Jil Sander FW26 Embraces Laid-Back Minimalism
Slimming silhouettes and reducing details for a tailoring-forward collection, inspired by Anders Petersen’s photography.
Summary
- Simone Bellotti’s sophomore collection for Jil Sander pivots to “subtractive” minimalism, replacing oversized shapes with slim, simplified tailoring inspired by Anders Petersen’s photography.
- Focusing on wearability over virality, the range features relaxed, deconstructed silhouettes and curvilinear slits, reflecting a broader industry shift toward timeless, functional luxury.
For his sophomore collection for Jil Sander, creative director Simone Bellotti continues to draw inspiration from the brand’s Hamburg roots. This season, Bellotti cited photographs by Anders Petersen at Café Lehmitz as a core inspiration, updating the brand’s signature minimalism with the sense of ease conveyed by the photo series.
Continuing to direct the brand’s expression back to its modern, tailored foundations built by Jil Sander, the collection as a whole reads as remarkably simplified. No oversized silhouettes, electric hues, or bold graphics in this collection. Instead of adding, Bellotti effectively subtracts, keeping silhouettes slim fit without unnecessary embellishment or details.
However, the mood is not at all severe or sharp; instead, it’s relaxed and smooth. Shirt collars unevenly peek from outerwear, and jacket bodices flare out in the back, while dresses free the shoulders, some appearing to slide down, and skirts are left ajar with curvilinear slits.
The collection echoes the subdued tone set by Paris and Milan’s men’s weeks in January, where many critics drew comparisons to Depression-era tailoring. In many ways, luxury brands are dialing down on what they do best, focusing on wearability and the loyal consumer over short-lived virality. Simone Bellotti’s specialty, tailoring, has been central to this shift, making Jil Sander’s contributions particularly relevant to the moment.
See the gallery above for a full look at the Jil Sander FW26 collection and stay tuned to Hypebeast for the latest fashion industry insights.
