Fashion

Michael Rider was named Hedi Slimane’s successor earlier this year, debuting his first CELINE collection in Paris on July 6. His appointment acts as the perfect example of what a new creative director can do for a brand, resulting in dozens of overwhelmingly positive reviews online, just moments after the show.

Rider was a part of CELINE’s Phoebe Philo era, working under the lauded designer for a full decade as design director of ready-to-wear. As a result, expectations for his return to the brand were pretty high, but as it appears, he more than exceeded them.

Speaking about his return, Rider said, “Coming back to CELINE, and to Paris, back to 16 rue Vivienne in a changed world, has been incredibly emotional for me. And a complete joy. CELINE stands for quality, for timelessness and for style, ideals that are difficult to catch, and even harder to hold on to, to define, despite more and more talk about them out there.”

In regards to the collection, the designer explained: “We worked on translating them into a way of dressing – that attitude, or attitudes, that we feel describe who we are and what we stand for. I’ve always loved the idea of clothing that lives on, that becomes a part of the wearer’s life, that may capture a moment in time but also speaks to years and years of gestures and occasions and change, of the past, the present and the future, of memories, of usefulness and of fantasy, of life really.”

What followed was a series of playful looks, reimagining the brand’s signature design details and monogram through a refreshing new lens. Bright colors and exaggerated silhouettes were presented with a refined ease and elegance, pairing relaxed logo tees with pleated pants, cinched blazers with realms of gold chains and classic denim with contrasting shirts.

Offering a fusion between tailoring and tastemaking, the vibrant collection both evolves CELINE’S design language and honors it, injecting new tones and silhouettes, creating new statement pieces and reminding us just how fun fashion can be.

Take a glimpse at the new collection above.

In case you missed it, here’s what went down at Men’s Fashion Week SS26.