Once again, Paris Haute Couture Week proved why couture matters
Haute Couture Week always feels unreal, but this season felt especially emotional. Beyond the spectacle, the drama, and the craftsmanship, many of the collections asked us to feel, to slow down, look closer, and reconnect with beauty in a world that often feels overwhelming.
From freedom and love to nature, spirituality, and identity, the season was very much about meaning. Watching these shows, I found myself less interested in what was wearable and more drawn to what moved me — and that’s where the story begins.
These are the collections that stayed with me the most. The shows that moved, surprised, and reminded me why couture still matters. Sculptural drama, soft romance, these are the moments I haven’t stopped thinking about.
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Schiaparelli — Where anger meets the joy of creation
Schiaparelli opened Haute Couture Week with The Agony and the Ecstasy, and it couldn’t have started on a more powerful note. It was an experience that stirred something deep, emotional, and almost instinctive — before you could even name what you were feeling.
From the very first model to step onto the runway, the visual language was clear. Winged, feather-like elements appeared immediately, raised collars, sculptural silhouettes, and as the show unfolded, animal motifs grew increasingly pronounced. Each look revealed another layer of symbolism and craftsmanship.
Structured bodices dominated the runway: strong breastplates, padded shoulders, and sharply defined silhouettes that felt both powerful and otherworldly. The jewellery played an equally important role, with many looks crowned by ornate, sculptural headpieces that completed each ensemble like sacred relics. Even the shoes were considered works of art — adorned with silk-crafted bird feathers that echoed the collection’s recurring avian themes.
Among the standout moments were what Roseberry referred to as “The Scorpion Sisters”. Here, the tail of a scorpion was merged into jackets — 3D embroidered scorpion tails covered in hand-cut bas-relief lace. Traditionally, a scorpion’s tail signals alert and danger, the moment just before it strikes. Yet Roseberry transformed that tension into something majestic, softening the threat and turning it into beauty.
One of my personal favourites was a structured, sculptural gold corset dress finished with thousands of beaded fringes cascading from the skirt. I had never seen anything quite like it. The simplicity of the silhouette was completely transformed by the movement of the fringe, bringing the dress to life with every step.
In the show notes, Roseberry wrote that couture is “certainly not to create clothing for daily life,” adding that “Couture is an invitation. Stop thinking, it tells you. It’s time to feel. You only have to look up.” and with The Agony and the Ecstasy, that invitation was impossible to refuse.
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Rahul Mishra– Life woven through the five elements
Drawing inspiration from ether, air, fire, water, and earth, Mishra translated the five elements, known as the Panchabhuta, into breathtaking garments. Deeply rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, they are also referenced in the Rigveda, an ancient collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. Together, they formed the foundation of a collection that felt spiritual, intentional, and truly alive. In collaboration with Indian artisans, Alchemy told a gentle story about life — how it connects everything and never truly stops moving.
The show opened with Ether, where deep blacks, blues, and metallic tones evoked the vastness of space. Air followed softly, rendered in blue, white, and silver, with shimmering, wispy fabrics that felt like wind frozen in time. Fire was the emotional high point for me with sculpted flames, intense beading, and fiery shades of red, orange, and black. Water then offered a calming contrast, with intricate white and blue structures cascading around the body like waves. The collection closed with Earth, grounded in deep tones, rich textures, and dense embroidery that echoed the natural world.
Georges Hobeika— Romance personified
Known for his fluid silhouettes and romantic designs, Georges Hobeika brought exactly that once again. Titled “L’Amour” — meaning love — the collection asked a simple but emotional question: “Do you remember loving so deeply it changed you?” Presented in a cathedral-like setting, the show explored love in its most humane form.
One of the first things I loved was the soft, delicious colour palette. The dresses moved through vanilla whites, caramelised beiges, raspberry tones. They also included deep rose, gold, white, maroon, and different shades of purple — from deep and rich to light and delicate. You can always tell when a designer truly loves women, and this collection made that obvious. Every piece was designed to flatter the body, with an air of elegance. The collection featured structured bodices paired with fluid, lightweight fabrics, creating soft volume in the skirts and a defined waist throughout.
Overall, “L’Amour” felt like a celebration of vulnerability, connection, and tenderness — intertwining both the viewer and the wearer in the symphony of love.
Tamara Ralph— A celebration of feminine beauty
In her Spring 2026 couture collection titled “La Lumière Dorée”, Tamara Ralph describes the work as “an ode to modern elegance. Delicate Asian influences and refined haute couture craftsmanship shaped the pieces.
The collection featured luxurious materials such as silk, chiffon, velvet, and gilded accents, all handled with care and precision. Drawing inspiration from Asian origami and traditional fans, Ralph used shape and movement to tell her story. The colour palette — soft whites, delicate blush tones, creamy neutrals, and luminous rose golds — added to the ethereal feel of the collection.
Dior — One with nature
As one of the most anticipated shows of the season, Jonathan Anderson’s couture debut for Dior offered viewers something truly refreshing. Drawing inspiration from meteorites and cyclamen flowers, the collection also referenced the work of artist Magdalene Odundo, whose sculptural practice influenced the shape and form of some pieces. Nature was present everywhere in this collection.
One of the most striking moments was a trio of dresses. From the moment I saw them, they reminded me of upside-down bell flowers and lily-of-the-valley blooms. They had a bulb-like shape and a gentle movement that made them feel alive on the runway.
Another standout detail was the cyclamen earrings the models wore. They added that extra flair to the looks. The show closed with a stunning white dress that people online quickly dubbed the “Bride.” Adorned with scattered flower petals and finished with an open back, it was delicate, romantic, and a memorable ending to the show. As someone who loves flowers, this one really stayed with me.
Gaurav Gupta — Where two become one
Gaurav Gupta’s Spring/Summer 2026 couture collection, titled “The Divine Androgyne”, explored the ancient Indian philosophy of non-duality and gender fluidity. At its core, the collection felt like a meeting of energies — different forces coming together to create something powerful and almost otherworldly.
One of the most unforgettable looks featured an illuminated bodice with structured, swirling forms extending from the back of the dress. I can honestly say jaws dropped the moment it hit the runway. What stood out for me was a look where two figures connected, almost as if they formed one being — a beautiful and emotional interpretation of the collection’s theme
Personally, many of the looks brought to mind the Met Gala. They felt perfect for this year’s costume-art theme, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of these designs make an appearance on the red carpet when the time comes. Beyond that, the show itself was stunning, filled with breathtaking looks that demanded attention.
CHANEL — A fairytale experience
Another highly anticipated haute couture debut came this season with Matthieu Blazy at CHANEL. The teaser video alone set the mood. . Reminiscent of a fairytale scene from Cinderella, where animals helped her work, the video featured birds and other creatures coming together to create the collection. That sense of whimsy carried onto the runway, where birds became a major recurring theme.
There was a clear sense of simplicity across the pieces. This made them stand out after a week filled with dramatic, high-impact couture. The designs felt even more special up close, allowing audience to truly appreciate the craftsmanship, textures, and details.
And of course, the shoes were impossible to ignore. As iconic as CHANEL footwear always is, this time the heels were replaced with sculptural mushrooms — fungi-inspired details that tied perfectly into the setting of the runway. While the collection leaned toward the softer and calmer side — something Blazy himself described as “a breath of fresh air” — it was still unmistakably couture, and undeniably CHANEL.
The feeling that only couture gives
In the end, couture always pulls me back to why I fell in love with fashion in the first place. Couture, to me, is a reminder that fashion doesn’t always have to explain itself. It gives designers room to dream freely and gives viewers permission to interpret what they see in their own way. Paris Haute Couture Week left me inspired, grounded, and grateful. For the fact that there will always be space in fashion for beauty, craft, and storytelling without limits.
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