The official Paris Fashion Week calendar for the Spring/Summer 2026 season (September 29 – October 7) heralds a defining moment in the contemporary narrative of women’s ready-to-wear. The upcoming edition will see a historic series of inaugural presentations by newly appointed creative directors, shaping a landscape that promises to shake the industry to its foundations.
Among the most anticipated debuts are Matthieu Blazy at Chanel (October 6), Jonathan Anderson at Dior Women’s (October 1), and Pierpaolo Piccioli, now at the helm of Balenciaga, whose first show will be held on October 4. Anticipation is intensifying with names like Miguel Castro Freitas at Mugler, the return of Duran Lantink to the ready-to-wear calendar with Jean Paul Gaultier, and the arrival of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez at Loewe, a move that marks a new era for the house under the aegis of LVMH.
Amid a structural slowdown in the luxury market, these changes are not mere replacements: they represent a bold attempt by historic houses to redefine their visual language in a time of global transition.
LVMH Reports a Challenging Half Year with a 9% Drop in Fashion and Leather Sales
The most powerful luxury conglomerate, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has published its financial results for the first half of 2025, recording a 22% drop in net profit and an overall 4% decline in revenue compared to the same period last year, totaling €39.8 billion.
The Fashion & Leather Goods division—a key pillar of the group that includes brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Loro Piana—saw its sales decline by 9%. The slowdown is due to a contraction in global luxury spending after a brief post-pandemic boom, also affecting competitors such as Kering and OTB Group.
The situation has displaced LVMH as the world’s most valuable luxury group, ceding the throne to Hermès this summer. Added to this are significant reputational challenges: a labor scandal at Loro Piana, a data breach at Louis Vuitton, and accusations of cultural appropriation surrounding Dior. Together, these factors underscore a loss of affinity with the contemporary consumer, who is increasingly skeptical of pricing policies and insensitive to traditional prestige.
Cinema Goes Fashionable: Sofia Coppola Presents the Definitive Portrait of Marc Jacobs
“Marc by Sofia,” Sofia Coppola’s highly anticipated documentary about the influential designer Marc Jacobs, will have its world premiere out of competition at the Venice Film Festival from August 27 to September 6. Running 97 minutes, the film is a love letter to the creative bond between the filmmaker and the designer, which emerged after Jacobs’ controversial grunge collection for Perry Ellis in 1992.
The documentary, titled in homage to the now iconic Marc by Marc Jacobs line, draws on a rarely seen visual archive and explores key moments in his career: from his work at Louis Vuitton to his current collaboration with Heaven, including campaigns starring Coppola herself.
Willy Chavarria, New ACLU Ambassador: Fashion at the Service of Activism
In an unprecedented move, Willy Chavarria has been appointed as an ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Artist Ambassador, becoming the first designer to hold this position. This strategic alliance offers Chavarria an institutional platform to amplify his commitment to immigrant rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
His latest Paris SS26 show was a powerful visual denunciation of immigration detention policies, integrating activism and high fashion as inseparable languages. “Art, music, and fashion have the power to shape our collective consciousness. I will use my platform to empower others,” Chavarria said in an official statement.
Jonathan Anderson transcends the catwalk: he will design the costumes for “Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino’s AI film
Jonathan Anderson expands his aesthetic influence to the world of cinema by being confirmed as the costume designer for “Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino’s new film project that will address artificial intelligence and the contradictions of Big Tech through a critical and satirical lens.
The film, still in pre-production, will star Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, and Cooper Koch. It will be the third collaboration between Guadagnino and Anderson, following the success of Challengers and Queer. Anderson’s work on Challengers earned him a CDG Award nomination, cementing his status as one of the most influential image makers of the 21st century.
Thom Browne expands his universe with a specialized boutique on the Upper East Side
Thom Browne has opened a new boutique in the heart of New York’s Upper East Side (898 Madison Avenue), designed as an exclusive space for its leather goods and footwear collections. This enclave, located just a few meters from its flagship, strengthens its presence in one of Manhattan’s most iconic areas.
The store celebrates art objects: from the iconic Hector bags to new zoomorphic silhouettes, including the refined Mr. and Mrs. Thom Bags, and a selection of shoes ranging from signature brogues to elegant winged stilettos. Each piece is displayed in a museum-like setting, reinforcing the notion that, in Browne’s universe, fashion is an architecture of detail.
Hermès surpasses its eternal rival LVMH Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE.
Sigue toda la información de HIGHXTAR desde Facebook, Twitter o Instagram