The analog is back, even in the way of dressing For a more authentic and less constructed look

When did we start dressing to be photographed? Perhaps at a time halfway between the boom in fashion blogs and the rise of Instagram, which more than any other platform has emphasized the idea of dressing to show off. The looks have gradually become more studied and constructed, not only for those who are content creators or professional influencers, but also for those who simply use it in their spare time. Not that before people didn't pay attention to how to dress for an occasion or to go to work, but today we could say that an outfit works especially if it integrates well into the feed. Until now, at least. Because a new trend is taking shape that seems to be going in the opposite direction. It has no codified characteristics, but it reflects a more relaxed attitude, what Americans would define as low effort. Journalist Alison Syrett Cleary called it analog dressing: a way of dressing that seems to respond to the life of the person who wears the clothes rather than to their photographic rendering.

The return to analog

The return to analog now permeates contemporary culture: faced with an increasingly glossy and constructed aesthetic - we could say in high definition - we have learned to appreciate defects, imperfections and smudges again. This is also reflected in the way of dressing, which seems to want to rediscover its spontaneity (at least apparent). At the last fashion weeks, examples have not been lacking. In New York, in the Spring/Summer 2027 collections, Altuzarra sent shirts with asymmetrically closed buttons to the runway; while at Coach, the jackets were tied at the waist with creased outfits. In Milan, on the other hand, Bottega Veneta showed coats with the hems tied in a knot, as someone would do to prevent them from touching the ground. These are details that suggest clothes arranged during the day, according to the needs of the moment. It is an illusion, of course, because on the catwalk there is never anything left to chance. But it nonetheless reflects a more relaxed way of conceiving and wearing garments, which seem to open up new possibilities.

What is analog dressing

As stylist Rita Benedetto (stylist_a_porter) explains: "Analog dressing, more than a new trend, is almost an attempt to detoxify from trends.” It is "a small amount of nonchalance that prevents a look from looking too constructed.” At the same time, it broadens the discourse to our relationship with dressing. For Benedetto, "it is an attitude more than an aesthetic “, which comes at a time when we are" saturated with perfect images, micro-trends and aesthetics that are immediately recognizable and replicable.” Even away from fashion shows, the trend seems more current than ever. Just take a look at whatpeoplearewearing, the Instagram profile with which Linoy Friedman talks about the looks of people he met on the street in New York and beyond. Apparently, this season, there is nothing more New York than a sweater tied at the waist: a practical gesture, which gives character to even the simplest outfit. From this point of view, analog dressing also offers a break in search of the right garment for every occasion. You can take back the clothes we know and use them with a little less respect, leaving a misplaced detail to remain so.

As Benedetto recalls, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons also did it in the fashion show for Fall/Winter 2026/2027: fifteen models each came out four times, showing the same garments transformed through layering and subtraction. “More than the return of a precise aesthetic, I see the return of styling,” the stylist observes. “The dress ceases to be a finished image and returns to being something that the person modifies, layers, moves and above all inhabits.” This is precisely the heart of a more analogical way of dressing.

Where to start, without draining your wardrobe

How do you bring this attitude into your wardrobe? Benedetto suggests starting with some caution: “Don't try to recreate it too much. It seems a paradox, but when we look for the formula of analog dressing, we risk transforming it into yet another aesthetic to replicate.” The starting point is therefore the clothes we already have and our habits, giving us a little less control over the result. The second tip is to "leave something unsolved “: a shirt half inside and half out, a cardigan closed with a single button, the sleeves pulled up, a jacket tied at the waist. “A small imperfection gives movement and makes the look feel worn, not constructed,” explains the stylist. Finally, "shift the way we wear things.” A shirt resting on the shoulders can end up tied like a scarf, a collar can come out where it shouldn't, a sleeve can be rolled up without looking for symmetry. “Often it's the way we wear a garment, more than the garment itself, that makes a look personal,” concludes Rita Benedetto. In short, don't dress less, but dress less to be seen.