Utility jacket is back
The utility jacket is resurging as spring’s must‑have layer — Milan notes it’s back from the 2016 playbook but refreshed with new fabrications and unexpected pairings (marieclaire.co.uk). Milan’s shows also pushed cigarette jeans and Bermuda shorts for spring denim, so expect tailored‑meets‑workwear styling across street looks (vogue.com).
Prada, Versace and Bottega Veneta were among the houses flagged for heavy use of workwear silhouettes at Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026, which ran Sept. 23–29, 2025. (wwd.com) Milan’s season included roughly 55 physical runway shows and 67 presentations, a crowded calendar that editors said amplified runways’ influence on buying decisions. (wmagazine.com) Runway coverage singled out technical fabric experiments—coated cottons, treated nylons and other “fabric research” techniques—shaping utility outerwear across both menswear and womenswear lineups. (thesmudgereport.com) Prada’s SS26 set offered a specific styling cue: classic workman-style jackets layered over shift dresses and minimalist tailoring, a look buyers and editors highlighted in post-show roundups. (marieclaire.co.uk) High-street and shopping editors have already mirrored the runway: Zara and other fast-fashion assortments listed new jacket arrivals this season while features at WhoWhatWear and Yahoo Shopping positioned chore/utility styles among four to seven spring jacket trends to buy. (zara.com) Trend analyses tracking the category note a sustainability tilt—brands increasingly using recycled polyester and organic cotton for durable, seasonless outerwear that forecasters say supports longer product lifecycles. (accio.com)
