The best of Paris Haute Couture Week

Every year, July to October means fashion season is upon us.  One moment it’s the Met Gala, Cannes, an endless carousel of red carpets, the next Paris Haute Couture Week, India Couture Week, followed by London Fashion Week, runway debuts and whatnot! Fashion barely pauses for breath, and honestly, neither do we. There’s something oddly satisfying about live-judging runway looks from the comfort of our chair, coffee in one hand and Instagram in the other.

However, Paris Haute Couture Week is where my heart lies. This season, designers got the memo of following maximalism to the T. From Dior’s Fall/Winter 2026–27 couture show under Jonathan Anderson to Rahul Mishra’s breathtaking celebration of Indian craftsmanship and Vaishali Shadangule’s handloom-led couture statement, we’ve rounded up the best of Paris Haute Couture Week 2026.

‘Devi’ by Rahul Mishra

If I’ve learned one thing from almost two six years of Rahul Mishra presenting at Paris Haute Couture Week, it’s that he never fails to gobsmack you, every single time. For his Fall/Winter 2026–2027 haute couture collection, Mishra presented Devi: The Eternal Muse, drawing inspiration from the celestial apsaras and deities carved into the temples of Belur, Halebidu and the Ajanta caves. Reimagining stone as fabric through painstaking trompe-l’œil embroidery, ancient Indian techniques such as zardozi, dabka and naqshi were layered with crystals, bugle beads and hand-cut stones to create gowns, capes and sculptural silhouettes that appeared chiselled rather than stitched.

Chanel Fall/Winter 2026-2027

This year, Chanel presented F/W 2027 couture inspired by modern-day fairytale under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy. Staged inside an enchanted, storybook-inspired Grand Palais, the collection drew from a century-old fairytale book once owned by Coco Chanel. There were signature tweed skirt suits, fluid bias-cut gowns, feather-light capes and sheer layers elevated with intricate floral embroidery, camellia appliqués, vines, butterflies and whimsical accessories – from bean-shaped minaudières to sculptural heels inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk. Rather than closing with the traditional Chanel bride, the show ended with a striking black couture dress. Typical Blazy!

‘The Abyss’ by Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2026-2027

Daniel Roseberry plunged beneath the surface for “The Abyss,” his Paris Haute Couture Week presentation for Schiaparelli that felt like a surreal underwater fantasy. The inspiration came from the mystery of the ocean, the sculptural works of Matthew Barney and even hints of Antoni Gaudí’s organic forms. Roseberry reimagined the body through exaggerated silhouettes, silicone mouldings and iridescent embellishments that appeared to glow from within. The collection featured some hyper-realistic corseted bodices, liquid-metal gowns, shell-like embroideries, translucent beading and aquatic textures that mimicked coral reefs, jellyfish and bioluminescent sea creatures.

Dior Fall/Winter 2026-2027

Dior has been in the midst of a renaissance ever since Jonathan Anderson took over the reins, and for all good reasons. For Fall/Winter 2026–2027 Haute Couture, Anderson looked to the sculptural works of American artist Lynda Benglis, translating her explorations of pleating, knotting and form into couture that felt like moving works of art. Rather than relying on spectacle, he explored the quiet romance of couture with cocooned coats, fluid capes, sweeping opera gowns, dramatic bows, and sculptural floral appliqués dominating the runway. There were contrasting landscapes, from lush Ahmedabad to the arid beauty of Santa Fe, infusing the collection with vibrant botanical embellishments, archival chintz references and whimsical minaudières shaped like blooming cacti and armadillos.

‘Swayam’ by Vaishali S

Vaishali Shadangule reminded everyone why she’s one of India’s most compelling couture voices with “Swayam”, a 30-look handloom collection that places indigenous textiles at the heart of haute couture. Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “of one’s own accord,” the collection explores a woman’s journey towards selfhood through silhouettes that evolve from restrained, sculptural forms to fluid, liberated drapes. A rich spectrum of Indian weaves including Banarasi, Patola, Jamdani, Chanderi, Kanjivaram, Kota Doria and Maheshwari were reimagined into contemporary couture, celebrating the artistry of over 4,500 weaving families across India. Additionally, the show was presented barefoot to the accompaniment of live Indian classical music at the Residence of the Ambassador of India in Paris.

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