From New York’s iconic Upper East Side to the sunlit shores of Biarritz, this season’s resort collections celebrated fashion through spectacle, storytelling, and destination glamour.
Resort season has become one of fashion’s most exciting moments, with luxury houses transforming runway presentations into immersive cultural experiences. No longer confined to traditional fashion week venues, brands are choosing destinations that reflect the mood and identity of their collections, blending fashion with travel, celebrity, art, and architecture. This year, designers embraced that global spirit more than ever, presenting collections that captured the energy of New York, the fantasy of Hollywood, the elegance of the French coast, and the timeless sophistication of American luxury.
Louis Vuitton’s New York Contrast
For Cruise 2027, Louis Vuitton staged its latest runway presentation inside The Frick Collection in Manhattan. The museum’s grand interiors provided a striking backdrop for one of the season’s most anticipated events, attended by stars including Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett and Chloë Sevigny.
Creative director Nicolas Ghesquière used New York’s dual identity as the inspiration behind the collection, exploring the tension between uptown elegance and downtown edge. Denim became one of the runway’s defining elements, elevated through precise tailoring and sophisticated silhouettes that reimagined classic American style.
The collection merged leather biker jackets and athletic references with sharp ‘80s-inspired tailoring and eveningwear influenced by the opulence of the Gilded Age. The result felt polished yet rebellious, combining nostalgia with a futuristic perspective.
A major highlight of the show was its tribute to legendary artist Keith Haring. Inspired by Haring’s influence on street culture and contemporary art, Ghesquière incorporated the artist’s signature graphics throughout the collection after discovering that Haring had once customized a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk. The collaboration added a sense of creativity, individuality, and cultural depth to the runway.
Dior’s Hollywood-Inspired Spectacle
Meanwhile, Dior brought its Cruise 2026/2027 collection to Los Angeles, staging the presentation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Under creative director Jonathan Anderson, the maison continued to push its aesthetic in a bold and theatrical direction.
The front row reflected the glamour of Hollywood, with attendees including Miley Cyrus, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sabrina Carpenter and Jisoo.
Anderson embraced maximalism throughout the collection, reworking Dior’s classic codes with distressed fabrics, exaggerated silhouettes, and shimmering embellishments. Bouclé jackets appeared intentionally undone, denim featured oversized chain-linked details, and sparkling accessories brought a playful sense of drama to the runway.
Hollywood history also shaped the collection’s narrative. Christian Dior famously dressed screen icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and Anderson expanded on that cinematic legacy by exploring fashion as fantasy and escapism. Contributions from artist Ed Ruscha added another artistic dimension to the show.
Chanel’s Seaside Sophistication
At Chanel, the atmosphere shifted toward relaxed elegance and coastal ease. Creative director Matthieu Blazy unveiled his first cruise collection for the house in Biarritz, the seaside town where Gabrielle Chanel opened a couture salon in 1915.
Inspired by memories of the Basque coast, Blazy designed a collection centered around freedom, movement, and effortless glamour. Models wore shimmering fish-scale dresses, oversized raffia skirts, striped swimwear-inspired pieces, and relaxed silhouettes that captured the spirit of coastal dressing.
Accessories added a playful energy to the runway, with oversized tote bags and glittering footwear becoming standout details throughout the show. While honoring Chanel’s heritage craftsmanship, Blazy introduced a fresh perspective that continues to resonate with modern audiences.
