The status symbols men are obsessed with in 2026

• A Louis Vuitton perfume and an Acne Studios bag have become status symbols for men this year.
• The pieces evoke quiet luxury and are widely praised for being high in quality.
• Pieces from Aimé Leon Dore and Hermès are also popular in 2026.

If you're wearing Aimé Leon Dore or Acne Studios while reading this, it's not a coincidence.

The two brands are behind some of the most coveted luxury pieces of the year, from colorful cotton sweaters to luggage-style leather bags.

Men are especially big fans of the above and have dubbed them status symbols for 2026, alongside other expensive, quiet-luxury pieces they love.

Here's a closer look at those items, which signal wealth and style to everyone who sees them.

A new Rolex Daytona has watch fans rediscovering the classic style.

The Cosmograph Daytona has been a staple of Rolex's watch lineup since the early 1960s. It's having a new moment in 2026, though.

Watch fanatics and dedicated blogs have noted in recent weeks that there's growing hype surrounding Daytona timepieces. Some attribute that to the everlasting quality and appeal of the watches.

Others say it's the announcement of a new Daytona watch that's reviving interest.

In early April, Rolex announced the Cosmograph Daytona reference 126502, which Gear Patrol reported will retail for $57,800 — if you can get your hands on one.

It's the first Rolex Daytona watch to combine Oystersteel and platinum, and it boasts other inventive features. Rolex said it developed a ceramic made of zirconia enriched with tungsten carbide to achieve the metallic look of the bezel, while the white-enamel dial led to a new production process.

It's also worth noting that this is an off-catalog release, so only the most connected collectors will have a chance at buying one.

It's no wonder Rolex fans are eager to get their hands on any Daytona they can.

The scent of Louis Vuitton's Ambre Levant fragrance is heavy in the air.

In addition to its monogrammed bags, Louis Vuitton is also known for its array of luxury fragrances.

The brand's first release this year is already making waves.

Ambre Levant is a $440 fragrance that's said to smell like amber, oud, cinnamon, white pepper, and mandarin. It launched in January and is sold exclusively online and in some of the brand's boutiques.

Fragrance experts have raved about the scent on social media, and fans say the cologne stands out from other amber options on the market.

Standard Apple iPhone chargers are out, and Hermès chargers are in.

Hermès returned to the tech market in March with the $5,150 Paddock Grand portable phone charger, part of its latest collaboration with Apple.

Now, men can't get enough of the quiet luxury piece. Some have unboxed their purchases on Instagram and TikTok, earning them over a million views in the process.

They say they like the boxes because they're chic, made of high-quality leather, and still unassuming in design.

Made of calfskin, the charger features two MagSafe charging zones that let you charge two devices simultaneously. It also provides storage space for phone accessories.

You might have noticed men carrying Camero bags from Acne Studios recently.

Acne Studios, a fashion brand from Stockholm, introduced its unisex Camero bag in 2024 as part of its Spring/Summer 2025 collection.

It's reaching its peak popularity now. TikTok is filled with videos of men unboxing their new Cameros and reviews from longtime fans who praise the bag's high quality and versatility.

And the consumer base is wide, with everyone from fashion influencers to businessmen trying out the style.

Camero bags range in price from $1,650 to $4,400, with the classic style retailing for $2,400. They're typically made from calf leather and adorned with a branded key charm.

Aimé Leon Dore is the designer behind every man's favorite basics.

If there's one brand that men have in common this year, regardless of their individual styles, it's Aimé Leon Dore.

The New York City brand, which was founded in 2014, has exploded in recent months. Shoppers have reported waiting in line for hours to shop at its three brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Men are particularly fond of the brand's basics, including its $65 baseball caps, $85 graphic T-shirts, and its $395 sweaters and pullovers.

Many are also fans of its jackets, which cost upward of $900 each.

If you want to look sharp, wear a tailored designer suit.

Talk to any man who wears suits regularly, and you'll find that he likely has a tailored Loro Piana, Brioni, or Armani set in his closet.

Men are eager to dress their best this year, for various reasons.

Some are finally reverting to business attire after years spent in athleisure and casual wear, a trend that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Others, however, want to show off their physiques after using GLP-1s. Tailors recently told Business Insider that some men are bringing their entire wardrobes to be refitted after they lose weight.

Those shopping for new sets entirely, on the other hand, are turning to designer brands like Tom Ford. The most popular options come in gray.

Dries Van Noten is elevating a classic wardrobe staple: sneakers.

In January, models walked down the Dries Van Noten runway in leather shoes that looked like boots from far away. Up close, though, you could see that they were actually sneakers.

Months later, fashion-focused men are bringing the elevated designs from the Belgian brand to life.

Some are buying Dries Van Noten sneakers to be their primary summer shoes, while others are using them to elevate outfits for festivals like Coachella.

The sneakers are sold in a variety of colors and materials, and typically retail between $630 and $745 per pair.

It's all about Garmin now.

Attend any fitness class, and chances are you'll see more than a few people wearing chunky watches with round faces.

Those are Garmin smartwatches. They retail between $150 and $3,200 each and are known for their long-lasting battery life.

On social media, fans say they love them because they're smartwatches designed solely for fitness, unlike other tech watches that essentially work as mini phones first and double as fitness trackers.

While any Garmin watch will catch attention, one stands above the rest: the MARQ. They cost between $1,900 and $3,200, depending on the model you choose, and offer detailed GPS navigation, weather reports, workout videos, stress tracking, and more.

Read the original article on Business Insider