Bottega Veneta & Dior Bring New Visions To The Runway In This Week's Top Fashion News

Summary

• Fashion houses like Bottega Veneta and Dior are entering new eras with debut collections from new creative directors, Louise Trotter and Jonathan Anderson.
• Kith, Carhartt, and Versace are expanding their physical and collaborative footprints with new stores and a notable partnership.
• A new exhibition in Paris, “The Codes,” honors the extensive career and legacy of the late Virgil Abloh.

Louise Trotter Debuts at Bottega Veneta With Visionary Milan Fashion Week Show

Louise Trotter’s inaugural collection for Bottega Veneta at Milan Fashion Week makes her notably, the only female creative director among major luxury fashion brands in this round of recent appointments. Fittingly for the Italian leather purveyor, Spring/Summer 2026 collection is a masterclass in texture and material, honoring the brand’s heritage of understated luxury while introducing fluid, fringe-focused dresses and tailored suiting. The collection features a rich color palette of deep earth tones, vibrant yellows, and deep reds. Trotter’s debut was well received, reflecting a confident and visionary step forward for the brand.

Jonathan Anderson Honors and Reinterprets Dior Archives for Spring/Summer 2026 Debut

Jonathan Anderson, the first sole Creative Director for all of Dior’s lines since Monsieur Dior himself, has made a powerful debut with his Spring/Summer 2026 womenswear collection at Paris Fashion Week. Anderson’s approach blends Dior’s historical archives with his own modern, disruptive style, reimagining iconic silhouettes like the Bar Jacket. The collection featured theatrical elements such as oversized bows and lampshade-style draping, alongside commercially-focused pieces like denim miniskirts. This debut, which received a standing ovation, successfully “decodes and recodes” the language of Dior for a new era.

Kith Opens Two-Story Flagship in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile

Kith has opened its new two-story flagship store in Chicago, located at 54 E Walton St. The store’s design, a collaboration between Ronnie Fieg and Ben Porto, features a striking Belatrix Stone façade. The first floor, dedicated to men’s collections, has a dark, intimate feel, while the second floor for women’s and kids’ items is brighter. The new location not only offers Kith’s collections but also includes a Kith Treats bar and a dedicated Kids’ Room. To celebrate the opening, Kith is releasing an exclusive in-store collection and the Ronnie Fieg for ASICS “World’s Fair” footwear collection.

Versace and Onitsuka Tiger Collaborate on Tai-Chi Loafer

Versace has unveiled its first-ever collaboration with a sneaker brand, Onitsuka Tiger. The cross-cultural partnership, which features a reworked version of the low-profile TAI-CHI model and a new collaborative loafer, was revealed during the presentation of Versace’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection at Milan Fashion Week. This collection also marked the debut of Dario Vitale as the brand’s new chief creative officer following Donatella’s departure from the role. The collaborative pieces, which blend Japanese and Italian craftsmanship, feature the Versace Medusa symbol alongside the Onitsuka Tiger stripes. The collection is set to be released Spring 2026.

Carhartt Opens First Store in New York City’s Flatiron District

Carhartt, a brand with a 136-year heritage, has opened its first store in Manhattan in the heart of the Flatiron District, strategically selecting the area with a dense concentration of the skilled tradespeople it serves. The new 5,000-square-foot store at 936 Broadway is the company’s 57th globally. The larger size allows for a broader product assortment, including an expanded selection of womenswear, which is a key growth area for the brand. To celebrate the opening, Carhartt is giving away custom NYC-branded K87 T-shirts, emphasizing its commitment to authenticity and durability.

Virgil Abloh’s “The Codes” Exhibition Opens at the Grand Palais in Paris

The “Virgil Abloh: The Codes” exhibition, the first major European exhibition solely dedicated to his work, is now open at the Grand Palais in Paris. The exhibit, which opened on what would have been Abloh’s 55th birthday, features an extensive, 20,000-object archive. The collection includes sketches, prototypes, and personal collections that chronicle nearly two decades of his creative career. This expanded edition highlights how Abloh’s “codes” are evident across all his solo and collaborative projects. The opening event was attended by notable visitors, including Louis Vuitton creative director, Pharrell, and Travis Scott.