Leonard Paris transports fashion to an oasis of light, sun and idyllic landscapes with its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, entitled California.
The inspiration comes from places seemingly immune to time, where every image captures a moment of perfection and hope. Antonio Lopez and Slim Aarons have immortalised these mythical corners in Polaroids that now fuel Leonard Paris’ creativity.
Jerry Hall among Palm Springs palm trees, Slim Keith lounging on silk cushions, Tony Duquette hosting Hollywood’s elite: these portraits of Californian glamour form the heart of the collection. Light, climate and the landscapes of the American Sun Belt combine to create a stage where fashion becomes a visual narrative.
Silhouettes that flow with elegance
The silhouettes of Leonard Paris evoke the elegance of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Expertly draped dresses are mixed with sheer, poolside-inspired kaftans, capturing the essence of the Californian summer.
Contrast dominates the collection: exaggerated volumes against masculine suits reinterpreted in a feminine or preppy style. Each garment seems designed to move naturally, as if guided by California’s light itself.
Luxurious materials and textures
The collection plays with fabrics that combine delicacy and strength. Leonard Paris uses nearly transparent silk crepon, raw silk-style twill embroidered by hand with golden sequins and crystals, and cotton jacquard with cricket-club-inspired stripes.
Ultra-crunchy cotton poplin and cotton voile embroidered with pastel flowers reinforce the sensation of an eternal summer. Each texture not only dresses, but tells a story: of discreet luxury and effortless sophistication.
Colour palette and prints
Romantic shades recall sun-overexposed Polaroids: pale apricot, sorbet pink, with accents of sea green and sky blue. Fresher hues like acid green and lemon yellow add vitality, while touches of pomegranate red act as paintbrush splashes on a canvas.
Prints pay homage to California: palm trees mix with pop art icons, red and orange poppies evoke Antelope Valley fields, and water flowers are inspired by Tony Duquette’s exotic villa gardens. The combination of graphic and floral motifs brings modernity to a collection steeped in nostalgia.
A Californian heroine
The woman of Leonard Paris SS26 is a heroine seeking the perfect stage to live her dreams. She immerses herself in California’s atmosphere, enjoying every moment and reinterpreting elegance with ease and freedom.
Between flowing dresses, sheer kaftans and reimagined suits, Leonard Paris confirms its mastery in blending history, luxury and modernity. A collection that is not only worn, but experienced.
With California, Leonard Paris turns every step into a choreography of light and colour, celebrating glamour that is both timeless and contemporary.
