Balenciaga turns gyms into runways, Omar Apollo joins the Coach universe, and Apple Martin is the ultimate self-portrait girl: here’s everything you need to know from this week in fashion.
In Balenciaga’s Pre-Fall 2026 campaign, shot across domestic gyms and city backdrops, Pierpaolo Piccioli delivers his first major collaborations since joining the maison. Anchoring the moment are an official NBA collection, already available to purchase, which reimagines varsity staples with Balenciaga’s proportions, and a very elegant pairing with Manolo Blahnik on crystal-embellished slingbacks, styled, of course, with leggings and gowns too. From the trainers to the sportswear, every piece is designed for movement. The campaign also revives the popular tall riding helmet hat, first sensationalized by Nicolas Ghesquière in his Spring 2006 Balenciaga show, updated for a modern, kinetic wardrobe. Oversized tailoring, sculptural jerseys, and track silhouettes offer a fresh taste of Pierpaolo’s vision for the house, following his recent red carpet triumphs. A collection that has me seriously reconsidering running back to the treadmill in Manolos.
More fashion news from this week…
Apple Martin returns for Self‑Portrait
Photographed by Ryan McGinley and styled by Mel Ottenberg in upstate New York, Apple Martin headlines Self‑Portrait’s campaign for the second time, with a natural, confident ease, embodying romantic lace and chiffon silhouettes that underline the brand’s modern femininity, soft but assured.
Miu Miu showcases the beauty of ageing
Miu Miu’s Making of Old project showcases layered leather craftsmanship, hand‑sanded, washed, and brushed to develop patina and history, with this intricate process happening across shoes, bags, and outerwear, reinforcing the house’s love of vintage beauty.
Coach names Omar Apollo global ambassador
Coach names Mexican-American star Omar Apollo as its newest global ambassador, with the musician set to front watch, eyewear, and fragrance campaigns launching from February through spring 2026. Known for his genre-blurring sound and fearless self-expression, Apollo embodies the house’s “Courage to Be Real” ethos, joining Coach’s growing community of boundary-pushing creatives. His eyewear and watch campaigns debut next month, followed by a fragrance release in March soundtracked by the artist.
Everyone wants to kiss at Rick Owens x Moncler
Moncler and Rick Owens debut their first warm‑weather collaboration, inspired by Berlin’s brutalist landscapes and lush greenery. Juergen Teller’s candid campaign stars Owens and muse Michèle Lamy alongside Teller and creative partner Dovile Drizyte, emphasizing intimacy and sculptural performance.
Bottega Veneta goes back to Venice
Bottega Veneta’s new campaign under creative director Louise Trotter emphasizes craftsmanship, material, and movement with a subtle, refined visual language that highlights texture and tactile elegance, shot in Venice by Juergen Teller. The images allude to iconic cultural characters who lived and spent time in the city, notably Peggy Guggenheim and Truman Capote, highlighting the dimensions of the original Intrecciato, and evolution of iconic Bottega Veneta bags.
Dsquared2 taps Tom Bianchi for Pre–SS26
Dsquared2’s Pre–Spring/Summer 2026 collection channels Tom Bianchi’s Fire Island Polaroids from the 1970s and ’80s across T‑shirts, hoodies, swimwear, and statement accessories, celebrating community and liberation with vibrant graphics and motifs.
Jennifer Connelly stars in new Louis Vuitton Campaign
Jennifer Connelly stars in Louis Vuitton’s Spring–Summer 2026 Women’s campaign, shot by Cass Bird. Draped in lingerie‑inspired silhouettes and flowing drapery, she embodies Nicolas Ghesquière’s vision of intimacy, creativity, and feminine ease, complemented by new accessories like the Express bag, arriving in stores February 20.
