The Week According to YUNG

Balenciaga’s Fall 2026 collection, titled Body and Being, marks Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first full articulation of the house’s evolving language, where the body is not styled but studied. The season unfolds through two distinct yet connected collaborations: Balenciaga x Manolo Blahnik footwear and a Balenciaga x NBA apparel capsule. Together, they reflect Piccioli’s belief in clothing as a site of movement, discipline, and identity.

Footwear created with Manolo Blahnik tempers Balenciaga’s architectural codes with precision and elegance, focusing on proportion and posture rather than spectacle. In parallel, their NBA collaboration channels the physicality of sport, translating basketball silhouettes into sculptural ready-to-wear rooted in awareness of the body. Oversized volumes, graphic placements, and athletic references feel intentional rather than nostalgic.

Rather than chasing provocation, Body and Being feels introspective, positioning Balenciaga as a house concerned with how clothes exist on real bodies, in real motion, today.

Moschino’s Tie Me bag returns for Spring Summer 2026 with a refreshed silhouette that signals evolution rather than reinvention. Retaining its signature knotted detail, the new iteration softens its structure, introducing elongated proportions and a more fluid form that aligns with contemporary dressing.

The updated shape reflects a quieter confidence, moving away from overt statements toward everyday versatility. Offered in a refined seasonal palette that includes classic black, warm neutrals, and lighter SS26 hues, the Tie Me bag feels designed to adapt across wardrobes rather than dominate them. Its appeal lies in balance: expressive yet wearable, distinctive yet understated.

As accessories continue to play a key role in defining brand identity, Moschino’s approach feels intentional and measured. The Tie Me bag’s latest chapter positions it as a long-term staple within the house’s accessories offering, proving that strong design codes can evolve gracefully without losing their character.

Armani Privé expands its Les Terres Précieuses collection with Oud Nacré, a fragrance that explores contrast through material and mood. Inspired by the luminous serenity of pearls meeting the darkness of oud, the scent presents a refined interpretation of one of perfumery’s most powerful notes.

Created by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, Oud Nacré introduces a mineral oud accord, softened and illuminated by Ambrox, saffron, and modern synthetic notes. The result is neither heavy nor austere, but controlled and radiant, allowing depth and light to coexist without overpowering one another. This is an oud designed for elegance rather than excess.

Housed in a pearl-inspired flacon, the fragrance visually echoes its olfactive concept. Oud Nacré feels aligned with Armani Privé’s restrained luxury ethos, offering a contemplative, modern take on sensuality that favours balance, texture, and quiet intensity over drama.

Bottega Veneta’s Summer 2026 campaign, shot by Juergen Teller in Venice, signals a poetic new chapter under Louise Trotter’s creative direction. Rooted in the house’s Veneto origins, the campaign moves through a series of intimate Venetian locations, from historic palazzi to public gardens, capturing the city as both stage and substance.

Teller’s raw, unfiltered lens contrasts with the collection’s precision, highlighting the tension between structure and emotion that defines Trotter’s debut vision. Daywear tailoring appears alongside opulent textures, echoing Venice’s duality of restraint and extravagance. References to cultural figures such as Peggy Guggenheim and Truman Capote subtly weave history into the present.

More than a backdrop, Venice becomes an active participant, its art, architecture, and atmosphere shaping the narrative. The campaign also spotlights the evolution of Bottega Veneta’s craftsmanship, from reinterpreted Intrecciato dimensions to refreshed icons, grounding innovation firmly in heritage.

Balenciaga’s limited-edition collaboration with the NBA extends the house’s exploration of the body into the realm of sport. Under Pierpaolo Piccioli, the capsule reflects basketball’s emphasis on discipline, movement, and collective spirit, aligning seamlessly with Balenciaga’s sculptural approach to dress.

Launched January 15, the collection spans ready-to-wear, footwear, and accessories for all genders. Familiar Balenciaga silhouettes are reworked through sportswear codes, using materials such as leather, nylon satin, Japanese denim, and regenerative cotton poplin. The palette draws from the NBA’s iconic tricolour of blue, red, and white, grounded by Balenciaga black.

Marked with the number 10, referencing the house’s historic Avenue George V address, the collaboration feels symbolic rather than logo-driven. It positions sport not as trend, but as a cultural system of values, shared rules, and embodied excellence.

Versace’s Spring Summer 2026 collection reframes power dressing through movement, fluidity, and confidence rather than rigidity. The season leans into the house’s heritage of bold femininity while softening silhouettes to reflect contemporary lifestyles. Structured tailoring appears reworked with lighter fabrics, while body-conscious cuts coexist with relaxed draping, creating a dialogue between control and ease.

Signature Versace elements are present but refined. Medusa motifs, metallic accents, and sharp lines are integrated with restraint, allowing the clothes to speak through proportion and attitude rather than excess. The palette moves between sun-warmed neutrals and saturated tones, reinforcing the idea of summer as both strength and sensuality.

Rather than nostalgia, SS26 feels like an evolution of Versace’s visual language. It celebrates self-assured dressing that adapts to the wearer, positioning the collection as an expression of modern empowerment grounded in confidence, clarity, and unmistakable identity.

Naïka’s Spring Summer 2026 collection continues the brand’s exploration of jewellery as an extension of daily life rather than a reserved occasion. Designed to move seamlessly from day to night, the collection focuses on clean lines, subtle detailing, and a sense of quiet individuality.

Lightweight forms and refined finishes define the season, with pieces that layer easily and feel intuitive on the body. Rather than dominating an outfit, Naïka’s designs complement it, encouraging personal styling and self-expression. The collection reflects a growing shift in fine jewellery towards versatility, where luxury is measured by wearability as much as craftsmanship.

SS26 positions Naïka within a new generation of jewellery brands that value emotional connection over spectacle. It is jewellery designed to be lived in, worn repeatedly, and incorporated into everyday rituals, reinforcing the idea that elegance can be subtle, personal, and enduring.

Chanel has unveiled the digital platform of its legendary Rouge Noir collection, a timeless diptych charged with allure and audacity, mystery and revelation. For over 30 years, this iconic two-toned composition has defied trends, asserting a bold character that transcends all limitations. And what a character it is—energy and flair flow through every stroke.

For the first time since its creation, Rouge Noir opens up through a candid interview, offering insight into its history, inspiration, and enduring appeal. The new platform brings the collection’s story to life digitally, allowing enthusiasts to explore its legacy, craftsmanship, and cultural resonance.

Discover the world of Chanel Rouge Noir and experience the intensity, elegance, and creativity that have made it an icon for generations.

REFY makes its first move into fragrance with the launch of its debut scent, extending the brand’s minimalist beauty philosophy into olfactive territory. Known for its streamlined approach to makeup, REFY applies the same sensibility to fragrance, prioritising balance, clarity, and modernity.

The scent is designed to feel intimate rather than overpowering, blending soft musks with warm and fresh notes that adapt naturally to the skin. It reflects the brand’s focus on effortless beauty, offering a fragrance that becomes part of the wearer’s presence rather than a statement in itself.

By entering fragrance, REFY reinforces its positioning as a lifestyle beauty brand rather than a category-specific player. The launch feels considered and aligned, offering a sensory extension of the brand’s core values while responding to growing consumer demand for personal, understated scents.

Coach brings its vision of self-expression into the digital realm with the launch of an open-access designer collection for The Sims 4, available globally to all players from January 13. Co-created for the platform, the drop introduces wearable pieces from Coach’s ready-to-wear line alongside its iconic Tabby and Brooklyn bags. A dedicated “Coach Trunk” adds a playful, interactive layer, allowing players to unlock mood-driven looks and experiment with identity through styling.

With a 25-year legacy as one of gaming’s most inclusive and creative communities, The Sims 4 offers a natural extension of Coach’s ethos. The collaboration invites players to weave fashion into their storytelling, using style as a tool for self-definition rather than aspiration alone.

“Coach has always believed that fashion is more than what you wear, it’s how you express who you are,” said Kimberly Wallengren, VP of Marketing, North America, at Coach. The launch underscores the brand’s growing focus on digital spaces as evolving canvases for creativity, connecting its heritage of storytelling with new generations shaping identity online.

GANNI and Barbour reunite for a Spring Summer 2026 collaboration that blends British outerwear heritage with GANNI’s playful, modern aesthetic. The capsule focuses on lightweight layers designed for transitional weather, merging Barbour’s technical expertise with GANNI’s distinctive sense of colour and proportion.

Classic Barbour silhouettes are reimagined through cropped cuts, softer structures, and refreshed palettes, giving utilitarian pieces a contemporary feel. The collaboration emphasises practicality without sacrificing expression, reflecting a shared commitment to functional fashion that remains visually engaging.

At a time when consumers increasingly seek longevity and versatility, GANNI x Barbour offers a balanced response. The collection highlights how heritage brands and modern labels can collaborate meaningfully, creating pieces that respect tradition while embracing evolution and individuality.

The EC1 sneakers arrive as part of McQueen’s Spring Summer 2026 Pre-collection, grounding the house’s modern language in a distinctly London sensibility. Named after EC1, the postcode that housed McQueen’s historic design studio and atelier, the sneaker carries a quiet sense of place and memory. Its design plays on tension and contrast, balancing softness with structure and heritage with movement. Retro-inflected colour palettes are paired with tactile materials, combining richly textured suede with technical nylon and a classic gum sole. The result is a silhouette that feels relaxed yet intentional, embodying an innate ease without losing its edge. Bold McQueen logo detailing anchors the design, lending graphic clarity to an otherwise understated form. The EC1 sneaker feels less about trend and more about continuity, offering a grounded, wearable expression of McQueen’s evolving identity and its ongoing dialogue between tradition and modernity.

Gentle Monster’s 2026 Bouquet Collection unfolds through a cinematic campaign co-directed by FKA twigs and Jordan Hemingway, merging visual storytelling with sculptural design. Inspired by the delicate yet resilient architecture of plant stems, the eyewear collection translates organic forms into looping, intertwined frames that feel both experimental and poetic. The campaign is set to an unreleased track by FKA twigs, revealed for the first time, reinforcing themes of growth, transformation, and movement. Frames range from refined interpretations of botanical structures to expressive statement pieces embellished with vivid beadwork, blurring the line between eyewear and wearable art. To mark the launch, Gentle Monster is introducing immersive pop-up spaces across six global cities. Designed to evoke the moment of full bloom, the installations feature towering floral forms, dramatic textures, and a central chrome sculpture, extending the collection’s surreal, sensory narrative into physical space.

La Bomba marks Carolina Herrera’s most significant fragrance launch since 2016, expanding the house’s scent universe with a bold, high-impact composition. Rooted in the spirit of its founder, La Bomba takes its name from the nickname given to Carolina Herrera by Diana Vreeland, capturing a legacy of unapologetic femininity and magnetic presence. Crafted by perfumers Christophe Raynaud, Quentin Bisch, and Louise Turner, the fragrance is a luminous fruity-floral designed to feel expressive rather than restrained. It opens with an unexpected note of pitaya, delivering a juicy, vibrant introduction, followed by a floral heart of cherry peony and frangipani. A warm vanilla base, extracted using traditional tincture methods, leaves a lasting, solar trail. Vegan and composed of 86 percent natural-origin ingredients, La Bomba is positioned as a statement of freedom, spontaneity, and self-expression, translating confidence into scent.

Jimmy Choo’s Spring 2026 women’s campaign, Les Fleurs, explores the tension between reality and fantasy through a visual dialogue of softness and strength. Shot by Quentin de Briey at London’s Barbican, the campaign places supersized floral forms against stark brutalist architecture, reinforcing the collection’s overarching theme, Future Feminine. Model Kiki Willems appears luminous within this raw setting, accompanied by a soundtrack inspired by Minnie Riperton’s Les Fleurs, lending emotional warmth and rhythm to the imagery. The campaign reflects Creative Director Sandra Choi’s vision of femininity as multifaceted and unpredictable, where delicacy can coexist with boldness. Key pieces include the SUNNY trainer and FAIZ pump in patterned lace, floral-accented slingbacks, and the return of the iconic BIKER boot. Trompe l’oeil denim prints and pastel accessories further challenge expectations, positioning femininity as fluid, expressive, and surprising.

For Spring 2026, Guerlain reimagines the cases of its iconic products through a circular collaboration with Nona Source, transforming upcycled denim into collectible beauty objects. Using deadstock denim sourced from couture house ateliers, the project gives new life to a material traditionally associated with high environmental cost. Rouge G lipstick cases are elevated through dyeing, embossing, embroidery, and gold screen printing, resulting in floral-inspired designs that reference the Maison’s enduring connection to nature. Ombres G eyeshadow is housed in a blue denim case adorned with metallic and matte shades that echo rivets, buttons, and blossoms, while Météorites Blooming Glow appears in a pink denim case introducing a new pastel harmony. The collection is completed by KissKiss Bee Glow Oil in two floral-inspired shades. Together, these pieces frame sustainability not as compromise, but as a source of creative renewal.

Art Cairo has announced details for its seventh edition, taking place from 22 to 26 January at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Held under the theme Arab. Art. Here, the fair positions Arabic language as a living cultural force shaping contemporary artistic expression, drawing inspiration from Mahmoud Darwish’s words on language as identity and power.

Returning to the Grand Egyptian Museum, now officially inaugurated, Art Cairo continues to situate contemporary Arab art within one of Egypt’s most significant cultural landmarks. The 2026 edition will pay tribute to Guirguis Lotfi, recognising his influence on generations of Egyptian artists.

The fair brings together galleries from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, the Gulf, and Europe, alongside institutional programmes developed in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Highlights include a solo museum presentation around Inji Efflatoun and the return of the Hiwar Programme, a series of discussions exploring artistic practice, markets, and cultural belonging across the region.

Egyptian masked artist TUL8TE opens 2026 with Seneen, a restrained and introspective single released via MDLBEAST Records. Following the chart-dominating success of El Hob Gany, the track marks a shift inward, favouring emotional weight over spectacle.

Built on minimal production, soft textures, and distant vocal effects, Seneen explores loss, longing, and emotional suspension. Written, produced, and composed entirely by TUL8TE, the song reflects a deeply personal period while remaining deliberately universal. The repeated word seneen “سنين” (years) takes on evolving meanings, from missing a lover to mourning fleeting moments and friendships.

The track’s subdued rhythm and organic studio-recorded claps ground the song in human presence, echoing influences from Mohamed Mounir and Ahmed Mounib. With Seneen, TUL8TE continues to redefine Arabic pop through vulnerability, restraint, and emotional honesty, hinting at a more introspective chapter ahead.

Rabanne expands its Invictus universe with the launch of Invictus Parfum, a deeper and more intense interpretation of the iconic fragrance. Known for its triumphant, high-energy identity, Invictus now explores a darker, more sensual masculinity.

The signature trophy bottle has been reimagined with a sharper V-shaped silhouette, gradient blue tones, and gold-finished details, marking a new visual era for the house. The fragrance opens with fresh lavender, pink pepper, and a marine haze, before revealing a heart built around myrtle, violet leaf, and an unexpected black soap accord. In the dry-down, cashmeran, smoky musk, and sandalwood bring warmth and depth, balancing freshness with animalic intensity.

Invictus Parfum presents a modern hero defined less by dominance and more by control, confidence, and complexity, signalling a more nuanced evolution of Rabanne’s masculine fragrance codes.

Chaumet will unveil a new interpretation of its Hortensia jewellery watch in February 2026, introducing a limited Middle East edition of 200 pieces. The new design features a radiant yellow gold dial engraved with sunray motifs, highlighting the Maison’s goldsmithing expertise.

The watch retains its signature hydrangea-inspired diamond-set bezel, with delicate floral volumes framing the dial. A contrast of yellow and white gold enhances depth and luminosity, reinforcing Hortensia’s status as both a timepiece and a jewellery icon.

Designed for versatility, the watch is offered with two interchangeable bracelets: a supple steel Milanese mesh for everyday wear and a navy brushed satin strap for evening occasions. Named after Hortense de Beauharnais, the piece reflects Chaumet’s enduring connection to nature, botany, and poetic femininity, reaffirming the Hortensia as a symbol of refined, expressive elegance.

And that was The Week According to YUNG.