pale pink poplin [shirt] under a navy suit, a muted blush tie against charcoal, or even a whisper of rose in a fine-gauge sweater layered beneath a jacket can feel modern without screaming.”

Of course, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can commit to wearing it head to toe—and no shortage of the best men’s clothiers can help you do it. Consider it the ultimate signal of self-confidence and a way to telegraph that you’re willing to take risks.

“If the one thing people can take away from celebrity looks and runway collections is to give themselves permission to go out and express themselves more, then that’s amazing,” Yang says. “Let’s keep going for it!”

Lead image courtesy of Hermès/Loro Piana/Louis Vuitton

This story was originally published on Robb Report USA.