“It seems that the new generations of designers are becoming passionate about my work, and I must say that this is a source of pride for me because it means that I can speak to young creatives who probably weren’t even born in the ’90s. This also means that the authenticity that I have always put into what I do is still reflected today,” Giorgio Armani mused after his spring-summer 2026 menswear show. As his brand celebrates 50th anniversary this year, there’s literally nothing more valuable for a designer who created such monumental heritage as being relevant and appreciated after all those decades. Italian menswear and womenswear owe a lot to Armani, and it’s good to see him being very rightfully embraced and applauded. The latest collection coming from the maestro was sublimely Giorgio, through the filter of Pantelleria, the volcanic island where he has summered for years. Matte black leather used in outerwear and everyday suiting echoed the island’s raw stone landscape, while a wide palette of marine blues and bougainvillea purples and pinks referred to the sights of Mediterranean nature that enchant the designer every single time he steps on the elusive, distant island. Dreamy and undeniably handsome were the quilted-collar jacket and double-zip gilet looks in treated linen that followed the North-African-inspired palm motif. Also especially strong were the accessories, running from wave-shaped woven rattan shoes to beautifully canvas satchels. Long live Giorgio. And kudos to Leo Dell’Orco, the long-time head of Armani’s men’s style office.
For spring-summer 2026, Officine Générale‘s Pierre Mahéo was thinking about turning the essence of Parisian style to a wardrobe ready for sea-side summer. It’s defined by pajama-inflected tailoring, with scrunched sleeves and nonchalantly rolled cuffs, but most of all, per usual with Mahéo, a deep dive into ultra-light materials, like lightweight “parachute” poplin, seersucker, and, for men’s and women’s suiting, a breezy blend of cotton and linen. In addition to the eternally chic marinière – what French wardrobe would be complete without it? – shirts were cut long enough to double as dresses, popovers had universal appeal, and swingy belts were fashioned from raw fabric knotted and fringed like a lanyard. My favorite look involved olive-green pants with pleats, styled absolutely effortlessly with a striped top, light-blue shirt, a navy jacket, and a pair of flip-flops (the footwear staple that very abruptly became this year’s prime menswear discourse). The perfect summer look is right here.
Christophe Lemaire and Sarah Linh-Tran – who has given birth since the Lemaire show in January – wanted to deliver a collection that felt “awakened”. It certainly was awakened in terms of sensuality. The Lemaire man and woman are sheding cocooning layers and confidently reveal some flesh, a lot more leg. Think a super-chic crinkled leather, knee-length skirt worn with a blazer and a pair of mesh sock-sandal heels, or else silky culottes that gave baggy drawers a sensual spin. One look was especially unexpected: a beautiful lace dress in ochre, worn with an oversized trench coat and chestnut pumps. You don’t see lace frequently on the Lemaire runway, and it felt so right.
Marc Jacobs showed his latest collection on Monday, it’s Thursday, and I’m still on a high!!! A fashion high! And I don’t want it to end.
The king of New York fashion is one of the last designers who knows how spark true euphoria with his runway work. And also one of the last fashion creators who comprehend, cherish, and nurture what Walter Benjamin once called aura.
It’s the magnetic, almost transcendent presence certain artworks possess. Originality, authenticity, and the sense of time and place woven into an object: this is a Marc Jacobs garment, through and through, traditionally presented at a light-speed pace at The New York Public Library. In an age of fast fashion and mass production, aura is what sets apart the truly iconic from the easily replaceable. It’s that feeling when a piece doesn’t just dress the body – it tells a story. Aura is like a drug you can’t deny. READ MY FULL REVIEW HERE.
Introducing the Magda Butrym pre-spring 2026 look-book: an ode to revived, lady-like femininity documented in the romantic courtyards and gritty streets of Warsaw’s most elusive quarter.
The look-book is an emotionally charged exploration of Warsaw’s lesser known, yet enigmatically alluring neighborhood: the Praga-North quarter. Defined and characterized by historic pre-war townhouses, secret courtyards adorned with sacred shrines and untamed blooms, and offbeat bazaars favored by locals, the district exudes a mysterious atmosphere that resonates with the sentimental and romantic notions of Slavic Heritage – one of the brand’s most distinctive signatures.
Photographed by Robin Galiegue and styled by Jacob K, the new season look-book expresses Magda Butrym’s deep affection for the ritual of dressing up and the innate, instinctual chic possessed by women of a bygone era. The nonchalance – and undeniable authenticity – of bouffant-haired ladies and sensational dames comes to life in ultra-feminine slip layered beneath robust fur coats; delicate, draped tops paired with lace-trimmed skirts; and bold floral prints clashed against unexpected hues. These codes of elegance draw from Butrym’s vivid childhood memories of the impeccably dressed women she loved observing—and felt inspired by. As she recalls, they didn’t dress up only for special occasions but made an effort with their style on daily basis – and that’s exactly what made such a long-lasting impression on her.
The pre-spring 2026 collection channels the spirit from real glamour, reimagined for the modern age – no longer just an ornament, but a powerful, confidence-boosting armor.
All dressed up and brimming with attitude, the look-book’s nearly cinematic heroines lounge on upholstered deck chairs, stride through the lively streets of Praga-North, and revel in the hidden, picturesque corners of the rough-around-the-edges quarter. The narrow silhouettes – accentuated by shoulder-padded, hourglass-shaped pony-hair jackets and knee-length skirts – are offset by the utilitarian energy of heavy-duty leather bombers and a slouchy rose-red tracksuit. Hip-padded mini dresses boldly reveal flesh, while shaggy boleros and voluminous masculine coats offer a sense of protection. A floor-sweeping crimson dress with a dramatic back slit is finished with a vintage-inspired flower necktie, its petals subtly shredded. Beneath the collection’s rich textures, artisanal details, and lady-like decorum lies a raw, risqué energy- sexual, liberated, and unapologetically bold.
The look-book thrives on an unexpected, magnetic tension: rose gardens blooming amid brutalist surroundings, sacred icons of Saint Mary tucked away in shadowy alleys. It reflects the designer’s vision of ambiguous femininity – glamorous and “perfected” at times, yet coarse and grunge-tinged at others. That sensual duality is especially vivid in this season’s leg-centric silhouettes: curved wedges and semi-sheer, tights-like trousers evoke a strong, sculptural attitude, inspired by one of Sarah Lucas’ tapering artworks made from stockings stretched over wire and anchored by concrete high heels. The season’s eveningwear – structured in body-morphing forms and elevated through exaggerated silhouettes- also nods to the British artist’s crude, unfiltered approach to the female body. Lucas’ provocative vision of womanhood fascinates Butrym – and inspires in rethinking contemporary femininity.
Design & Culture by Ed 