From the elegance of Manhattan to the sun-drenched shores of Biarritz, this season’s resort collections transformed destination runways into captivating celebrations of fashion, culture, and modern luxury.
Resort fashion has become much more than a seasonal offering. Today, these traveling runway shows are immersive experiences that blend fashion with art, celebrity, architecture, and travel, turning iconic locations into unforgettable stages for storytelling. This season, the world’s leading fashion houses embraced that vision completely, presenting collections across New York, Los Angeles, the French coast, and beyond. From Louis Vuitton’s urban-inspired glamour to Chanel’s seaside ease, Resort 2026 delivered a series of runway moments that felt cinematic, aspirational, and globally influential.
Louis Vuitton’s New York Contrast
For Cruise 2027, Louis Vuitton brought its latest collection to Manhattan’s Upper East Side, staging the show inside The Frick Collection. The historic museum became the backdrop for one of the most high-profile events of the season, attended by stars including Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett and Chloë Sevigny.
Creative director Nicolas Ghesquière centered the collection around the idea of New York’s dual personality — the collision between uptown sophistication and downtown rebellion. Denim became a recurring focus, elevated through sculpted tailoring and polished silhouettes that reflected an effortless American sensibility.
The runway mixed leather biker jackets and sporty influences with sharp tailoring inspired by the 1980s, while dramatic eveningwear referenced the extravagance of the Gilded Age. The result felt simultaneously refined and rebellious, balancing nostalgia with modernity.
Another defining element of the collection was Ghesquière’s tribute to legendary artist Keith Haring. Inspired by Haring’s influence on street culture and contemporary art, the designer incorporated the artist’s iconic graphics into several looks after discovering that Haring had once customized a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk. The collaboration brought an added sense of individuality and creative freedom to the runway.
Dior’s Hollywood Fantasy
On the West Coast, Dior unveiled its Cruise 2026/2027 collection in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Under the direction of Jonathan Anderson, the house continued exploring a more daring and experimental identity.
The show attracted a glamorous front row featuring Miley Cyrus, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sabrina Carpenter and Jisoo, reinforcing the cinematic atmosphere of the event.
Anderson embraced maximalism throughout the collection, reinventing Dior’s heritage codes with distressed textures, dramatic silhouettes, and statement accessories. Bouclé jackets appeared intentionally undone, denim featured oversized tears connected by chains, and sparkling embellishments covered accessories from sunglasses to handbags.
Hollywood references remained central to the collection’s narrative. Christian Dior famously dressed legendary actresses such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and Anderson expanded on that legacy by exploring fashion as escapism and fantasy. Contributions from artist Ed Ruscha added another artistic dimension to the collection’s bold visual language.
Chanel’s Coastal Elegance
At Chanel, the mood shifted toward relaxed sophistication and seaside glamour. Creative director Matthieu Blazy chose Biarritz for his first cruise presentation for the house, honoring the town where Gabrielle Chanel opened a couture salon in 1915.
Blazy drew inspiration from his childhood memories of the Basque coast, creating a collection infused with movement, freedom, and effortless elegance. Models wore shimmering fish-scale dresses, oversized raffia pieces, striped swimwear-inspired looks, and relaxed silhouettes designed for modern lifestyles.
Accessories added a playful yet luxurious touch, with oversized tote bags and sparkling footwear becoming standout elements on the runway. While maintaining Chanel’s signature craftsmanship, Blazy introduced a youthful energy that continues to resonate strongly with both longtime clients and a new generation of fashion enthusiasts.