Photographer Olia Kolendo / Videomaker @LiniaParis
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The Summer 2026 Haute Couture Collection, titled “Parade,” was presented on January 27, 2026, at the historic Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione in Paris—a venue dating back to 1852, originally the “Cirque Napoléon” and renamed in 1873, chosen for its symbolic bridge between centuries and ties to circus heritage, perfectly embodying the theme of a circus believed to have vanished, emphasizing presence over excess.
Inspired by Pablo Picasso’s Cubist innovations and his connection to circus archetypes like the Auguste, Ringmaster, Pierrot, and solitary clown—as seen in the 1917 ballet Parade—the collection captures the circus as a temple of imagination and a factory of dreams. It features asymmetrical coats, structured capes, coat-dresses, voluminous balloon pants, jumpsuits, structured shorts, bustiers, and oversized coats in an architecture of silence, crafted from gazar, duchess satin, crepe, organza, chiffon, velvet, with black-white palettes accented by red, burgundy, and caramel tones, plus geometric sculptural forms, dramatic draping, plexiglass cube brooches set in diamonds, and gem embellishments that blur fashion and art. Launched during Paris Haute Couture Week (January 26-29, 2026), embroidery acts as a language using diamonds and crystals to convey light rather than wealth, while silhouettes subvert movement for red-carpet glamour, challenging boundaries with constant tension between body and material, fragility, and beauty.
The runway unfolded like a procession with deliberately moving silhouettes showcasing the collection’s unstable balance, accompanied by Erik Satie’s hypnotic rhythms infused with emotional depth from Nino Rota and Fellini’s films—blending tracks like “Lazy Sunday” by Bijan Olia, “Promise You Will” by Andy Cooper, and “Honest” by Matt Goodman for dynamic, heat-infused urgency.
The show concluded with an aerial acrobatic performance by Natalia Bouglione, integrating live circus elements tied to the venue’s heritage for dramatic spectacle.
