The shirt has long been a wardrobe staple. This season, fashion suggests you wear two – at the same time.
What began as a practical layering technique involving jackets and knitwear has evolved into a more unconventional styling statement.
The trend has surfaced not only on runways but also across social media and in real life, where fashion enthusiasts are experimenting with new ways to add depth, texture and dimension to an outfit.
Among its recent adopters is actor Tom Holland, who appeared on the red carpet for the Spider-Man: Brand New Day premiere in Amsterdam.
He paired a crisp white cotton-poplin shirt and navy tie with a second shirt in the same fabric layered over the top, swapping the traditional suit jacket for a more unexpected alternative.
Read more: A shirtmaker so extraordinary that a luxury fashion house is buying the brand
Singer-songwriter Dua Lipa was already embracing the look back in January, posting a snapshot of herself wearing two pinstripe shirts layered together.
Unlike Holland’s visually subtle interpretation, her version combined contrasting colours, creating a bolder and more fashion-forward effect.
Of course, fashion has a long history of finding new things to layer.
Back in the 1990s, wearing one T-shirt over another was all the rage.
In the 2000s, the cool kids were slipping camisoles over tops, while skirts-over-pants became a defining Y2K styling trick.
There was also a brief moment last year when wearing multiple sweaters at once became a trend.
Perhaps this is simply the next chapter in fashion’s ongoing love affair with layering. Or perhaps the industry is methodically working its way through every possible garment combination.
Then there is the question – why stop at just two?
Loewe has already explored that possibility. During the label’s Spring/Summer 2026 show, several models appeared in multiple shirts stacked on top of one another.
Designer Stella McCartney was more restrained. Her looks adhered to a strict two-shirt formula, often pairing an oversized outer shirt with a slimmer layer beneath to create an interesting play on proportions.
Acne Studios dialled things down even further, presenting a design featuring one collar but two sets of sleeves.
The effect created the illusion of layering without the bulk of overlapping fabrics.
Layering has always been particularly popular in colder climates, where it offers warmth and the flexibility to shed garments when moving indoors.
In Malaysia, however, piling on multiple layers can quickly become uncomfortable thanks to the heat and humidity.
Then again, wearing two lightweight shirts may be less stifling than throwing on a blazer or cardigan to elevate a simple outfit.
Read more: Longer shorts are trending in men's fashion, but do we still call them shorts?
As for the trend’s longevity, Prada recently signalled that layering will continue to be a central theme – at least for several more seasons.
Its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection was built around the idea of accumulating garments, described as being “informed by a fascination with the process of layering”.
There were socks worn over socks, skirts over skirts and dresses over dresses – but notably, no double shirts.
That may suggest the trend has not yet reached peak saturation.
Or possibly major fashion brands are already looking ahead to the next experiment.
Either way, if the runways are anything to go by, one layer – shirt, inclusive – is no longer always enough.
