As Paris Fashion Week SS26 continues on, we filter through the runways to analyse our favourites as well as all the modest fashion picks. Continuing on with debuts to shows that further enhance their house’s vision, here are all the highlights in case you missed them.
Balenciaga
With Demna’s debut at Gucci now out of the way, the fashion-forward crowd turns to the house he left behind. Now, with all eyes set on Pierpaolo Piccioli, we see a new era of Balenciaga, reimagined with the ghosts of its predecessors. From Demna’s streetwearish grit, we now get a collection of refined, minimalistic looks that bring a softer edge to the Balenciaga woman. However, Demna wasn’t completely overridden; his signature style of eyewear remained, featured on multiple looks, including a homage to Cristóbal Balenciaga’s 1957 Sack Dress. Although minimal with romantic silhouettes, the collection was embellished with texture—fringe, feathers, and floral appliques stood out as well as the vibrant palette of deep reds, greens, violet, and hot pink.
Elie Saab
Although it is known for its opulent eveningwear, Elie Saab’s SS26 ready-to-wear collection proved that Elie Saab is just as capable with casual daywear. Tops, blouses, high-waisted skirts, and silk pants treated to look like denim, the collection was filled with pieces with which you could mix and match. Trends didn’t go unnoticed as well—polka dots, python print, and fringe were the biggest culprits, featuring on tops, coats, and dresses. As for the dresses, we didn’t get much there in the modest department, but there were plenty of individual pieces within this collection that can easily suit a modest dresser’s wardrobe.
Loewe
Another debut to look forward to, this time by duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Loewe’s SS26 collection was a callback to its Spanish roots and house codes of leatherwork. Leather was fashioned into mini dresses, miniskirts, blazers, and stiff sculptural coats. And we can’t talk about leather without talking about the bags! A new iteration of the Amazona with a slouchier silhouette, it joins the trend of relaxed hobos with a classic edge. And with a vibrant colour palette, no doubt a reference to the vibrancy of Spain, we saw plenty of trousers, coats, and maxi dresses perfectly suited for the modest dresser.
Alaïa
Over the years, Pieter Mulier’s work at Alaïa has slowly gained traction, as he aims to explore simplicity and purity. In doing so, he creates drama through precision and his SS26 collection further expands that. Only working with cotton, python, leather, and silk, there is a dialogue between fluid tops and dresses that echo with movement, and clothes that create new patterns as they are being pulled with tension. The modest dresser is spoilt for choice within this collection, with luxe coats, dresses, and jackets featuring fringe, pleats, and feathers as their only form of texture and dimension.
Lacoste
For their SS26 collection, Lacoste channelled the spirit of sports, minus the leggings, with a more high-fashion approach. Leather, organza, and nylons were fashioned into vintage-inspired sportswear, something we’d picture Princess Diana donning. Trench coats, shirts, and crew necks with comically large collars were paired with loose-fitted trousers and with towels wrapped around, giving us a sporty iteration of the skirts-over-pants trend. And along with shirts and sheers layered over one another, Lacoste proves to us that athleisure can go beyond the classic tracksuit.
Celine
Michael Rider’s debut for Celine was a resounding success. Now, with his sophomore show, we continue on his vision of minimalist silhouettes juxtaposed with vibrant colour blocks, patterns, and scarves. With remnants of Hedi Slimane and Phoebe Philo, we got sculptural tailoring, pattern play, and power dressing in this collection, allowing the collection to dance between elegance and edginess.
