For Spring 2026, Eli Russell Linnetz is turning the page. The designer behind ERL, known for his Venice Beach surf-pastel aesthetic and youthful, wave-washed nostalgia, is opting for a more refined narrative—without abandoning his playful roots.
This season, Linnetz swaps out his usual color-saturated chaos for a subtler palette, replacing trippy graphics with crisp shirting and tailoring. The inspiration? A fictional college student named Ivy, who becomes obsessed with the sartorial sophistication of a headmaster named Christian. The result is a collection that reads like a love letter to prep-school rebellion—with a Venice Beach smirk.
“Believe it or not, I joined a fraternity,” Linnetz shared in a recent interview, recalling his time at the University of Southern California. “There’s so much pomp and circumstance around what you wear… this weird hierarchy of taste and power.”
Those experiences now echo in his Spring lookbook: boxy linen suits, breezy nylon tailoring, roomy button-ups, and yes—short shorts. There’s a deliberate push into maturity here, but always with a wink. The sole print? A big, bold floral on a relaxed rayon shirt. The pastel wave motifs are on pause. The grungy hoodies and distressed cargo shorts? Still in play.
This evolution doesn’t mean Linnetz is slowing down creatively. While he skipped Paris Fashion Week, it’s for good reason—he’s currently deep in pre-production for his debut feature film, a 1970s college thriller he wrote himself.
“There’s definitely a lot of humor to it, but it’s a thriller, it’s emotional,” he noted, proving once again that his creativity refuses to be boxed in.
And on the retail front? ERL is expanding globally, with its first flagship boutique opening soon in Venice Beach, and another set to debut in South Korea, where his irreverent “I Did What Last Night?” ringer tee has become a K-pop sensation.
“It’s pretty interesting. We’ve really just taken off there,” Linnetz says. “I feel like they understand what I’m saying.”
From frat houses to fashion houses, Eli Russell Linnetz continues to reimagine American youth culture—now, with a tailored edge.
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