Wait, Are These Shows About Us?! The Milan Fashion Week Looks That Felt So Denver

Let’s hear it for the boys. Men’s fashion is having its moment thanks to Milan Fashion Week. While our music editor, Victoria Glidden, jets away to literally move to Milan (true story), we are feeling extra FOMO while gawking at these revolutionary fashion looks happening in the fashion capital of Italy.

While keeping a pulse on each show, we couldn’t help but think…”Is this f*cking play about us!?” Call us delusional, but even to the untrained eye, there were several looks from the Ralph Lauren and Dsquared2 shows that felt so Denver. Or at least, the Denver of our dreams.

We’ve heard enough that Denver has no style, and many disagree and are working to bring more taste to the city. Whether it be in the Mile High City or the fashion capitals of the world, these shows proved that menswear is ready to be reimagined.

For Coloradans, our style is rooted in being able to adapt. Having transitional pieces in your closet is key due to the nature of our consistent, unexpected weather. What’s the point of packing away our summer clothes when we’ve had 65 degree weather in December? Colorado style thrives in the unexpected and relies on comfort and practicality.

Local fashion stylist, Keisha Sarpong regulary highlights Denver fashion and the constant evolutions that surround it. She talks about how adaptability plays a part in Denver’s culture and fashion scene, and one of the most drawing factors to the city is how close it is to the mountains.

“Denver is a lot of things to many people. Denver is and can be a stepping stone, an opportunity to be seen. For some, an in between stop on their way to somewhere bigger, perhaps for some an escape, and for others, this is and will always be home. Denver is the root. The home base. Conveyed through multiple looks on the runway, I saw different iterations of who Denver as a person is and could be: The person that prioritizes functional footwear, the person that is proud of their culture, the person that lives boldly through colors and print,” she shared.

Colorado is meant to be experienced. From winding mountain towns to an ever-evolving cityscape, it invites a way of dressing that’s intuitive, layered, and intentional. Style here is informed by elevation and attitude: pieces that move with you from crisp mornings to late dinners, from outdoor detours to city plans.

Ralph Lauren’s 2026 collection is inspired by a similar notion: the male experience.

“My Fall 2026 collections are inspired by the different ways men live, their individuality, and personal style,” said Ralph Lauren.

Art imitates life. And in this case, it certainly does for fashion. The Ralph Lauren show has sparked on and offline discourse because not only were these looks inspiring, but they felt nostalgic and approachable, yet modern.

This show mixed collections to tell one meticulous story of Americana fashion and luxury. The Ralph Lauren Purple Label featured clean, handcrafted and tailored pieces that exude confidence, while Polo Ralph Lauren paid homage to the classic, relaxed and preppy style.

Together, these two bespoke styles turned the runway into a lineup of characters. Every look felt lived-in, intentional, like someone you’d spot on the street and remember.

The pieces that felt especially Denver to us came through the emergence of layered fleece jackets and pullovers, colorful baseball caps and beanies paired with a puffer jacket, foliage camo pants, denim and khakis stuffed into hiking boots stomping down the runway and themes of classic Western pieces that Colorado fashion will always be rooted in. 

One thing about Colorado is that we are no strangers to a sturdy and handcrafted cowboy hat. Indigenous heritage and culture are woven within the fabric of our everyday pieces that we take for granted, like silver jewelry, leather, belts, tassels on a jacket, bag or shoes. Our environment, history and surroundings cater to the way we dress and operate now. During the Ralph Lauren show, models adorned jewelry made in partnership with Native American silversmith Neil Zarama.

Ralph Lauren will always do what it does best, which is provide classic looks with a touch of the unexpected. These looks have and will continue to be recreated for years.

Still not convinced that these looks exuded the zeitgeist of Colorado? Here’s some low-hanging fruit for you – DSquared2’s show was literally winter sports themed. Yes, this twin designer duo, Dean and Dan Caten, are Canadian and definitely draw their design inspiration from their Toronto roots, but just walk with us here.

Aspen notoriously welcomes celebs of all sizes and *followings* all year long. It’s a winter staple to take a trip up to Aspen and apres-ski while taking in the sights. With brand trip after brand trip, and the newly appointed Aspen Fashion Week, this ski town is bound to set trends. Aspen is increasingly making its mark on the fashion scene.

At this point, it’s clear that not only is Aspen known for its skiing festivities, but also its underlying apres and fur-adorned campaign that ripples through this mountain town: Make Activewear Sexy Again. 

DSquared2 shares this same sentiment, making sportswear look sexy. Especially with the help of Heated Rivalry star, Hudson Williams, opening the show. 

Throughout the show, nods to ski culture and winter fashion showed up in the accessories and throughout the thoughtfully designed pieces. Models wore ski goggles, button-down pants, puffer jackets, graphic sweaters, fur-lined coats, and more winter sports mentions we’d love to see on and off the slopes. 

While it’s likely that the collection was designed to kick off the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan in a few weeks, including Hudson Williams in the lineup of models expanded the brand’s reach and appreciation. 

Both the growing Heated Rivalry fan base and Coloradans can all find value in the DSquared2 collection, filled with fashion that embraces the essence of winter sports. Athletes are front and center in our world right now, and DSquared2 is leaning in. 

Ultimately, the show proved that fashion is not shaped by just our experiences. The DSquared2 collection at Milan Fashion Week marks a cultural moment in time, and proves that luxury brands can, and should, align with pop culture to expand their audience, aka Gen Z men. Gen Z, a hard demographic to win over, yet their interests, passions and creativity were put on the forefront, and as a snowboarder might say, “full send it.” 

Did we somehow find a way to make Milan Fashion Week about us? Well…yes. Because to us mere Denverites, simply by looking at these collections, we know that if you’re seeking that kind of fashion, you can find it here in the Mile High City. 

Fashion week can notoriously feel unattainable, unaffordable and doesn’t always represent the everyday person. Seeing these looks on the runway sparked excitement and familiarity, and had us standing in front of our closets thinking, “I can recreate this.”