In his first two collections for Celine, Michael Rider finessed preppy style on the runway, doubling down on printed satin scarves, primary colors, neck ties, and derby sneakers. His take on the prep aesthetic took an approach of classics with a twist—looks that were subverted with giant sunglasses, skinny pants, and leather bags with smile-shaped zippers. For fall 2026, the prep has been dialed back, but a similar approach is intact. “Classics is one thing, but we like bite,” Rider shared with Vogue.
Held at the Institut de France, the venue marks a new home for the Maison’s runway shows. With tailored outerwear, draping, and kick-flare pants, the collection still taps into the bourgeois that is quintessential Celine, yet Rider introduced a new direction for the brand. “At its best, Celine is a style: a mix of old and new that feels urgent and dreamy,” Rider shared in the show notes, “Making the things we all dream of finding and wearing.” Perhaps that makes Rider’s Celine just so compelling—he is a master at designing the elusive pieces we’ve been fantasizing about discovering and adding to our closets, all while showing the most directional ways to style them. Ahead, more on the Celine fall/winter 2026 collection and how it will translate to how the fashion set will be dressing this year.
Classics With Bite
When Rider refers to classics with bite, we see this play out on the runway with unlikely pairings. Offsetting the impeccably tailored outerwear, there were eccentric accessories: kooky hats, muffler scarves covering the necks and faces, and necklaces and bracelets covered with charms and shells.
Royal Purple
The definitive color of the fall/winter 2026 season: royal purple. It appeared on the Celine runway with a floor-sweeping trench coat, leather gloves, and a new bag silhouette designed with Triomphe hardware. The color also appeared in the collection of brands such as Loewe and Chloé, and we’re predicting it will take over this year.
Kick Flares
In Rider’s previous Celine collections, relaxed trousers and skinny pants were the dominant silhouettes. Shapes are shifting on the runway with kicky cropped flares worn with peplum coats, animal-print jackets, and sharply pointed boots.
The Sunglasses
Celine has a strong eyewear business, including its oval-shaped Triomphe sunglasses which have been a key buy since they were released in recent years. The metal-rimmed styles presented on the fall/winter 2026 runway are the next standout buy in the category.
