A stunning haute couture show: Paris revives the magic of high fashion.
Between enchanting decorations and rare birds, haute couture has returned to confirm that it is an art that does not age, but rather renews itself with each season. Under the dome of the Grand Palais in Paris, the Spring/Summer 2026 shows stole the show, presenting fashion with a face closer to a complete sensory experience, where imagination intertwined with high craftsmanship. The French magazine "Paris Match" described the atmosphere of the "Chanel" show as a broad celebration of artistic crafts, from feather makers to jewelry designers, within a captivating visual scene created by the decorations and lighting. According to the magazine, this year's Paris Fashion Week was characterized by shows that made elegance synonymous with dazzling, and sophistication a common language among designers. Contrary to old opinions that saw "haute couture" as an art threatened with extinction, the Spring/Summer 2026 fashion week reaffirmed that this world is still alive, capable of reinventing itself, and expressing its time without losing its roots. A new generation of artistic directors has contributed to injecting new blood into the prestigious fashion houses, presenting their own vision on the catwalks, while maintaining the rigorous mastery that characterizes this art. Matthieu Blasi said during his participation, which began on January 27: "Haute couture remains the essence and deep foundation of Chanel, and through it the House expresses itself to the fullest extent." In Paris, it seemed as though the designers had implicitly agreed to offer a unified recipe: dazzle first, then surprise, and perhaps a bit of bewildering for the recipient, as part of the pleasure of discovery. Valentino, for its part, presented a show that combined grandeur and theatricality, just days after the passing of its founder, Valentino Garavani. An unconventional spectacle with no catwalk or front rows, it was a complete cinematic experience, allowing stars and the public to discover Alessandro Michele's Hollywood-esque collection through a single, small window. The experience may seem suggestive or symbolic to some, but for Michele it is a clear stance, as he believes that haute couture, in a time dominated by the obsession with image and rapid consumption, offers a different alternative based on slowness, closeness, and focus, and gives fashion a chance to reflect away from the noise.
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