The MM6 Maison Margiela Spring/Summer 2026 collection unfolded on a white-painted Milanese sidewalk, with the pale yellow façade of a building serving as its stage. Guests gathered closely, as if watching neighbors pass by. This sense of proximity was reflected in the clothing, which appeared familiar yet slightly off-kilter — ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, charged with mischief.
Color punctuated the show. Barbie pink, turquoise, burnt orange, and lime green energized leather jackets, sharp camp shirts, and retro-style coats. These vibrant colors disrupted the neutral backdrop of Milan’s stone and cement buildings, reminding the audience that optimism can cut through a gray cityscape.
The design team described the collection as “heightened normality.” Garment bags became tunics. Jackets appeared to float, sleeveless. Trousers had tiny perforations, reminiscent of forgotten punch cards. The intention was to present daily life as a slightly distorted mirror, turning routine into spectacle.
Follow all the latest news from Fashionotography on Flipboard, or receive it directly in your inbox with Feeder.
You might also read
The menswear stood out in particular. Crisp trousers and papery shirts looked purposeful, and leather jackets conveyed rebellion. Shapeless loafers transformed into kitten-heeled mules hinted at playfulness and challenged traditional men’s style rules. This fashion appealed to the pragmatic and the restless alike.
References extended beyond clothing. Backstage mood boards featured photographs of Naples in the 1960s and portraits by Lisetta Carmi. Yet, nostalgia was avoided. Instead, the team embraced community – people crossing paths on sidewalks, passing one another without fanfare yet sharing the same air.
The show also marked the opening of a new MM6 store on nearby Via della Spiga. Walls made of painted books gave the space a tactile quality, reflecting the brand’s constant tension between refinement and disorder. The collection reflected that same tension, showcasing clothes that were beautiful, flawed, and alive.
Margiela has always played with perception, and here, the trick was subtle. The clothes didn’t demand to be understood. They only asked to be noticed, like one might glance twice at a stranger on the street.
