For those less in the fold, Paris Fashion Week is the last of the ‘Big Four’ cities on the schedule. Last, but certainly not least. In fact, most would probably say that Paris is the most exciting of all. From big players like Dior, Chanel, Loewe, Balenciaga and Chloe, to cult favourites like Acne Studios and Jean Paul Gaultier, as well as some of Britain’s finest like Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and McQueen, it’s a jam-packed schedule of one stellar show after another. As such, us editors on the ground are both inspired and exhausted in equal measure by the very end. The shows! The presentations! The parties! The trends! There’s so much to do, see, touch and enjoy, it really is sensory overload. But one we’re happy to have.
Autumn/winter 2026 is an interesting time and a highly anticipated season in fashion. The autumn/winter collections are always a bigger focus than spring/summer, so there’s a higher degree of pressure to deliver. What’s more is after the ‘big reshuffle’ that took place in time for last season, with over 16 new creative directors at major houses, this was the sophomore collection for a lot of high-power luxury brands and the debut of their autumn/winter vision for the respective brands.
In light of this, there’s simply so much to unpack. Particularly so with the major trends that came through from the French capital. To name a few, I noticed a lot of sharp tailoring, some expected and others less so. From Saint Laurent to Givenchy, Dior to Victoria Beckham and Tom Ford, sharp suits had a major moment. There were equestrian influences, too, to marry with the Year of the Horse. Stella McCartney even presented her collection in an actual riding hall with a magnificent horse show at the centre.
Adding to this, check prints, waterproof garments in transparent plastic materials as well as multiple collections that echoed last season’s obsession with the ‘80s, it was yet another display of joy, colour and fantasy.
5 Key Trends From Paris Fashion Week: Autumn/Winter 2026
1. Horse Power
Style notes: According to the Lunar New Year, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. And let’s just say fashion got the memo. From Stella McCartney’s horse show extravaganza within the Paris riding hall Bois de Boulogne, to Acne Studios, Chloe and Hermes (of course) bringing full horse girl energy by way of over-the-knee boots, belted blazers and silk neckerchiefs, equine influences were scattered throughout the week. Whilst equestrian style can venture into feeling slightly preppy, prim and proper, it is here sharp and streamlined. Whilst McCartney's version felt sportier and slightly more casual with jeans, Schiaparelli's three-piece suit in butter yellow was cinched and snatched.
2. Check Mate
Style notes: Check prints will always have some kind of presence on the runways, because let's face it, they're timeless. But this season there were too many to count, and in different variations. Where Dior, Dries van Noten and Acne Studios layered multiple checks one on top of the other, especially on tailoring and outerwear, Chloe stayed true to its bohemian roots, with a ruffled high neck maxi dress. At Matthieu Blazy's Chanel we expected checks across tweed sets, but not like they came in the closing few looks. Chainmail tartan midi skirts, jewel-adored blazers and trench coats finalised his epic collection—and cemented the resoundingly positive reviews.
3. Against the Elements
Style notes: It may come as no surprise that an autumn/winter season might provide much protection against the cold and wet weather. But be it Loewe's XXXL rubberised coats, vinyl trench coats at Off-White and Louis Vuitton and metallic windbreakers at Cecilie Bahnsen, practicality was a major focus on the outerwear front. Even Haider Ackermann's triumphant collection at Tom Ford, which many likened to the costume in the 2000 film American Psycho with its array of sharp '80s-style suits, also included a series of clear plastic waterproof garments, from hooded raincoats to skirts. If you're as much a fan of the film as I am, you'll remember the protagonist Patrick Bateman putting on a plastic raincoat in a specifically violent scene. Of course, none of these connotations are carried with these pieces, but the stylised and cinematic quality this use of plastic gave, instead of feeling cheap, was well noted amongst editors and critics alike.
4. Avant-Garde Silhouettes
Style notes: If there's one thing we love in fashion, it's drama. We live for vibrant colour palettes, the mixing of materials, prints and, naturally, a few voluminous silhouettes. This season wasn't exactly a sea of streamlined cuts—quite the opposite. For Mugler it was all about the strong shoulder, as ever the house stayed true to its '80s DNA. Meanwhile at Victoria Beckham, it was a dress with cut outs at the waist that left a notably on-brand 'V' shape at the front, that made an impact. At other designers, the extreme, almost avant-garde silhouette took a more dramatic formation. Louis Vuitton closed its show with several heavy shouldered, spatial pieces, that felt more like a work of art than clothing. Similarly at Vacquera, a bridal look came in a spherical shape. But my favourite of all the innovative shapes came on a deep red velvet dress at Jean Paul Gaultier, which followed a fishtail silhouette, but was—as ever with Gaultier—so much more than this.
5. Fur, Fur, Fur
Style notes: Faux fur—in its many forms—is officially back again in autumn/winter 2026. ICYMI, it had a major presence in the winter collections in 2025, but new tones, textures and coat cuts make this timeless style feel fresh. Saint Laurent's ultra short, but oh-so big on the shoulders, belted jacket was nothing shy of impactful. As too was Givenchy's take on an animal print full-length number, which I particularly enjoyed with the pairing of red accessories. Zimmermann on the hand showcased a series of furry shawls in different shades of brown. Some tied together with a brooch, other jacket or coat styles were belted, or worn loose and effortlessly off the shoulders. But my favourite of the brand's fur accents was the green-tinged lapels on the the khaki leather bolero, which when paired over the lace skirt and lingerie bodice, felt like true twenties perfection.
