From the streets of Manhattan to the coastline of southern France, this season’s resort collections delivered a striking mix of glamour, craftsmanship, and destination-driven storytelling.
Resort fashion has evolved into far more than a preview of next season’s wardrobe. Today, these traveling runway presentations are immersive events where luxury houses merge fashion with art, celebrity culture, architecture, and travel. This season, some of the industry’s most influential brands transformed iconic locations into spectacular settings for their latest collections, offering audiences a sense of escapism while redefining modern luxury. From Louis Vuitton’s downtown-meets-uptown vision in New York to Chanel’s effortless seaside elegance, Resort 2026 proved that destination shows remain one of fashion’s most exciting traditions.
Louis Vuitton’s New York-Inspired Vision
For Cruise 2027, Louis Vuitton unveiled its collection at The Frick Collection on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The historic museum provided a sophisticated backdrop for one of the season’s most anticipated runway events, attracting stars such as Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett and Chloë Sevigny.
Creative director Nicolas Ghesquière explored the contrast between New York’s uptown elegance and downtown attitude, using that duality as the foundation of the collection. Denim emerged as a defining element, elevated through tailored silhouettes and structured designs that reflected a refined interpretation of American style.
Leather biker jackets, sporty influences, and boxing-inspired details were combined with sharp tailoring and luxurious eveningwear influenced by the opulence of the Gilded Age. The runway balanced rebellion with sophistication, creating a collection that felt both modern and nostalgic.
A standout feature of the show was its tribute to legendary artist Keith Haring. Inspired by Haring’s impact on street art and contemporary culture, Ghesquière integrated the artist’s iconic graphics into several looks after discovering that Haring had once customized a Louis Vuitton trunk. The collaboration brought a strong sense of individuality and creative freedom to the collection.
Dior’s Hollywood Fantasy
Meanwhile, Dior headed to Los Angeles for its Cruise 2026/2027 showcase at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Under the direction of Jonathan Anderson, the maison continued embracing a more experimental and theatrical identity.
The glamorous setting drew an audience that included Miley Cyrus, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sabrina Carpenter and Jisoo.
Anderson leaned into maximalism, reworking Dior’s signature silhouettes with distressed textures, oversized proportions, and glittering embellishments. Bouclé jackets appeared intentionally undone, denim featured dramatic chain-linked details, and sparkling accessories brought a sense of fantasy to nearly every look.
Hollywood’s golden era served as a key influence throughout the collection. Christian Dior famously dressed stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and Anderson expanded on that legacy by exploring fashion as escapism and dream-making. Artwork by Ed Ruscha added another creative layer to the runway.
Chanel’s Coastal Elegance
At Chanel, the mood shifted toward relaxed sophistication and seaside glamour. Creative director Matthieu Blazy unveiled his first cruise collection for the house in Biarritz, the coastal town where Gabrielle Chanel first opened a couture salon in 1915.
Inspired by memories of the Basque coast, Blazy created a collection centered around movement, freedom, and effortless style. The runway featured shimmering fish-scale dresses, oversized raffia silhouettes, striped swimwear-inspired pieces, and relaxed daywear that captured the spirit of summer dressing.
Accessories brought a playful energy to the collection, with oversized tote bags and sparkling shoes becoming standout elements throughout the show. Blazy successfully balanced Chanel’s heritage craftsmanship with a fresh and youthful perspective that continues to generate excitement around the maison.
