When the rest of us are tousled and scrambling for a passable ensemble in today’s supermarket of style, why is it that architects always seem unphased? Seasonably dressed in crisp cottons and fine wools, pleated trousers and drapey dresses hanging rakishly off their frames, the profession’s hive mind has manifested a uniform of refined utility (notoriously, but not exclusively, black and navy).
This week’s rollicking Storefront for Art and Architecture Gala at the Oyster Bar was stacked with the best of them. Beneath the Guastavino tile vaults of Grand Central Oyster Bar, the crowd gathered to toast artist Mel Chin, arts leader Deana Haggag, SO–IL architect Florian Idenburg, and CULTURED at Home contributor Jing Liu (also of SO–IL). From Met and Centre Pompidou architect Frida Escobedo to recipient of the 2026 Gold Medal for Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters Toshiko Mori, the room was a study in confident tailoring and a fitting scene for an institution whose façade of doors welcomes in the bustle of the street.
How do these architects do it? Maybe a life of measuring up the world makes designing the closet less of a mystery. We asked some of our favorites to share the hardest-working pieces in their wardrobes. —Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, guest editor of CULTURED at Home
Jing Liu, SO-IL, New York
“A pair of slightly stretchy fitted black jeans, casual yet not too casual. A dark black tailored and loose-fit long-sleeve button-up shirt (the one I currently have is from Vietnamese label Lespoir Studios). And a black inner shirt, slightly see-through (currently have Issey Miyake) but also Fforme’s Elaine top in black. Black dresses. I have many!”
Sam Chermayeff, Sam Chermayeff Office, Berlin
“Currently, upon receiving this request, I am wearing my Margiela zip-up sweater in navy. It is probably my fifth one—I have sharp elbows and go through patches, and so on. I wear navy Carhartt pants almost everyday. Once I figured out that you could cut the Carhartt tag off, I never changed. On special days, I wear the same pants from Dries Van Noten, which need to be dry cleaned. If it is too hot for the Margiela zip-up, I wear a navy Dries Van Noten button-up cardigan. I have worn through one and am on my second. This is the vast majority of my outfit concept. For formal occasions, I have a navy Dries suit of an identical vibe. Shirts can be white, of course. I love belonging to a tribe. I love being an architect. I try to reinvent this or that other thing every day. And, really, that is it.”
Miriam Peterson, Peterson Rich Office, Brooklyn
“My Acne Studios black leather bomber jacket is a timeless wardrobe staple that should last a lifetime. It makes any of my other basic blacks look instantly cool. Black Rachel Comey boots: mine are knee-high with a chunky heel. They go with everything and dress everything up a little bit, making them perfect for meetings or presentations. The heel is high enough to give me a little lift (I’m 5’ 5”), but I can still walk around in them all day and night with zero negative consequences to my body! A black Roucha Jumpsuit—I’ve worn jumpsuits my entire adult life. The cuts and fits of Roucha’s clothing are very architectural.”
V. Mitch McEwen, Princeton School of Architecture and Atelier Office, New Jersey
“Helmut Lang black cotton and nylon model HLM77709 with drawstring and buttons and front pockets. Is it a shirt or a jacket? Perfectly either. Unlabeled cotton wide-leg pants from a little store in Seoul. Capri length, shows off socks. I have four pairs. Ribbed cotton/silk/linen/acrylic/wool/rayon/polyester/fabric design by Young Min. Another garment that is both a shirt and a jacket at once.”
Felix Burrichter, PIN-UP, Manhattan
“Excruciatingly boring, but the truth: navy blue merino sweater, white T-shirt, sunglasses. The sweaters I pick up at Boggi mostly when I’m passing through Malpensa.”
Barbara Bestor, Bestor Architecture, Los Angeles
“I live in R-13 jeans, blouses by Trovata, Gap T-shirts, and thin cashmere sweaters by Goshi. I love jackets: vintage corduroy, or an everyday jacket by Closed.”
Elizabeth Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts Architects, Brooklyn
“YSL loafers, Toteme black coat, Rachel Comey Tool bag.”
Christian Wassmann, Studio Christian Wassmann, New York
“My current favorite items are my Adidas Stan Smith Lo Pro shoes with flat soles—so I can feel the ground I’m standing, walking, and dancing on—and either my M.A+ leather jacket or the threeASFOUR jeans jacket. Both jackets are formal and, likewise, rock and roll.”
Walter Hood, Hood Design Studio, Oakland
“Shoes: Adidas men’s Samba, white with green stripes. Shirt: Oversized English work jacket with pockets (often in white cotton). The key is having lots of pockets! I’ll wear a plain white T-shirt with a James Perse sweater. Pants: James Perse, black brushed twill or lightweight wool. Not pull-on.”
Tosin Oshinowo, Oshinowo Studio, Lagos
“Given the climate in Lagos, I can get away with lightweight cotton or linen, which makes wide-leg trousers practical. I have several pairs in black, from Muji. I wear a bishop-collar shirt, also Muji, in black cotton or linen. The structured collar gives it a distinctive architectural quality while remaining easy to wear. A faded, oversized J.Crew denim shirt is a timeless piece that works with almost anything, particularly the wide-leg trousers. I like the contrast between the softness of the faded denim and the more structured silhouette of the trousers. Converse All-Stars in classic white leather are a reliable everyday staple. I like their simplicity: They work equally well with wide-leg trousers, denim, and more tailored pieces.”
Bernard Dubois, Bernard Dubois Architects, Brussels
“I’m a uniform kind of person. Usually loose-fit dark blue jeans, sneakers, a thin dark blue cashmere sweater, and a dark blue or brown wool jacket. Sometimes the outfit evolves with different trousers, a shirt, or loafers, depending on the occasion. Also an Arc’teryx jacket, a Barbour jacket, and Aigle boots for the garden.”
Andre Mellone, Studio Mellone, New York
“A James Perse sueded jersey polo in navy, Stone Island cargo pants in army green, and Savile Row eyeglasses.”
Tei Carpenter, Agency-Agency, New York
“Cecilie Bahnsen x Asics sneakers, an Arc’teryx Veilance rain jacket, Uniqlo T-shirts, Matsuda optical glasses, and an A Kind of Guise wool hat.”
Hilary Sample, MOS, New York
“I especially like the shirt dresses by Zero + Maria Cornejo, the Mare and the Aissa. I have a few and keep them in constant rotation, and I also like her wide-wale corduroy trench coat. I am an architect and an athlete, so swimsuits by TYR, usually black, are a staple, with colorful caps and goggles. I also sew my own clothes.”
Hanna Ali, Hoechitecture, Los Angeles
“I will preface this by saying my idea of utilitarian is not the norm in the architecture world. Recently, my presentation included a slide: ‘I want to be an architect, but I don’t want to dress like I’m going to a funeral every day.’
The Entire Studios Pilar one-shoulder cotton-blend gown. It can be dressed up or down: scrunched up to become a mini, or worn long for an evening event. During art fairs and events, you often don’t know where you’re going and may have to restyle something.
Calzedonia pantyhose. I hate wearing pants, so I’m usually going to wear a dress, whether it’s summer or winter, with pantyhose. They are the best, and have cool patterns and collabs.
The Victoria’s Secret V-string panty. I think this is the most utilitarian, functional item of what one must wear: a damn good thong, even if I’m going to the fabrication shop. I specifically like the ones that are embroidered or slightly embellished.
Honorable mention accessories: a Celine Phantom bag (they’re coming back, and it fits my iPad Pro, which never leaves my side); a pair of sporty gas-station sunglasses; a scarf, which can be tied as a clothing item or a head cover for rain; and platform heels, which are more comfortable when they have a lift in front, contrary to the popular belief that higher heels are more ‘difficult.’ I’m rarely ever in flats.”
Adam Charlap Hyman, Charlap Hyman & Herrero, New York.
“I have always been a fan of the agnès b cardigan for its versatility—it somehow feels appropriate to wear in a room full of blazers, yet not too formal for virtually any context that I can imagine. It has something of both the military uniform and the pearl necklace to it… on any given day, I am moving in spaces that suggest different levels of formality, and it seems to always work.”
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