So, you think you know: Paris Fashion Week SS26 Edition

Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026: Key Highlights and Designer Debuts

1. Matthieu Blazy’s Debut as Chanel’s Creative Director

Matthieu Blazy’s much-anticipated debut collection for Chanel introduced a sharper and more measured direction. Known for his precise tailoring at Bottega Veneta, Blazy focused on structure and purpose, with menswear elements defining the show.

One notable feature was his reinterpretation of classic menswear, using oversized shirts from Charvet—one of Paris’s oldest bespoke shirtmakers—paired with cropped blazers and relaxed, slouchy trousers. This styling brought movement and ease to Chanel’s traditional structure. Blazy removed nostalgic excess to highlight Coco Chanel’s original ideas about shape and structure.

The collection featured a restrained color palette of ivory, dove grey, and caramel, keeping the focus on cut and movement. The show created a balance between masculine and feminine dressing, earning admiration for modernizing Chanel without losing its discipline or emotional core.

2. Loewe’s Spring/Summer 2026 Debut Under Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez

Following a leadership change at Loewe, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler took the helm, bringing clarity and energy to their debut collection. They treated Loewe’s Spanish heritage as a foundation for renewal.

Their collection was vibrantly colored, sporty, and leather-focused, featuring practical yet refined pieces such as soft leather dresses, relaxed separates, and wrap skirts. The designers incorporated playful textures like towel-textured fabrics, athletic stripes, and two-tone tights, evoking both sportswear and summer leisure while maintaining precision.

Critics described the show as tactile and confident, marking a clear and modern direction for Loewe that is sensual and joyfully self-aware.

3. Jonathan Anderson’s Approach at Christian Dior

Jonathan Anderson faced the challenge of redefining femininity at Dior, a label renowned for its heritage. Rather than discarding the archive, Anderson chose to reshape it by reintroducing the iconic Bar Jacket in cropped and distorted forms with larger curves and sharper cuts.

The collection featured oversized bows, sculpted drapes, and surreal fabrics, adding theatricality, balanced by grounded elements like cotton shirts, cargo trousers, and lace dresses. Anderson’s work was described as a dialogue between Dior’s ateliers and modern streetwear.

His debut collection skillfully merged avant-garde design with commercial appeal, exploring how a luxury brand can resonate with contemporary audiences without losing its identity.

4. Sustainability Focus: Stella McCartney Leads with 100% Cruelty-Free Fabrics

Stella McCartney continued to set the standard for sustainability during Paris Fashion Week SS26. Her show at the École des Beaux-Arts showcased 100% cruelty-free materials and 98% sustainable fabrics such as regenerated nylon, recycled cashmere, organic cotton, and plant-based leather.

The collection included tailored jackets, crochet tops, and fluid vegan silks, emphasizing beauty and responsibility. The show’s design, sound, and biodegradable decor reinforced environmental awareness, with nature-inspired audio accompanying the runway.

McCartney’s collaboration with biotech and textile firms highlighted fashion’s potential to drive real progress, earning praise for an optimistic and precise statement on ethics and elegance sharing the same runway.

5. Celebrity Appearances and Front-Row Style at Paris Fashion Week SS26

Celebrity presence was a significant part of the spectacle this season. Nicole Kidman made her official debut as Chanel’s new ambassador, capturing attention at the SS26 show. She wore wide-leg jeans paired with an oversized white shirt, reflecting the collection’s simplicity and restraint.

Seated alongside Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Jennie from BlackPink, Kidman symbolized Chanel’s effort to bridge its legacy with younger audiences. Her appointment marked a shift towards authenticity over pure glamour, with many describing her as graceful and visibly touched by the creative evolution at Chanel.

Her look sparked widespread coverage across major fashion outlets, representing a broader movement towards understated confidence and continuity in fashion visibility at Paris Fashion Week.

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