Karl Lagerfeld’s design director Hun Kim shaped a SS26 collection that married Parisian chic with a breezy spirit of escape. Presented in a lookbook format during Paris Fashion Week, the lineup was conceived as a wardrobe for Villa La Vigie, one of Lagerfeld’s storied homes on the Côte d’Azur, and carried the polished ease of a Mediterranean getaway.

The collection leaned into clean-lined tailoring and sculptural silhouettes, with strong-shouldered jackets and cinched waists forming the backbone. Kim’s fondness for geometric seaming—an inheritance from the late designer himself—gave the garments clarity and structure, ensuring they retained their sharp identity while still gesturing toward leisure. White shirts, a Lagerfeld signature, appeared refreshed with sculptural detailing, while versatile trousers and trim skirts underlined the practicality of the offering.

Prints inspired by palm trees, recalling the lush gardens of the Riviera, enlivened silk lounge suits and denim sets. These motifs balanced the otherwise understated palette, infusing the collection with a sense of place. Dresses, some softened with fluid fabrics, others defined by architectural lines, expanded the wardrobe’s versatility, oscillating between relaxed elegance and sharp sophistication.

The lookbook also underscored the brand’s contemporary positioning, with Paris Hilton styled in custom pieces for the season’s campaign and surrounding events. While clearly a marketing move, it highlighted the adaptability of the house’s aesthetic: garments that can slip between celebrity glamour and refined daywear without contradiction.

The Spring Summer 2026 collection stayed close to Lagerfeld’s codes—precision tailoring, monochrome contrasts, and Parisian refinement—while adding a gentle playfulness through Riviera references. Hun Kim’s work conveyed a brand in dialogue with its past yet alert to new audiences, offering a wardrobe both practical and aspirational. It may not have pushed boundaries dramatically, but in its restraint and clarity, it reaffirmed Karl Lagerfeld’s enduring place in the Paris fashion landscape.