Men's Straw Hats Are Back — and the Runway Just Proved It

If you've been watching the runways this season, you've noticed something unusual. The men's straw hat—once a niche accessory reserved for garden parties and beach vacations—has become the most competitive category in menswear accessories .

GQ's coverage of the 2026 Spring/Summer Menswear Week put it plainly: hats are the battleground. Multiple brands made bold statements with straw hats, each offering a completely different take on the silhouette.

Armani: The Wearable Classic

Giorgio Armani delivered the most wearable interpretation. The brand's signature raffia woven hats in neutral tones—the classic "old money" silhouette—reinforced the brand's long-standing elegance and composure . It's the kind of hat that doesn't scream for attention but quietly elevates a linen suit or a relaxed summer blazer.

Emporio Armani also offered a classic straw braided hat with a center-creased crown and a gold logo badge, keeping the silhouette clean and refined .

What makes it work: The Armani straw hat is quiet. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. It's the hat you can wear to a summer wedding or a weekend in the Hamptons without looking like you're in costume.

Prada: The Architectural Statement

Prada took a completely different approach. The brand introduced a vintage conical straw hat—a shape that feels more sculptural than wearable. According to the brand's design language, it emphasizes "non-traditional harmony" through the contrast between clean geometric lines and handwoven craftsmanship.

The conical silhouette is a departure from everything else on the market. It's not trying to be a classic fedora or a neutral bucket hat. It's a hat that asks to be noticed—and rewards the wearer who's willing to make a statement.

IM MEN, KidSuper, Doublet: The Playful Side of the Hat

The Japanese and streetwear brands took the hat conversation in a completely different direction.

IM MEN translated the Japanese "one-piece cloth" craftsmanship into folded cloth hats. KidSuper went all-in on visual experimentation: flower hats, paper boat hats. Doublet introduced a fried egg hat.

These aren't hats you'd wear to a business meeting. They're hats that signal playfulness, creativity, and a willingness to break the rules.

Vogue Hong Kong noted that the street style scene outside the shows captured the same energy: cartoonish headwear, pink beanies, bohemian straw hats, and even 80s theatrical hats became a uniform for the most interesting men on the street .

The trend is clear: the rules of what a man can wear on his head have changed.

What This Means for the Straw Hat Market

Men's straw hats are no longer just "women's hats in neutral colors." They're a distinct category with multiple directions:

- Classic Armani-style for the customer who wants understated elegance

- Prada-style architectural for the customer who wants to make a statement

- Japanese folded designs for the customer who appreciates craft

- Playful designs for the customer who doesn't take fashion too seriously

If you're selling straw hats and your menswear selection is limited to one or two neutral fedoras, you're leaving money on the table. Men are buying straw hats. They're buying different kinds. And they're buying them for different reasons than women.

The Prada and Armani straw hats signal something important: when major luxury houses invest in a category, the market follows. 2026-2027 will likely see a significant uptick in mens straw hat demand as the runway looks trickle down to retail.

One Final Thing

The 2026 Menswear Week straw hat moment is a signal: the men's straw hat market is being reactivated. Prada and Armani leading the charge means the customer is ready to take the category seriously.

If you're not already selling mens straw hats, now is the time to start. The runway has spoken.