As something of a maestro when it comes to setting colour trends, Pierpaolo Piccioli was expected to serve something special for his debut at Balenciaga. He did not disappoint, with a spring/summer 2026 collection that breathed new life into old house codes. Not least among these was his colour palette, which ranged from jewel-bright violet, scarlet and emerald to a creamy, almost whipped shade that lent multiple garments an air of sumptuousness.
Interestingly, this creamy note somewhat preempted Pantone’s Colour of the Year, which for 2026 is “Cloud Dancer.” Described as “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection,” this is a colour engineered to tune out the noise, acting, perhaps, as a balm to everyday life.
But, of course, what might be a succour to one person, enabling them to feel cool, calm and collected, could simply be, well, slightly boring to someone else, who perhaps feels invisible or even sad in stealth-wealth neutrals.
Prada spring/summer 2026.
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Balenciaga spring/summer 2026.
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Luckily, the spring/summer 2026 collections didn’t just cater to one school of thought but, instead, offered up multiple colour theories for contemplation. Prada’s show contained typically “off” gradations, including, but not limited to, canary yellow, lime green and turquoise blue. Naturally, they did the job of making certain garments – fluid knee-length skirts attached to a set of braces or, equally, knickers with a pair of pockets on either side – look even more outlandish (and brilliant, obviously).
Elsewhere, bold colour-blocking was interspersed with easy-to-wear shades like black, white and chocolate. This was very much present and correct at Alaïa, which debuted a spring/summer 2026 collection that was a typically sculptural affair, with colours as steal-stealing as the clothes themselves in fuchsia, mustard and teal.
