It perhaps may be too soon to say that CELINE artistic director Michael Rider has found his footing after only two runway shows. After all, the first push of his debut collection is a reimagining of the Phoebe Philo-era Luggage tote; Rider's debut won't fully drop in boutiques until mid-November. But the CELINE Summer 2026 runway show drove down the point that his CELINE is Parisian in essence with an effortless chic apparent across both womenswear and menswear.
In the collection notes, Rider considers the Summer 2026 collection as a continuation of the previous—"as if the July show never really ended. The women and men kept walking and the seasons changed." That decision made for a collection that not only felt cohesive as a new vision for CELINE, but also one that cemented a narrative that Rider intends to build and develop for seasons to come. It was a smart move, especially at a time where building consumer confidence while attracting new ones are paramount.
The fit: While plenty of style tropes continued from the Spring 2025 runway—silk scarves, for one—the CELINE Summer 2026 collection felt freer and more effortless. The menswear offerings skewed towards tailoring with oversized blazers and billowy shirts conveying a sense of lightness for the summer season. Nothing felt entirely too formal or aesthetically constrained as the styling was kept irreverent throughout—an effortless tucking of a rugby shirt into tailored trousers, the wide-leg trousers in white paired with white leather lace-ups worn sans socks, and a neckerchief tied rather haphazardly as part of an evening tux proposal.
The details: What felt intentional was the fact that you could possibly envision the Rider's CELINE man already down the streets in Paris. Many of the menswear looks were paired with CELINE-branded helmets perfect for cycling around the city, and the introduction of a new top-handle bucket bag for stuffing purchases during grocery runs.
Three exceptional looks: Look 10 and those delicious culottes; the interpretation of an oversized rugby shirt in silk as seen on look 23; and look 49's curious mix of elements that wouldn't have normally worked but definitely did.
The takeaway: Just chic; CELINE is chic again.
View the full CELINE Summer 2026 collection in the gallery below.
