From long-awaited debuts to deeply personal milestones, day two of Paris Haute Couture Week unfolded. Reflecting how couture continues to evolve while honouring its foundations, we saw new chapters begin at Chanel and Armani. Here are some of the runway highlights from day two of the Spring/Summer 2026 Haute Couture shows.
Chanel
Mattieu Blazy has officially made his Haute Couture debut for Chanel , and it was nothing short of memorable. “Haute Couture is the very soul of Chanel – it is the foundation and the full expression of the House. These are clothes that are as much about the wearer as the designer. It’s the clothes worn that give them a true story; their own story and an emotional resonance, giving women a canvas to tell their own story.” He wrote in the show notes.
But this was more than a study in the brand’s soul; it was a bold reinterpretation of an iconic house, through the eyes of a visionary.
Set within an enchanted landscape, the show unfolded like a modern fairytale. There was joy in the palette, confidence in the silhouettes, and a sense of lightness that ran from the atelier to the front row. Raven black looks showcased the precision of the tailleur, balanced by the softness of flou, while intricate embroidery, pleating, and weaving conjured plumage without relying on feathers.
Birds appeared as motifs and metaphors, from pigeons to spoonbills, herons to cockatoos, gathering briefly beneath towering mushrooms before vanishing again. Symbols of freedom or simply creatures of beauty, they anchored the collection in nature while allowing it to drift into fantasy. In true couture fashion, it paused, mesmerised, and then disappeared, leaving behind the feeling of having witnessed something fleeting and special.
Armani Privé
Giorgio Armani’s niece, Silvana Armani, now at the helm of the brand’s womenswear division, presented her first Armani Privé Haute Couture collection following the passing of her uncle last year. The show was charged with emotion and quiet confidence, where unmistakable Armani codes met a softened, modern sensibility.
Titled Jade, the collection celebrated the harmony of the stone’s pastel hues. Shades of jade green, blush pink and white were set against graphic black, creating a poised visual balance. That sense of harmony carried through fluid, vertical silhouettes crafted in satin and silk, designed to move effortlessly with the body.
Sparkling gowns, clean pillar shapes and gentle pastels appeared alongside origami-like fabrications, resulting in a collection that felt refined, considered and assured. Everything rested gracefully on the form: masculine-inflected tailoring with jackets stripped back to their essence, embroidered bustiers paired with sharply cut trousers, column dresses animated by precise draping, midi tunics opening to reveal perfectly tailored pants, and fine-fringed pullovers.
An elegant tribute to legacy, Jade marked an exciting new chapter for Armani Privé, one that looks forward without losing sight of its foundations.
Stéphane Rolland
Stéphane Rolland transformed the Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione into a world of couture fantasy for his Spring Summer Haute Couture presentation, delivering a spectacle that blurred fashion, performance and art. Set beneath the historic circus dome, aerial performers floated above a circular red runway, heightening the drama of a show that felt as cinematic as it was refined.
Against this striking backdrop, Rolland’s designs commanded attention. Fluid silhouettes, sculptural volumes and rich fabrics moved with quiet confidence, echoing the grandeur of the space. The collection drew inspiration from the poetic world of the circus, with subtle references to clowns reimagined through a high glamour lens. Balloon trousers, jumpsuits and voluminous coats played with circles and squares, nodding to Cubist influences that recall Picasso’s paintings.
Presented before France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, and attended by Heart Evangelista, Andra Day and Lisa Rinna, the show also carried a philanthropic purpose, with proceeds supporting the Fondation des Hôpitaux. A powerful, poetic moment of Parisian couture.
