The internet boyfriends showed up and showed out at Men’s Paris Fashion Week.
It’s officially the hottest week in France! And no, we’re not talking about the country experiencing a heat wave and braving the hottest day since 1947 (we don’t joke about global warming around here). What we actually mean is that some of the world’s hottest and most popular male celebs are touching down in Paris for the city’s biannual Men’s Fashion Week.
In the year 2026, the front rows at Fashion Week, but especially at Men’s Fashion Week, are not just displays of personal style and fashion associations. In this era, fashion show invitations are also barometers of cultural relevance and the guests’ ability to spark conversations and mobilize opinions. Why do people care about a front row? For starters, a front row is a reflection of the brand’s ethos, history and even target demographic.
You can easily spot the androgynous new era heartthrobs, from Jimin to Sam Nivola and the young cultural guard (like Guitarricadelafuente or ballet dancer Hugo Marchand) attending the Dior Homme collection unveilings.
Meanwhile, the hypebeasts are most likely to make waves sitting in the VIP section at Louis Vuitton. The most popular and most promising names hailing from Latin America and the diaspora are always front and center at Willy Chavarria, while the Ami front row is a finely curated lineup of diverse personalities ranging from French icons to widely popular Thai entertainers.
But then, there’s something we don’t talk about enough.
The front rows are, at their very core, a chronicle of the times we live in. In the VIP section of fashion shows, not only industry professionals like stylists, press and buyers come together. There are also celebrities, models, influencers and anyone relevant enough to help shape public opinion. More often than not, whoever has reached the spotlight and dominates pop culture is part of the select group.
And yes, that includes a specific subsection of celebritydom: the internet boyfriends—those widely recognized stars that seduce audiences into borderline parasocial territories. But no one blames them. These stars are collectively adored for a reason (or multiple, but I digress). They’re changing the pop culture landscape through a concoction of smart career moves, recognizable personal style and personalities that make audiences feel close to them.
At Men’s Fashion Week, there’s evidently plenty of those stirring attention, sometimes even diverting the spotlight from the runways. But that’s exactly the point. This group of A-listers, rising stars and celebs du jour is part of the brand’s storytelling. It goes both ways: brands cosign these heartthrobs’ relevance, while the celebs’ presence serves as an indicator of the brand’s current standing.
And who are the well-established names, up-and-coming newcomers and promising internet boyfriends from across the planet that made it to the Spring/Summer 2027 front row, you might be wondering?
The answers are just below.
The up-and-coming streaming Beau
Josh Heuston might not have gotten the girl in HBO’s streaming sensation Off Campus, but he has certainly piqued the attention of luxury brands. The rising star sat front row at the Louis Vuitton SS27 show, dressed in a nonchalant boyfriend-appropriate denim and leather jacket set. He even shared the spotlight with fellow internet boyfriends Sho Hirano and Charles Melton.
The period drama leading man
And no, we’re not talking about any of the Bridgerton stars. This time, the title belongs to South Korean singer Jimin, who made a strong case for historical-inspired fashion at the Dior SS27 show. He served Prince Charming aesthetics, he served silky, shining hair, but most importantly, he left many yearning for a timeline where he’s the main character of the next period drama phenomenon.
The superstar-turned-director (We wanted to say, “the kinky boots boyfriend,” but editorial guidelines didn’t allow)
It might be a bit early in his career, but Connor Storrie already flaunts the same status as any long-established star, and as such, not only does he have a slew of projects lined up, but he’s also on the way to becoming an up-and-coming filmmaker—one that is not afraid of exploring the riskiest ends of the fashion spectrum, as proven by his bold appearance at the Saint Laurent Spring 2027 show.
The anti-trend boyfriend
Anti-trend dressing is a thing for a reason: the trendsetting pack is often fixated on bringing back questionable styles. Thankfully, some lucid ones, such as Japanese superstar Sho Hirano, are demonstrating that remaining loyal to your own fashion instincts can go a long way, even in trend-driven times. His most recent trend rejection? the increasingly popular skinny silhouette that brands are trying to bring back from the 2010s trend dumpster. Instead, the singer confidently embraced boxy fits throughout his stay in Paris to attend Pharrell Williams’ newest collection. See evidence below:
The fashion devoted man
While nearly anyone on this list would fit the description, Japanese singer and actor Yuta Nakamoto might be best suited to take the title. Devotion to fashion is the only way to explain why he willingly wore a large wool coat on France’s hottest day ever. Thankfully, Yuta wore a classic style formula underneath that was best suited for the occasion at the Louis Vuitton front row. And, as only the coolest internet boyfriends would, he also carried a pink bag—we love a man who isn’t into color stereotypes!
Those who come in a pack
Ever crushed on a man whose friend squad is so close that you end up wondering who you really like in the group? Well, this Fashion Week, K-pop group CORTIS was the style equivalent. And there was something for every fashion taste. James and Martin went the sleek man route for the Saint Laurent show, while Keonho, Juhoon and Seonghyeon embraced the intersection of boyish and 2020s indie sleaze at Dior. The bottom line, though, was that a fashion front row is always more enjoyable with company. And in case you were wondering, no, there was no right pick. They all rocked the front row.
The skaterboi
But not in its most primitive form. This season, the group was represented by Olympic champion Yuto Horigome, who sat front row at the Louis Vuitton show, dressed in a utilitarian khaki and white combo that echoed his everyday wardrobe.
The boyfriend with a girlfriend
Not all internet boyfriends are available and that’s exactly what sets apart an internet boyfriend from an IRL crush. We’re not parasocial around here, so when our faves make public appearances with their significant other, we’re actually delighted. And delightful it was to watch Sam Nivola and Iris Apatow maximizing their joint slay at the Dior show—one suited up in a summer-ready seersucker ensemble; the other, donning a slip dress with khaki accents. Oh, to be young and in love…
The new ambassador
Beyond their original purpose of introducing and selling new collections, fashion shows have become platforms to introduce, secure and scout potential partners. At the Louis Vuitton SS27 show, the world spotted a highly anticipated type of internet boyfriend: the debuting partner. Fresh off his appointment as Louis Vuitton’s Friend of the House, Thai actor Fourth commanded the spotlight in an impossible-to-miss look accentuated with a red jacket. The rest of his Parisian wardrobe was equally as iconic. Now, that’s how you debut an association!
The on-screen boyfriends
To no one’s surprise, this year, Boys’ Love productions have received all-time-high international attention. The interest has, of course, reached the front rows, where on-screen couples have been sparking conversation with their presence. Some of the TV twosomes eliciting furor and drawing large crowds of fans to show venues included Thai actors Kong and Thomas, Tee Tee and Por and Double Helix stars Ayden Sng and Lyu Sitong. Kong and Thomas, who have starred in dramas such as Your Sky: Uncut reprised their front sit at Amiri, while Tee and Por made their debut at Vetements. Meanwhile, Singapore actors Ayden Sng and Lyu Sitong brought the it factor to the Kenzo pop-up experience.
The heartbreakers
The internet loves a bad boy—not literally, just those who aesthetically fit the bill, even if they’re the sweetest celebs out there. This season, stars such as Japanese singer Yuta Jinguji, member of J-pop trio Number_i and Thai actor Daou embraced the bad boy trope through styling choices. Their takes were contrastingly different (Daou went for the modern heartthrob look while Jinguji echoed retro references, but the effect was similar: disarming everyone around them with irresistible charm as they introduced themselves to international audiences.
The Latin lover
Latin American internet boyfriends never fail to bring charm and confidence to the front row. No one better to embody that energy than Colombian singer Maluma. The star was all over Paris Fashion Week, hoping from one show to another and glidomg between styles effortlessly. But one thing remained consistent throughout the “Hawái” singer’s froyt row run: he is not afraid of experimenting with clothes, embracing daring styles or being comfortable with himself. And that’s so cool!
Him
There was probably a better title for Tyriq Withers, but his role in the terror thriller Him is still fresh, so “him” it is. Withers is a rising screen star with an equally rising presence in fashion. Earlier this year, the actor made his Met Gala debut with Louis Vuitton, so it was only to expect he’d grace the brand’s latest front row, clad in the fliest short suit.
The BFFs
Beyond fashion stages, the front rows are spaces of socialization. What if everytime you’re invited to a show, you meet up with your besties? That’s a reality for GOT7 bandmates Jackson Wang and BamBam. Both ambassadors for the luxury giant Louis Vuitton, the stars flaunted their close bond at the brand’s SS27 show while simultaneously bringing their A-plus style game to the front row. We love to see it!
The history-making NBA star
The New York Knicks won the NBA championship for the first time in over 50 years, eliciting euphoria in the city. It would’ve been a true disservice if, fresh from the historic moment, one of the most stylish men in the squad had missed Paris Fashion Week. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case as Jordan Clarkson was front and center at the Rick Owens show, dressed in a sick all-black ´fit.
The boys are back in town
As mentioned at the beginning of this piece, the front rows are a reflection of the cultural momentum, so it isn’t a rarity that the front rows (and internet boyfriends invited to them) keep rotating. Sometimes that happens unwillingly because, certainly, brands, press and spectators would have some of these men as eternal front row fixtures. But when they’re back, it’s a motive of celebration. That was the case for pop legends V and J-Hope, who despite their commitments (an ongoing BTS world tour) touched down in Paris.
V, Celine ambassador, opted for bright toned clothing for creative director Michael Rider’s menswear debut. J-hope, on the other hand, kept things fun with a light blue pinstripe suit to support Louis Vuitton, a brand he represents since 2023.
It’s so exciting when the boys are back in town!
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