Feathers, fabulous fashion and famous faces it can only be Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.
The exclusive four-day event, held twice a year, showcases custom-fitted, handmade designs from an elite group of 13 fashion houses. This season featured debut haute couture collections from Chanel and Dior’s new creative directors, alongside the first Armani Privé show since the death of Giorgio Armani last year.
Celebrities including Victoria and David Beckham, Gracie Abrams, Dua Lipa, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna lined the front rows to watch the latest high-end designs unfold in the French capital.
Essence of Chanel
One of the most anticipated shows came from Chanel’s new chief designer, Matthieu Blazy, who presented his couture vision at the Grand Palais.
The glass-domed venue was transformed into a dreamlike landscape filled with pink weeping willows and oversized toadstools. While the collection referenced classic Chanel tailoring, it reimagined the brand’s codes through new fabrics and contemporary treatments.
Blazy said he wanted to “probe and explore the heart of Chanel,” questioning whether its essence could remain intact without its traditional signatures such as tweed and jewelled buttons.
“I wanted to see whether, when you strip away the usual Chanel signatures – the tweed, the jewelled buttons – you can still get to that essence,” he told WWD.
Among those seated together in the front row were Tilda Swinton, Anna Wintour and Nicole Kidman.
“My Dior Is Not a Formula”
Another standout debut came from Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, presenting his first haute couture collection for Dior.
The Spring/Summer 2026 show took place beneath a canopy of flowers on a mirrored runway. Floaty silhouettes dominated, with floral elements incorporated into accessories — from earrings to bags shaped like ladybirds and clutches that appeared to sprout grass.
The palette leaned heavily on monochrome, punctuated with bursts of orange, ice blue and pink. Anderson, formerly creative director at Loewe, said his approach to Dior would never follow a fixed formula, noting that the scale and history of the house made the role both intimidating and creatively demanding.
Celebrities spotted at the Dior show included Parker Posey, Jennifer Lawrence and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Valentino’s Kaleidoscope
Just days after the death of founder Valentino Garavani, creative director Alessandro Michele unveiled a bold and theatrical couture collection.
Guests viewed the designs through a “kaiserpanorama” — a viewing device allowing glimpses into what Michele described as an alternative universe. Signature pieces included a batwing gown rendered in the same shade of red used in Valentino’s first collection over 60 years ago.
Lace, feathers and heavy embellishment featured throughout, with models styled like showgirls. Guests included Lily Allen, Kirsten Dunst, Tyla and Dakota Johnson.
Armani Pretty in Pastels
Armani Privé returned with its first haute couture collection since the death of founder Giorgio Armani at the age of 91.
The collection was overseen by his niece Silvana Armani and offered a soft, romantic palette of mint green and baby pink. Bejewelled satin trouser suits, fluid tailoring and sparkling evening gowns refreshed the house’s signature elegance.
The front row featured Norman Reedus, Diane Kruger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kate Hudson and Elizabeth Debicki.
Elie Saab’s Beirut Beginnings
Lebanese designer Elie Saab revisited his roots with a collection titled Golden Summer Nights of ’71.
Drawing inspiration from Middle Eastern warmth, the collection featured blush pinks, bronzes and desert hues. True to Saab’s maximalist style, the runway was filled with intricate beading, metallic fabrics and dramatic ball gowns.
Founded in Beirut in the 1980s, Saab’s house continues to blend glamour with cultural heritage.
Celebrities and Global Craftsmanship
Among other notable appearances in Paris were Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham, as Victoria Beckham received the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. Anna Wintour was seen throughout the week alongside figures such as Nicole Kidman, Tilda Swinton and John Galliano.
Designs from Rahul Mishra and Gaurav Gupta also stood out, showcasing sculptural embellishment, interconnected garments and experimental craftsmanship that pushed the boundaries of couture.
