In a world where “easy-to-wear” usually means “I threw on whatever was clean,” Guillaume Henry decided to shake things up a bit and remind us that fashion used to be something more than leggings and meme tees. His latest Patou Spring 2026 collection is a nostalgic bow to tradition, but with such a heavy dose of irony that even Jean Patou and Christian Lacroix might raise an eyebrow from the great beyond.
Henry masterfully mixes “easy” with “couture,” as if to say, “Yes, you can look like you just stepped out of a royal court, but don’t worry—no one will notice under that oversized chain-store coat.” Because subtlety is so overrated these days, and sequins plus embroidery are basically the only things reminding us haute couture once had class—even if most of us are still rocking casual home-office vibes.
The collection feels like a time travel adventure, but a little twisted — classic yet chaotically modern, perfectly mirroring the dizzying pace of our times. We get sequins so blinding they could cause temporary blindness, and silhouettes trying to balance comfort with sophistication, like trying to have breakfast for dinner — logical, but somehow off.
It’s as if Henry’s saying, “Yes, I adore tradition, but hey, I’m not a dusty museum exhibit.” And thank goodness for that—looking like a relic wouldn’t exactly help him stay relevant in 2026. Fashion should be fun, not a school uniform. Though I’m not sure everyone will get the joke — especially when they stare at this sparkling spectacle and think, “Really? This is everyday wear?”
Henry also seems to be testing whether anyone still remembers what true haute couture means. And while there’s a breezy lightness, it’s also a bit like watching Titanic as a musical — everyone knows it’s doomed, but it’s entertaining anyway.
And then there’s joy—because what else could you call a collection trying so hard to convince us that beneath all this glitz lies a genuine life-loving spirit? Except this “joy” sometimes looks like pretending not to notice the world’s growing obsession with tracksuits and sneakers. Patou is here to remind us fashion can be playful—just maybe for the brave, not the fans of comfy minimalism.
In short, Patou Spring 2026 is an elegant rollercoaster flashing between nostalgia and now. Guillaume Henry bets on contrasts: classic vs. casual, sparkle vs. comfort, seriousness vs… what exactly? Irony? Sarcasm? Or just the idea that fashion doesn’t have to take itself seriously to impress.
Photos courtesy of Patou
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