The latest issue of Esquire UK (May/June 2026) turns its attention to one of the most pressing cultural anxieties of our time: the future of work.
With Artificial Intelligence rapidly reshaping industries, creative roles, and even the definition of productivity itself, the question looms large—what will work look like in ten years, and who will still be doing it?
Fronted by rapper and cultural icon Skepta, the issue leans into both uncertainty and aspiration. While the editorial tone acknowledges the tension surrounding automation and shifting labor landscapes, it offers a stylistic antidote: fashion as escapism, power, and identity.
And in true Esquire fashion, the answer is not fear—it’s tailoring.
The Fashion Story: Work, Reimagined
Shot by photographer Charlie Denis and styled by Esquire contributing fashion editor Julian Ganio, this SS26 menswear editorial explores a heightened, hyper-stylized vision of modern office culture.
Think less corporate uniform, more cinematic intensity.
The visual narrative channels a sexed-up, high-polish, American Psycho–inspired aesthetic, where boardroom dominance collides with louche evening decadence. The result is a wardrobe that refuses to separate “work” from “after hours.”
Sharp tailoring is softened with undone sensuality. Power suits are worn with a sense of rebellion rather than conformity. Everything feels intentional—but never rigid.
The Cast
The editorial features models:
- Aiden Stonehouse
- Martin Antech
- Ahmed
Each brings a distinct physicality to the narrative—embodying different interpretations of modern masculinity under pressure: polished, raw, and quietly subversive.
Styling Direction
Julian Ganio constructs a wardrobe language that sits between boardroom authority and late-night excess.
Key themes include:
- Relaxed, high-end tailoring with exaggerated silhouettes
- Open collars, softened suiting, and deliberate dishevelment
- A palette balancing corporate neutrals with seductive darkness
- A tension between discipline and indulgence
This is workwear not as uniform—but as performance.
While the issue is anchored by Esquire’s broader editorial focus on labor and technology, this fashion story acts as its emotional counterpoint.
Where AI raises questions about productivity, identity, and displacement, this editorial answers with something human: presence, style, and attitude.
It suggests that even in a future defined by machines, aesthetics—and self-presentation—remain deeply human forms of control.
Final Thought
In the world of SS26, work is no longer just something you do—it’s something you embody.
And if Esquire UK is right, then the future uniform won’t be functional alone.
It will be seductive, expressive, and unapologetically styled.
Editor in Chief @teovandenbroeke
Photographer @charliedenis @dmb_represents
Stylist @ganio
Model @aiden_stonehouse next
Model @martin.antech @models1
Model @ahmed.ys1 @premiermodels
Groomer @andrewgallimakeup
Hair Stylist @mikemahoney.hair
Hair Assistant @marcostonicshair
Casting and Production @tmscsy
Style Director @zakmaoui
Art Director @geridempsey
Set Designer @paulasalinasar
Set Assistant @charplant
Stylist’s Assistants @aliciarobynellis @laurynjdoherty
