As Fashion Month wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on the looks that truly resonated, not the fleeting trends, but the ones that fit seamlessly into a real, timeless wardrobe. At MERCER7, we’ve always championed effortless style that lasts beyond a season, and this month’s runways quietly echoed that same message.
It was less about excess and more about ease – pieces that move, layer, and work hard for you. Below are a few moments that stood out to me, and how you can reinterpret them through a capsule wardrobe lens:
Modern Tailoring
Relaxed blazers, wide-leg trousers, and clean lines were everywhere. A soft-shouldered jacket instantly elevates even the simplest jeans-and-tee combination.
Pops of Red (The Minimal Way)
A timeless palette doesn’t mean colourless. This season proved that a single accent can make an impact. Try a red knit or accessory paired with neutrals for a subtle statement.
Sporty Ease
The blend of functionality and style continues to thrive. Bomber jackets, structured leggings, and polished sneakers created a look that’s both modern and wearable.
Sheer Layers, Grounded in Simplicity
Light fabrics added depth without fuss. I love the idea of pairing something sheer and delicate with structured tailoring for balance and longevity.
Below are my takes on the shows I loved this season, as well as some of my looks from fashion month.
1. Bottega Veneta
Louise Trotter’s debut collection for Bottega Veneta marked a confident new chapter for the house, blending its renowned craftsmanship with a quietly modern sensibility. Intrecciato leather – long a signature of the brand – was reimagined in sculptural, almost architectural silhouettes, while delicate hand-applied strands of recycled fibreglass caught the light with an understated shimmer. Tailoring took centre stage, with oversized coats and sharply cut trousers offering structure, contrasted by fluid draped dresses and separates that moved with ease. The result was a collection that felt both deeply considered and refreshingly effortless – a sophisticated dialogue between heritage and contemporary design.
2. Ferragamo
Maximilian Davis’s collection for Ferragamo reinterprets the Roaring Twenties with modern flair. The collection features drop-waist dresses with lace inserts, sculptural tailoring, and reimagined zoot suits. Accessories include updated “Cage” pumps and the Hug bag in new materials.
3. Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham’s SS26 collection, titled Pure Girlhood, reimagines the coming-of-age wardrobe through a lens of refined nostalgia. Drawing inspiration from films like Romeo + Juliet and The Virgin Suicides, the collection features slip dresses, oversized plaid shirts, and softly structured tailoring. Accessories include the new Plie and Dolly bags, while footwear ranges from brogues to Cuban-heeled mules.
4. Elie Saab
Elie Saab’s SS26 collection blends his signature glamour with modern versatility. Minimalist co-ords meet sun-warmed bronze brocades, classic gowns shimmer with ombré fringes, and bold accessories, including lizard-print bags and statement belts, add a touch of playful chic. The collection celebrates a confident, modern woman moving seamlessly from day to night.
5. Alaïa
Pieter Mulier continues to refine his vision of sensual minimalism for Alaïa. This season, the focus was on purity and emotion – what he called “clothes that cry.” Architectural draping, body-conscious knits, and sculpted silhouettes flowed with quiet intensity, balancing tension and ease. Working with elemental materials like cotton, silk, and leather, Mulier explored forms that cocooned, stretched, and revealed the body with a sense of intimacy and restraint. The result felt both timeless and radical in its simplicity: confident, emotional, and unmistakably Alaïa.
6. Zimmerman
Zimmermann brought its signature romanticism, but with a sharper edge. Think lace and leather, soft florals paired with utility details. It felt fresh yet familiar, the kind of modern femininity that fits seamlessly into a real-life wardrobe when balanced with clean staples.
7. Saint Laurent
I always look forward to Saint Laurent. Under the Eiffel Tower’s glow, Anthony Vaccarello delivered a darkly elegant ode to ’80s Rive Gauche glamour. Oversized shoulders, sculpted tailoring, leather bombers, and dramatic bow blouses mingled with sheer nylon gowns – all in a palette of black, saffron, emerald and charcoal.
8. Celine
Michael Rider’s SS26 for Celine blends the house’s rich past with a fresh, personal vision. Slim silhouettes, relaxed tailoring, leather, and silk scarves nod to Slimane and Philo without rehashing either. Pops of color break up a core palette of black, white and neutrals; accessories, from chunky chains to stacked rings and scarves, give texture and edge.
9. Chanel
Matthieu Blazy’s debut at Chanel reimagines the house codes through a cosmic lens. Staged beneath a galaxy of suspended planets at the Grand Palais, the show set the tone for a bold new era. Blazy balanced structure and softness with cropped tweeds, fluid silks, and deconstructed tailoring that felt both grounded and otherworldly. Classic Chanel signatures were subtly reworked – jackets cropped high, skirts layered and airy, eveningwear lightened with celestial shimmer – redefining the brand’s timeless elegance with a sense of movement and modernity.
10. Burberry
Heritage reimagined for a new British era. Daniel Lee’s Burberry SS26 show was vibrant, joyful, and rooted: trenches, checks, outerwear revisited with brighter palettes, lighter materials, more daring shapes. The show at Perks Field (Kensington Palace grounds) felt symbolic – reviving the classic Burberry spirit in fresh light. Leather suits, sequined dresses, fringed coats – moments that nod to rock-and-roll attitude while staying unmistakably Burberry.
11. Givenchy
Sarah Burton’s Givenchy SS26 was a study in strength and softness. Tailoring was stripped back to reveal delicate lingerie elements, structured coats unraveled into fringe and sheer panels, and a restrained palette heightened the tension between power and vulnerability. It was a confident, refined evolution of Givenchy’s signature aesthetic.
12. Mugler
Miguel Castro Freitas’s debut at Mugler was a seductive collision of structure and fantasy. Sheer second-skin fabrics contrasted with sharply tailored suiting and sculpted leather, while feathers and jewellery details added theatrical tension. The iconic hourglass silhouette was reimagined with precision, balancing spectacle with control and setting a bold new tone for the house.
Karl Lagerfeld biker blazer, £429.00
Essentiel Antwerp studded knee-high boots, £780.00
As the shows come to a close, what stands out most isn’t the spectacle, but the subtle return to longevity. Designers seem to be embracing a slower kind of style, one that prioritises craftsmanship, comfort, and purpose. It’s a reminder that true elegance lies in the pieces we return to, season after season. At MERCER7, that’s always been our philosophy: effortless dressing that moves with you and lasts beyond the runway.
