UNDERCOVER @undercover_lab strikes again — this time with “But Beautiful 4.5 – For the Rebel Man”, a menswear collection that’s all about imperfections turned beautiful. Jun Takahashi returns to his iconic 2004 “But Beautiful” theme, celebrating Undercover’s 35th anniversary with a grown-up remix. Think plush toy nostalgia meets raw street energy.
Brand Snapshot
Since 1993, UNDERCOVER has been at the forefront of avant-garde music. Jun Takahashi, the designer of the brand, blends punk mentality with cerebral craftsmanship to create edgy ready-to-wear. Each season pushes the boundaries, from Japanese underground roots to global underground cult status.
“But Beautiful 4.5”: What’s That Even Mean?
Takahashi reinterprets the softness and whimsy of childhood plush toys — oh yes, literally — but channels it into menswear. Soft meets strong. Nostalgia jostles with grit. Mismatched buttons? Check. Distorted zippers? Absolutely. “Pretty” and “ugly” collide, and you find yourself loving it.
👟 Wearable & Real
In the showroom, models raved about comfort — one wore round-toe boots for six straight hours. Even the Gainsbourg striped shirts are spun in paper yarn for texture you want to touch. Style with substance? Absolutely.
🌱 Generation-Spanning Capsule
Under the Shepherd capsule, Takahashi gave nods to Gen Z and Gen X. The moral? Undercover isn’t chasing trends—it’s defining a lifestyle across ages.
Final Dispatch
But Beautiful 4.5 proves: beauty lies in the glitch, the twist, the unexpected. It’s a poetic rebellion, a childhood dream burnt into adult reality. And it’s absolutely gorgeous.
Undercover SS26: childhood softness over street grit.
Photo: Courtesy of Undercover @undercover_lab
