Paris Fashion Week (Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026) opened with striking energy, blending glamour, commitment, and creativity in every show. From iconic venues to collections embracing sustainable innovation, the City of Light has not disappointed. This edition already promises to be unforgettable.
Video via Louis Vuitton Official YouTube Channel
A Powerful Opening: L’Oréal Paris Kicks Off with a Star-Studded Show
The kickoff came from L’Oréal Paris with an outdoor runway in front of Hôtel de Ville, featuring legends like Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda, Andie MacDowell, and Kendall Jenner, who closed the show in a dazzling white gown. The staging combined beauty aesthetics with a message of female empowerment, streamed live on social platforms—proof of fashion’s deepening connection with its digital audience.
Front Row Stars and Iconic Moments
It wasn’t just the catwalks that shined: the front row was a runway itself. Zendaya arrived at the Louis Vuitton show in a silver metallic mini coatdress with leather accents, aligning her fearless spirit with the house’s contemporary identity. Styled by Law Roach, her look fused chrome textures with structured femininity.
Hailey Bieber leaned into French vintage, wearing a Dior jacket from the Galliano era paired with straight jeans and couture accessories—a nod to tradition reimagined.
At the Saint Laurent show, supermodels Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, and Carla Bruni shared the stage with rising figures, creating a generational moment in a show dubbed “the summit of supermodels.”
Another highlight came with Rosé, global ambassador of Saint Laurent, who made headlines not only on the runway but also off it, after being controversially cropped out of a foreign media post. The incident sparked debates on visibility and equity in the fashion industry.
Designers Defining Trends: Minimalism, Activism and Futuristic Structures
Stella McCartney unveiled one of the week’s most talked-about collections: fashion with purpose. Staged at the Centre Pompidou and opened by Helen Mirren reciting “Come Together”, the show featured 100% cruelty-free and 98% sustainable fabrics like FEVVERS (a plant-based alternative to feathers) and PURE.TECH (air-purifying textiles). McCartney combined deconstructed tailoring, masculine-feminine blends, and lacquered tones, solidifying her role as a leader of responsible luxury.
In a different register, Courrèges, under the creative direction of Nicolas Di Felice, embraced futuristic minimalism. Clean yet daring silhouettes—cutout dresses, helmet-like veils, integrated boots—evoked sensual functionality within a glowing circular set that transitioned from blue light to dusk. The designs acted as a “technical skin,” more embracing than covering, redefining the idea of fashion as second skin.
Photo via @stellamccartney on Instagram – Paris Fashion Week SS26
Saint Laurent, meanwhile, celebrated generational convergence, merging its sartorial heritage with bold explorations in texture and color. The house reaffirmed its role as a bridge between classic and contemporary.
Adding another note, Loewe announced it would adopt a more intimate co-ed presentation format during this edition—signaling that even legacy houses are exploring new ways to showcase collections.
The Showroom Effect: Digital and Emerging Talent on the Rise
The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode is hosting its showroom for the Spring/Summer 2026 womenswear session at Palais de Tokyo, running October 1–7. A digital showroom, available by invitation, also expands access to buyers and press worldwide.
Within this framework, the platform Sphere Paris Fashion Week® continues to spotlight emerging designers. In a season dominated by major houses, this initiative serves as a vital launchpad for global talent.
Trends, Debates and Challenges
• Sustainability with purpose has shifted from a buzzword to a true creative axis, with McCartney’s collection as a paradigm.
• Renewed minimalism: Courrèges proves that “less” can be bold when design meets intelligent materials.
• Stars as strategy: appearances by Zendaya, Hailey, Rosé, and iconic supermodels highlight fashion week’s dual role as runway and media spectacle.
• Visibility and representation: Rosé’s incident underscores the ongoing urgency for equity in luxury fashion.
• Hybrid formats: digital showrooms and intimate presentations reflect Paris’s adaptability to evolving audiences.
Paris Fashion Week: Setting the Tone for 2026
With more shows, presentations, and activations still to come, surprises are certainly on the horizon. Yet this edition has already made its mark: a fusion of conscious glamour, generational icons, and a Paris that evolves without losing its heritage.
Video via L’Oréal Paris Official YouTube Channel