The stars and styles from Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Feathers, fabulous fashion and famous faces on the frow – it can only be Paris Haute Couture Week.

There were debut collections from Chanel and Dior’s new head designers, bringing fresh life to the classic brands, as well as the first Armani Privé couture show since the death of Giorgio Armani last year.

Celebrities like Victoria and David Beckham, Gracie Abrams, Dua Lipa, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna lined the runways’ front rows to see the latest high-end designs in the French capital.

The exclusive four-day event, which happens twice a year, showcases custom-fitted, made-by-hand designs by an exclusive selection of 13 fashion houses.

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Essence of Chanel

A model wearing a floor-length red dress with a cream fluffy jacket which cocoons her head, with her face poking out in the middle - there are massive pink toadstools and pink weeping willow trees behind her, and the audience sits watching on either side of the runway — [Getty Images]

One of the most anticipated shows was from Chanel’s new chief designer Matthieu Blazy, who brought his creations to life at the Grand Palais.

The vast glass-domed exhibition space became a wonderland, with pink weeping willows and oversized toadstools adorning the runway.

Three models on the pink Chanel runway - one wears a tweed-style raffia suit with yellow feathers, one a red chiffon suit jacket and long skirt, and the third a sheer long-line top and skirt with black and white embellishment — [Getty Images]

Blazy, who brought his ready-to-wear collection to the same venue last October, said he wanted to “probe and explore the heart of Chanel”.

While some of the outfits made references to classic Chanel suits, they were brought up to date with fresh fabrics and treatments.

“I wanted to see whether, when you strip away the usual Chanel signatures – the tweed, the jewelled buttons – you can still get to that essence,” he told WWD.

Three models on a Chanel catwalk - one wears a pale pink suit with an off-the-shoulder top with draped cape shoulder detail, one has a feathered black and white dress and the third a sheer embroidered suit — [Getty Images]

There were also more out-there moments, with feathers forming a thread running through the collection.

Birds, from pigeons and crows to the more rare roseate spoonbill, were the inspiration.

“All kinds of birds appear, as if by magic, from the most familiar to the rarest,” the 41-year-old Franco-Belgian wrote in his show notes.

British actress Tilda Swinton (L), British-US fashion editor Anna Wintour (2nd L) and Australian-US actress Nicole Kidman (C) speak together during the Chanel Women's Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 collection fashion show as part of the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, in Paris, on January 27, 2026. — Tilda Swinton, Anna Wintour and Nicole Kidman sat together for the Chanel show [Getty Images]

‘My Dior not a formula’

Another eagerly-awaited show was from Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, in his first haute couture collection for Dior.

He also brought nature to the runway with floaty silhouettes and a focus on flowers, including some worn by models as earrings.

The whole Spring Summer 2026 show was performed under a canopy of flowers, on a mirrored runway.

Models walking down a mirrored runway, the first wearing a black draped sleeveless dress and holding a lime green fringed bag - people watching the show are applauding, many of them holding up their phones to take pictures — The Dior show, by Jonathan Anderson, had a floral theme with airy silhouettes [Getty Images]

A model with light pink hair and a long fine fringe covering her face wears a black dress with a white wavy collar - purple and white floral balls are at her ears — The Christian Dior show featured monochrome designs accessorised with flowers [Getty Images]

Many of Anderson’s designs centred on a monochrome palette, with sunny bursts of orange, punctuated with ice blue and pinks.

Nature was also present in the collection’s accessories, with a bag shaped like a ladybird and a clutch bag that seemed to be sprouting long grass.

The designer, also 41, was previously creative director at Loewe and joined Dior last March.

Parker Posey, Jennifer Lawrence and Anya Taylor-Joy pictured separately - they are standing on black-and-white checked floor. Posey wears a beige mac belted at the waist - Lawrence has on long pale denim jeans, a long black coat and a white t-shirt and Taylor-Joy wears a pink, red and cream silk cloak — Parker Posey, Jennifer Lawrence and Anya Taylor-Joy were among the stars at the Dior show [Getty Images]

Before his show at the Rodin Museum, Anderson said it was “intimidating” to take on the role “because you are up against people who are in the history books”, the Guardian reported.

“My Dior is never going to be a formula, because my brain doesn’t work like that,” he added. “I get bored too quickly.

“Everyone wants every designer right now to work out the brand like, tomorrow. But Dior is ginormous.”

Valentino’s kaleidoscope

Just a few days after the passing of the designer Valentino Garavani, Alessandro Michele boldly presented his high-concept collection at Paris Haute Couture Fashion week.

Guests were invited to observe his designs through a viewing station known as a “kaiserpanorama”, allowing them to peek through into an alternative universe.

Dakota Johnson has her brown hair down and wears a leopard neck scarf and brown dress. Lily Allen has her black hair pinned up and is wearing an orange and black polkadot dress. — Dakota Johnson (left) and Lily Allen (right) were two of Valentino’s guests at Wednesday’s show [Getty Images]

One of the signature looks was a batwing gown, designed in a shade of red used in Valentino’s first collection more than 60 years ago.

The collection was punctuated by lace, feathers and embellishments, with the models dressed like showgirls.

Among those invited to take a look into Michele’s world were Lily Allen, Kirsten Dunst, Tyla and Dakota Johnson.

Armani pretty in pastels

All eyes were on Armani Privé too as it unveiled its first haute couture collection since founder Giorgio died last year, aged 91.

Models walking on a catwalk, all with dark slicked-back hair, wearing outfits in silky fabrics in mint green and baby pink, some accessorised with bows on their shoulders — The Armani show featured dreamy pastels in mint green and baby pink [Getty Images]

Three looks from the Armani show - one model has flowing pale turquoise trousers and a corset top, the next wears a similar shade of trousers in silk, with a matching jacket, and the third has black trousers, a sheer top and tie, and a pale mint structured jacket — The Armani collection featured a fresh take on the trouser suit [Getty Images]

His niece Silvana – who worked with him on women’s ready-to-wear – oversaw the new wardrobe, designed to be “like classic Armani, but with a touch of originality”.

A palette of pastel mint green and baby pink was showcased, with bejewelled satin trouser suits and sparkling evening gowns.

Norman Reedus, Diane Kruger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kate Hudson and Elizabeth Debicki sit side-by-side - Hudson and Debicki are talking, while the others look off to the side. All are wearing black or black-and-white outfits, while Hudson wears a pale pink embellished top — The Armani front row featured (left to right) Norman Reedus, Diane Kruger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kate Hudson and Elizabeth Debicki [Getty Images]

Elie Saab’s Beirut beginnings

Composite image of three models - the first wears a deep V-cut gown with a matching neck-tie, the second wears a black and brown deep V-neck dress and the third wears a bandeau neckline dress. — Models at Elie Saab’s couture show wore embellished gowns with a Middle Eastern twist [Getty Images]

The Lebanese designer Elie Saab went back to his roots for his couture show, entitled Golden Summer Nights of ’71.

His show provided an antidote to the chilly Parisian air, with Middle Eastern warmth recreated through a colour palette of blush pinks, bronzes and desert tones.

Saab, 61, founded his fashion house in Beirut in the 1980s and has always leaned into maximalism in his designs.

Wednesday’s show was no different – with excessive beading, ball gowns and metallic fabrics dominating the catwalk.

Victoria Beckham in a blue suit on the red carpet — [Getty Images]

Other celebrities seen in Paris during the week included Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham, as the fashion designer and former Spice Girl was awarded a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters on the first day of haute couture week.

They were joined by three of their children, although not their son Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, following a public falling out with his family.

Anna Wintour, Vogue global editorial director, attended the ceremony with the Beckhams and was seen on the front row at several shows, alongside other celebrities like Tilda Swinton, Nicole Kidman and designer John Galliano.