Valentino Garavani Remembered & Paris Fashion Week FW26 Arrives in This Week's Top Fashion News

Summary

• Legendary couturier Valentino Garavani passed away at age 93. Fashion houses Dior and Louboutin presented standout collections at Paris Fashion Week.
• Elsewhere,  Naomi Osaka debuted a high-fashion Nike number at the Australian Open.
• Saks Global secured $500M to restock luxury shelves, while Salomon appointed Heikki Salonen as its first creative director.

Legendary Couturier Valentino Garavani Has Died at Age 93

Valentino Garavani, the “last emperor” of fashion and founder of the iconic Italian house, passed away at his home in Rome on Monday at the age of 93. Renowned for defining la dolce vita and creating the signature “Valentino Red,” Garavani’s six-decade career saw him dress global icons ranging from Jacqueline Kennedy to Elizabeth Taylor. Although he retired from the runway in 2008, his influence on luxury and elegance remained immense. He will lie in state at his foundation’s headquarters before a funeral service at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri on Friday, January 23.

Jonathan Anderson’s Dior FW26 Collection Is a Poetic Collision of Heritage and Subversion

For his second menswear collection at Dior, Jonathan Anderson explored the concept of “aristo-youth” flâneurs, blending the House’s structural codes with the fluid opulence of Paul Poiret. The Fall/Winter 2026 line presented a joyful blurring of gender and formality, pairing shrunken Bar jackets and elongated tailcoats with long johns and lavallière shirts. Inspired by a chance encounter with a commemorative plaque for Poiret and the atmospheric energy of musician Mk.gee, the collection featured technical outerwear elevated by brocade capes and Donegal tweeds. Anderson’s vision emphasized personal eccentricity over traditional status, creating a “character study” that merged historical affluence with street-level restlessness.

Jaden Smith’s Christian Louboutin Debut Featured Far More Than Fancy Shoes

Jaden Smith unveiled his first collection as the men’s creative director for Christian Louboutin at Paris Fashion Week, delivering a surrealist vision for FW26. The rapper-turned-designer presented footwear that defied convention, including “melted” finishes, boots covered in long red hair, and tactical designs resembling astronaut gear. Beyond shoes, Smith introduced utilitarian accessories such as bags with labeled cargo pockets for specific items like keys and chargers. Citing inspiration from “The Lost Epochs Of Time” and cosmic themes, the collection was showcased alongside art installations and cinematic elements, marking a bold, avant-garde start to his tenure at the French maison.

Saks Global Secures $500 Million USD Liquidity Injection to Restock Luxury Shelves

Following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Saks Global has accessed an initial $500 million USD from a larger financing package to stabilize operations. This critical liquidity injection allows the luxury retailer—which includes Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman—to resume payments to brand partners and restock depleted shelves with fresh inventory. CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck aims to rebuild vendor trust and position the company for a more resilient future, with plans to emerge from bankruptcy by late 2026. The move is seen as a vital “down payment” to lure wary fashion brands back to the conglomerate’s aisles.

Salomon Names Heikki Salonen First Creative Director

In a major move toward the “sportstyle” market, Salomon has appointed Finnish designer Heikki Salonen as its first-ever creative director. Salonen, who spent 12 years at MM6 Maison Margiela, will oversee the brand’s entire soft goods category, including apparel and footwear. He is joined by studio director Laura Herbst to unify product design and brand storytelling from Salomon’s Annecy headquarters. The appointment signals Salomon’s evolution from a functional outdoor label to a culture-driven mountain sports lifestyle brand. With a focus on dissolving the lines between technical performance and urban fashion, Salonen’s remit is to maintain the brand’s current momentum in the fashion world. This shift comes as Salomon doubles down on creative hubs and elevated projects ahead of the 2026 Winter Games.

Naomi Osaka Debuts a Jellyfish-Inspired Nike x Robert Wun Kit at 2026 Australian Open

Naomi Osaka returned to the Australian Open in a stunning custom kit co-designed by Nike and couturier Robert Wun. For her first-round victory, the four-time Grand Slam champion wore a jellyfish-inspired ensemble featuring tiered palazzo pants, a turquoise tie-dye dress, and a zip-up jacket adorned with organic, wavy tendrils. The look was completed with a wide-brimmed hat and sheer veil, bringing high-fashion drama to the court. The outfit also included butterfly motifs, a sentimental nod to her 2021 Melbourne title run. Osaka described the collaboration as a fresh chapter that blurs the lines between elite athleticism and runway couture.