Chloé's Autumn/Winter 2026 Collection Merges Grunge Edge with Bohemian Romance
At Paris Fashion Week, Chloé unveiled its autumn/winter 2026 collection, where creative director Chemena Kamali artfully blended Nineties grunge influences with the French maison's long-standing bohemian femininity. The show attracted a star-studded front row, including Olivia Rodrigo, Aimee Lou Wood, and Brooke Shields, who witnessed a runway dominated by layered skirts, plaid fabrics, and ethereal silhouettes.
Historical Heritage Meets Contemporary Edge
Founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion, Chloé has historically championed a softer, freer approach to womenswear, pioneering luxury prêt-à-porter that balances elegance with wearability. Kamali's latest collection honours this heritage while introducing subtle Nineties motifs, a trend also seen this season at houses like Gucci and Tom Ford. Through checked fabrics, darker tones, and heavier silhouettes, the collection infused romantic designs with a rebellious grunge spirit.
Key Runway Highlights and Design Elements
Long, layered skirts constructed with cascading ruffles dominated the runway, with one standout look featuring a dramatic plaid gown layered under a leather utility jacket. Plaid appeared in softer pink tones as well, with a loose, flowing dress drifting across the runway in airy layers. The relaxed cuts and gathered ruffles reinforced Chloé's bohemian DNA, while the check patterns added a contemporary edge.
An emerald green plaid dress captured the essence of Chloé's romantic identity, featuring an off-the-shoulder design, smocked detailing, and voluminous sleeves. Outerwear played a crucial role, with capes and ponchos emphasising ease of movement. One model wore a long, cape-like beige coat layered over a delicate dress, creating a cocooning silhouette that contrasted with flowing garments beneath.
Structured Tailoring and Footwear Influences
Kamali introduced structured tailoring into the mix, pairing broad-shouldered blazers—a significant trend this season—with flowing skirts and dresses to balance romantic softness with sharper lines. Footwear included over-the-knee leather boots with interior shearling, evoking a subtle equestrian influence, and platform clogs that offered a nostalgic nod to the Seventies era when Karl Lagerfeld shaped the house's influential "Soft Look."
Colour Palette and Celebrity Front Row
Pink prevailed throughout the show, reinforcing its growing prominence across autumn/winter 2026 runways, while deeper tones like rich reds and royal purple added a grunge sensibility. Among the front-row attendees, Olivia Rodrigo arrived in a romantic Chloé look with a sheer ruffled camisole dress, Aimee Lou Wood channelled the grungy aesthetic in a black leather coat, and Brooke Shields chose a polished balloon-sleeved khaki coat ensemble.
By weaving Nineties grunge into Chloé's signature softness, Kamali presented a collection that felt both nostalgic and contemporary, reaffirming the brand's enduring commitment to feminine freedom and innovative design.
