If you’re bored of playing it safe when dressing, H&M Studio SS26 provides a chic alternative

In this era of micro-trends and TikTok fashion advice, coming up with an outfit that really represents your personal style often feels like an uphill journey. It’s especially the case in the Middle East, where even stepping out for karak calls for a put-together ensemble. Finding those slightly eclectic yet versatile pieces to set you apart from the rest can be a chore, but H&M Studio SS26 seems built for exactly that purpose. 

The collection plays with asymmetry, offbeat proportions and colour contrasts, all while keeping individuality front and centre. Across the range, familiar shapes are reworked with unexpected twists. 

For instance, the corporate-core aesthetic of the checked coat is subverted with an elongated neckline that subtly nods to the comfort of a bathrobe. Similarly, a black blazer switches up the classic formula with a high back slit, inward-curving armholes and raw-edged lining peeking from the sleeves. Even the wide-leg trousers offer a foldable waistband that can be styled towards either side or left untouched, depending on how sculptural you want the silhouette to go.

The rest of the collection keeps that same eccentric energy going. There’s a painted denim jacket and jeans set marked by brushstroke effects, a black offset lace short-sleeved dress with bare shoulders and trailing lace-trim straps, and a brown check dress finished with a zip front, puffed shoulders and a raw hem. 

The materials used throughout the line include wool, leather, cotton, alpaca and mohair blends, while the palette shifts from black, brown and grey into burgundy, candyfloss pink, pistachio green, soft citrus yellow and pale turquoise. 

Accessories to complete the look, and items like a burgundy pillow-shaped leather bag, fabric-draped heels with a diamond-shaped front, and bold jewellery featuring whimsical flowers and a brushed vintage finish lean into the range’s overall surrealist vibe. 

H&M Studio SS26 is now in stores at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, and online across the UAE and Kuwait.