- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Paris Today
By the People, for the People
Designers Reveal the Meaning Behind Their First Runway Looks
From Gucci's sexy confidence to Prada's modern glamour, the opening looks of the Fall 2026 collections in Milan and Paris set the tone for the season.
Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:10am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
As designers presented their Fall 2026 runway collections in Milan and Paris, the first looks that opened each show held special significance. Designers explained the deeper meaning and creative vision behind their opening looks, which set the tone for the entire collection. From Gucci's celebration of self-expression to Prada's exploration of layering and complexity, these first runway moments defined the aesthetic and message of the next season in fashion.
Why it matters
The first look that opens a runway show is a crucial element that can crystallize a designer's creative vision and set the stage for the entire collection. These opening looks communicate something deeper about the brand's identity, values, and the mood the designer wants to convey for the upcoming season. Analyzing the meaning behind these first runway moments provides insight into the broader creative direction of fashion's top houses.
The details
Designers shared the inspiration and significance behind their Fall 2026 opening looks. At Gucci, Demna wanted to capture a "sexy and confident" spirit, encouraging models to "be themselves" and "exaggerate" their personalities. Prada's first look represented the "complexity of layering" and the "necessity of changing" to reflect different sentiments and lifestyles. Marni's opener harkened back to the brand's roots in a "particular" color palette, while Ferragamo drew from the heritage of seafaring to evoke "new beginnings." Vaquera's bride-like first look represented both the label's past conceptual nature and a shift towards the future.
- The Fall 2026 runway shows took place over the last four-plus weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
The players
Demna
The creative director of Gucci who presented his official runway debut for the brand, offering a "sexy and confident" aesthetic.
Miuccia Prada
The co-creative director of Prada who explored the "complexity of layering" and the "necessity of changing" in the brand's Fall 2026 collection.
Merryl Rogge
A representative for Marni who discussed how the brand's opening look harkened back to its "particular" roots in a specific color palette.
Maximilian Davis
The creative director of Ferragamo who drew inspiration from the heritage of seafaring and "new beginnings" for the brand's Fall 2026 collection.
Bryn Taubensee and Patric DiCaprio
The designers of Vaquera who used a bride-like first look to represent both the label's past conceptual nature and a shift towards the future.
What they’re saying
“It's not easy always, but feeling attractive, feeling seductive, it's part of being a human, it's something that I want to put out there as something that we need, especially in the world in which we live right now. The beauty and love we see in ourselves are an important part of the show. It can be read as sex appeal, but there is much more to that, and it's more about being good with yourself in general, not only your body.”
— Demna, Creative Director, Gucci
“It's the idea of the complexity of layering … complexity, which exists in sentiment, in politics, in life, and that reflects in clothes. It's about the necessity of changing for living all day. Different personalities, sentiments, sexualities, and this woman lives them together in a day or a life.”
— Miuccia Prada, Co-Creative Director, Prada
“In this collection, I'm sharing the story of my ancestors, the Azerbaijanis of Georgia, celebrating our centenary carpet-making traditions and their contributions to democracy and the independence of Muslim women in the Caucasus.”
— Galib Gassanoff, Designer, Institution
“Look one was our bride! Most collections end with a bride, and we thought, why not start with a bride and see what happens after the wedding? She represented both the past and future of Vaquera. The theatricality and strong conceptual nature of our early collections, and also an aesthetic shift towards our future.”
— Bryn Taubensee and Patric DiCaprio, Designers, Vaquera
“I chose Angelina to open the show most of all because she's authentically herself. She enjoys living her life, being with friends, she's bubbly, I feel she's the IM girl. This look captures that authenticity. The distressed Denim with embroidery, the fluffy silk washed bomber, it's about being cozy yet cool and chic.”
— Kim Bekker, Designer, Isabel Marant
The takeaway
The opening runway looks of the Fall 2026 season in Milan and Paris revealed the deeper creative visions of fashion's top houses. From Gucci's celebration of self-expression to Prada's exploration of complexity, these first moments set the tone for the season and provided insight into the evolving aesthetic and values driving the industry forward.
