Jackets, blouses, skirts and headbands of the day | Spring Summer2026

It feels strange to discuss summer clothing in the midst of fall. In the Western hemisphere we are feeling the cold weather pierce through - and I actually love sweater weather season. However, the fashion world has its own rhythm and plans ahead. Actually, as I am traveling to New-Zealand soon, where summer runs from December to February - the SS26 runway provides plenty of inspiration for what to pack.

Dries van Noten
In terms of statement fashion, Dries van Noten SS26 Women really stood out to me with the jackets, bags, print and sparkling embellishments:

Dries van Noten SS26

Chanel, and Charvet
The SS26 runway offered a lot of elements that elevated causal wear, for example the Chanel conversation (we can’t call it a collaboration) with Charvet, the heritage brand known for its shirt making craftsmanship. The latest hire by Chanel of Matthieu Blazy as creative director proved to be a conversation starter indeed. Perhaps just what Chanel needed considering the financial and creative difficulties the brand found itself in after the passing of Karl Lagerfeld. Chanel tried to increase its prices to compensate the losses and keep its stature of a brand for the wealthy. However they might have gone slightly overboard, alienating customers and stirring (the wrong kind of) conversation. Now, the question remains whether the choice for Blazy, who caters to quite a niche part of the market segment, was enough of a good conversation starter, but not too much of an alienating force to precisely the wealthy, traditional customer Chanel is dependent upon.

I loved the Blazy collection and view it as on the one hand ‘breaking away from the old’ - which might alienate certain customers, and on the other hand ‘opening the door to the new’ - opening up just that possibility for Chanel as a heritage brand to participate in the universe of fashion brands that are conversation starters and actually lead the way in terms of fashion’s future.

The bounce and flow of the collection to me alluded to that rythm of playfulness, newness and a fresh perspective. In that sense, Blazy’s collection was very much in line with Coco Chanel’s spirit I would say, in that she too was a trailblazing, pioneering designer that fused the feminine and masculine in a way that wasn’t favored by everyone. The ‘conversation’ with Charvet was then the perfect combination of these two ends of the spectrum: marrying tradition and craftsmanship with modern design.

The skirts were also a delight and very wearable (which is of course, something entirely different that affordable in the Chanel universe):

What did you think, was the collection the marker of a new era for Chanel? Or a blasphemy to the old tradition? I would say the collection was dualistic in nature. It introduced new elements to Chanel’s universe, thereby creating the possibility for new avenues in Chanel’s brand trajectory. At the same time the collection demarcated an end to a period of time in which traditional and classical designs reigned supreme. Or this was at least part of the intention as I see it. However, a conversation is one thing, the way the conversation will change the brand’s direction is the important question that only time can tell.

Simone Rocha
Now for another fashion love of mine. Headbands. I have a lot of them, very very statement and not for the faint at heart. Luckily this fashion week I found a kindred spirit in Simone Rocha:

Chloé
I am a sucker for anything silk, and slip dresses are a go to in my day to day wardrobe. The Chloé Summer 2026 collection had some amazing glossy, silky looks:

Chemena Kamali nailed the mauve and butter-yellow color scheme, which is hard. The florals prints in the collection were, unfortunately, not my favorite.

Personal recommendations
Now, for the fun part, how can we incorporate these looks into our own wardrobe (without breaking the bank)?

• Great jackets? Look no further than Maison Hotel

• In need of a “Headband of the day” (#iykyk, or Google it + John Legend)? Options galore at LeLe Sadoughi

• On the lookout for a statement skirt? Ulla Johnson has you covered

• Great looking shirts? I love TOTEME and Anine Bing

The spring summer runway did inspire me, and I will get back to the topic of packing for more tropical temperatures. Yet, as winter is around the corner, I will gladly sit in my wool sweater for now, with a hot cup of coffee, focusing on the cashmere and suede winter collections that are coming our way from left to right….