The most exclusive fixture in the fashion calendar, this biannual event showcased the virtuosity of hallowed ateliers and the artisans—known as petites mains—who dedicate hundreds of hours to each masterpiece www.wmagazine.com . The week was defined by novel debuts and anticipation, marking a pivotal moment for several legendary houses.

Schiaparelli: Gaudí, Ghostface, and the Surreal

Daniel Roseberry opened the week on July 6 with a daring manifesto on the "magic of creation" found only in "total surrender to the unknown" www.whowhatwear.com . Eschewing conventional Schiaparelli archetypes, the designer presented subversive, surrealist faces woven into dresses resembling the Ghostface villain from the Scream franchise, while vibrant fish scales adorned jackets to evoke the architecture of Gaudí's Casa Batlló www.whowhatwear.com .

The collection's most audacious innovation came through the use of quotidian materials—latex and silicone—transformed into sculptural corsets, coral-inspired skirts, and sea urchin sandals through meticulous craftsmanship www.whowhatwear.com . The closing look, modeled by Ivy Stewart, achieved instant fame when it was transported from the Petit Palais runway directly to Leicester Square, where Zendaya wore it that same afternoon for The Odyssey world premiere www.whowhatwear.com .

Dior: Jonathan Anderson's Botanical Garden

Jonathan Anderson's sophomore couture collection for Dior transformed the Jardin des Tuileries into a greenhouse flanked with black-lacquered wood and fronds www.whowhatwear.com . Botanicals took center stage, with verdant grass-like fabric woven throughout robes, cropped bar jackets, and fringed scarves—a continuation of Anderson's lily pad heels and frog chainmail clutches from previous seasons www.whowhatwear.com .

Inspired by American sculptor Lynda Benglis's methodology of knotting and molding, Anderson created sumptuous accordion-pleated dresses and metallic plissé hats www.whowhatwear.com . The collection concluded with a dreamy off-the-shoulder white gown featuring fern motifs and rosette details—a glimpse at Anderson's bridal vision, rumored to have been created for Taylor Swift's wedding www.whowhatwear.com .

Chanel: Matthieu Blazy's Fairy Tale Narrative

Matthieu Blazy materialized a whimsical universe for Chanel's latest couture collection, opening with a model carrying a century-old leatherbound book of fairytales owned by Coco Chanel herself www.whowhatwear.com . The soundtrack featured The Lord of the Rings and "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer, while the collection referenced Goldilocks, Beauty and the Beast, Swan Lake, and Princess and the Pea www.whowhatwear.com .

Yet Blazy's narrative didn't end with a traditional happily ever after. The show concluded with a "revenge dress" in sultry black—a nod to Gabrielle Chanel and Princess Diana—proving that the women he designs for "don't need rescuing, but rather elegant clothes to write their own stories" www.whowhatwear.com .

Paris Couture Week fall / winter 2026 @hautecoutureweek PARIS HAUTE COUTURE WEEK July 6–9, 2026

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Balenciaga: Pierpaolo Piccioli's Chromatic Mastery

In his first haute couture foray for Balenciaga, Pierpaolo Piccioli proved himself a maestro of color theory www.whowhatwear.com . The collection ran the gamut of high-octane hues—from vermilion coats to chartreuse gowns and aubergine draped dresses—with standout pieces seamlessly combining aquamarine blue and slate grey or piquant yellow and royal purple www.whowhatwear.com .

Gigi Hadid made her runway return cloaked in rich plumage, while ombre petals and sequins adorned silhouettes that remained true to Cristóbal Balenciaga's legacy of textile manipulation and craftsmanship www.whowhatwear.com .

Jean Paul Gaultier: Duran Lantink's Provocative Debut

After a revolving door of guest designers, Jean Paul Gaultier found its new artistic lead in Dutch designer Duran Lantink www.whowhatwear.com . His debut collection melded 18th-century silhouettes inspired by Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette with digital-age aesthetics, creating crinoline skirts with protruding elements reminiscent of The Substance www.whowhatwear.com . The contentious presentation interrogated technology's role in fashion creation, proving that discourse remains integral to fashion week www.whowhatwear.com .

Robert Wun: The Joy of Childsplay

Robert Wun invoked childhood innocence with ballgowns splattered with paint, geometric dresses serving as literal building blocks, and models carrying adult-sized stuffed animals www.whowhatwear.com . The pièce de résistance featured a closing gown reminiscent of Spirited Away's No-Face, with a train made of colorful balloons—a sweet commentary on returning to youthful innocence amid precarious times www.whowhatwear.com .