If there is one brand that understands the power of a well-styled lookbook, it is Aimé Leon Dore. Founder Teddy Santis has long treated the seasonal campaign less as a catalogue and more as a layering manual, and the Aimé Leon Dore SS26 Lookbook continues the tradition. The prices might make you wince, but the real value lies in the ideas themselves...which are completely free.
Think of it as a cheat sheet for spring dressing. The formula is simple and surprisingly replicable. Relaxed tailoring paired with sportswear. Knitwear layered over shirting. Classic Ivy League style references softened with Mediterranean holiday energy and a bit of (for want of a better term) streetwear sensibility. And chances are you already own half the ingredients.
One recurring look centres on lightweight tailoring. Unstructured blazers are worn with pleated trousers and crisp shirts, but the overall mood remains relaxed thanks to suede loafers, soft polos and the occasional baseball cap. It is a reminder that tailoring does not need to feel formal. Swap the tie for a knit polo and the whole thing suddenly works for everyday life.
Knitwear also plays a big role. Crocheted polos, textured cardigans and lightweight crewnecks appear throughout the lookbook, usually paired with roomy trousers or washed denim. It is an easy spring move – replace a plain T-shirt with a knit polo and the outfit instantly feels considered.
Then there are the staples ALD has built its reputation on. Varsity jackets, colourful New Balance sneakers, relaxed Oxford shirts and perfectly cut chinos. Nothing revolutionary, but the styling shows how small shifts in proportion and colour can elevate familiar pieces.
The trick, as ever with Aimé Leon Dore, is not necessarily buying the clothes. It is noticing how they are worn. Study the combinations, borrow the proportions and recreate the mood with what is already hanging in your wardrobe. Your bank account will thank you.
