To Society Archive, Nostalgia Tastes Like Ice-Cold Lemonade and a PB&J
By Sebastian Jean, as told to Jake Silbert.
After Society Archive’s debut runway show, the showroom-turned-clothing-line served little cups of ice-cold lemonade and Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Alongside the lifeguard t-shirts worn by staff and the room's warm, colorful energy, it felt like the perfect accompaniment to what Marcus Allen, Izaake Souza Zuckerman, and the team had just presented. There was something downright nostalgic about the whole experience, right down to the snacks.
For "DOGMA," The Society Archive's Spring/Summer 2027 collection and debut runway show, the team reimagined some of the greatest hits of The Society Archive, producing their own iterations of the clothes that've become indicative of Allen's vintage-clothing showroom. Think GAP leather pants, classic Hollister board shorts, and the kinds of pieces from late-'90s and early-2000s mall brands you might remember wearing, or wanting during those years. Except that those references now form the foundation of a modern wardrobe that felt considered, tasteful, and very indicative of the current menswear conversation.
The collection looked good at face value alone but I especially appreciated how naturally it all came together. There’s always a lot of nostalgia and references in fashion, but recognizing an homage only gets you so far. These were clothes I wanted to wear now. The familiarity drew me in, but the way the team reinterpreted and assembled it all felt fresh. It truly held my attention.
Allen has been collecting mallcore vintage for over 15 years, and his long love for clothes came through. These are things the team saw perspective in, spent time with, and cared about. That affection carried through the entire runway experience, from the music to the casting to the clothes. It was stylish, but with an ease and warmth that I really enjoyed.
I kept thinking about the things that're resonating with me at Jonathan Anderon’a Dior and Michael Rider’s Celine: great flannels, cargo shorts and pants, flashes of color, sneakers, and dress shoes. All those familiar menswear pieces are starting to feel exciting again — when done right. And Society Archive is doing them right.
Remarkable, really. I had witnessed a collection that brought me back to my early teens while giving me plenty of ideas for how I want to dress today. And then, someone handed me an Uncrustable.
