11 May 2026 |
Meet Husbands, founded by Nicolas Gabard.
There has always been something captivating about a woman in a suit. From Coco Chanel’s relaxed tailoring to Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Le Smoking, menswear has long shaped the language of womenswear – lending it confidence, sensuality, and a certain mystery. The likes of Betty Catroux, Bianca Jagger, Lauren Hutton, and Catherine Deneuve and more recently Lola Bahia at the Met Gala have turned suiting into a symbol of effortless sophistication.
Now, a Parisian menswear house is quietly attracting a female following of its own. Founded by Nicolas Gabard in 2012, Husbands Paris was created to revive the art of classic tailoring through sharp silhouettes, refined proportions, and a deeply cinematic vision of masculinity. Born out of curiosity for fashion, a frustration with the market, and a desire to create, the brand emerged as a one-stop shop for classic menswear. Increasingly, women are finding themselves drawn to the brand’s world — not simply for the clothes, but for the attitude they embody.
Gabard moved to Paris in the 1990s, when the city was fertile ground for young, visionary designers. Dries Van Noten, Costume National, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, and Martin Margiela were at their creative peak while remaining relatively accessible. These designers, while prolific, kept their identities elusive and had radical campaigns — Lang used artworks or simple logo imagery, Van Noten built his brand without advertising, and Margiela famously communicated with the press only via fax. In 2000, a turning point: Hedi Slimane joined Dior Homme as creative director and began designing for men of Gabard’s stature. As an “OG Hedi boy”, this revolutionized what Gabard understood about fit. He soon after found himself spending all his money on tailor-made suits.
For Gabard, the suit became both a revelation and an obvious starting point. Drawing on a strong cultural foundation – think: 1960s and 1970s influences like Mick Jagger, Lou Reed, and Studio 54 – he quickly set the foundation for what would be Husbands Paris’ signature style. Bespoke tailoring is a core service, with careful attention to detail. Be it the shape of a shoulder, the placement of a button or pocket, the length of a sleeve – each element can be transformative. “In fact, there is a world of vertiginous possibilities,” he explains. The shop also offers a tightly curated ready-to-wear selection including classic jeans, collared shirts, ties, and 60s-inspired boots.
It’s no surprise then, that Husbands has become a favorite among fashion editors. Daisy Shaw-Ellis, accessories director at Vanity Fair, visited the Paris store and found herself won over. “I’d worked with them on shoots over the years and wanted to see if they could tailor something for me. The team is experienced and knowledgeable, but not pushy. The oxford shirt they gave me to try during the fitting was perfect – I’m still kicking myself for not buying it on the spot. It’s now on my mental shopping list, along with the tuxedo I plan to order, next time I’m in town,” she says.
To Gabard, Husbands Paris serves a deeper purpose than simply dressing people. The brand’s raison d’être is helping clients “reveal themselves” through what they wear. Alexis Wolfe, Executive Fashion and Accessories Director at Elle, finds this highly personal approach both thoughtful and highly appealing. “Nicolas was right there, helping me find the best style for my body type – fitted on top with a flare at the bottom. After the fitting, he walked me through the fabrics, and we decided on navy and black heavy wool.” It is this sense of care, combined with the pleasure of owning a garment made specifically for one’s body, that defines Husbands’ idea of ultimate luxury.
Customer service alone doesn’t explain Husbands’ magnetic draw for their female clientele. “There is always a sense of envy or at least curiosity- towards the feminine in the masculine shapes. Especially the ones Nicolas creates. I’m attracted to the possibility of shaping your body and attitude in a seamless, non-exaggerated way: the Husbands way,” says Clara Hofer-Maire, creative director of the brand’s latest campaign.
In today’s image-driven culture, storytelling is everything. Husbands’ visual identity is distinctive: models’ heads are cropped out of every image.Gabard describes this as part of a broader philosophy: “We don’t want to sell fiction. We’re not placing models on boats or in luxury cars to create a fantasy. What matters is the client. We want to disappear when the customer appears.” Hofer-Maire adds: “The imagery aims to create anonymity – a kind of effacement that ultimately produces a strong [point of view.] There’s something classic and something rock-and-roll. It’s not about a single lifestyle, but one attitude.”
This may explain why Karla Martinez, Head of Content at Vogue Latin America, is so attuned to the brand. “I like their visuals and the way they communicate – it feels more insider than other brands. It’s not ‘quiet luxury,’ but something cooler and more understated,” she says.
Although demand is growing for smaller sizes and more traditionally feminine cuts – and a potential “Wives” collection, Gabard resists designing specifically for women. He believes female clients come to his shop for masculine tailoring. They take a tweed blazer or an Oxford shirt and make it their own. Still, this portion of the client base is invaluable to the brand as they are more audacious and creative in the process. “We progress thanks to these clients — their input is incredibly stimulating.”
Ultimately, Gabard rejects the notion of gendered clothing altogether. He views garments as instruments of self-expression. “At Husbands, every piece has meaning. It is conceived, visualized, and constructed to be lived in. Our duty is to make the client reveal themselves with all their specificities, emotions, their fantasies and desires.”
