Chloé’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection embraces spontaneity, intuition and free femininity, reaffirming the maison’s cool DNA and its mastery of impeccably cut trousers.
At Chloé, the rule for Pre-Fall 2026 is simple: there are no rules — at least, not the traditional ones. Creative director Chemena Kamali takes inspiration from the way the younger generation dresses inside the studio itself — unexpected mixes, intuitive layering, personal gestures — to shape a collection that celebrates impulse, freedom and individuality. The result feels familiar yet surprising, deeply rooted in the house’s fluid femininity and driven by an energy that refuses to justify itself.
At first glance, the combinations challenge classic logic: a robust rib-knit sweater cropped at the ribcage and finished with Guipure lace; socks worn with platform clogs in wood, suede and transparent polyurethane; or ruched peplums layered up — one attached to a lace camisole, another built into a leather belt — over generously voluminous trousers. And yet, the charm lies precisely in this tension. The collection works because it rests on the Chloé spirit, where grace and boldness coexist naturally.
The visual language draws heavily from the 1970s and 1980s, a declared obsession for Kamali, filtered through iconic portraits and cultural references that evoke strength and sensuality. There is no literal nostalgia here, only attitude. The designer resists over-formulating ideas, opting instead for pieces that feel instinctive — as if they have always belonged in the wardrobe, while still offering something new. Fashion, in this context, becomes an extension of personality rather than a costume.
The collection maintains a clear dialogue with the maison’s heritage codes. Romantic blouses return with renewed structure; leather jackets converse with the lightness of lingerie-inspired pieces; vaguely Victorian jackets appear with an heirloom quality; and floaty chiffon dresses move with ease. Everything feels grounded in reality, without losing its poetic edge.
Where Chloé truly reasserts its reputation is in trousers. Kamali proves that cool is often built on perfect fit. The lineup ranges from velvet stirrup pants and snug suede leggings to garment-dyed workwear trousers cut straight, sailor-style. For those seeking a stronger statement, high-waisted jeans explode into oversized legs, creating a broomstick-skirt effect — all volume, movement and character.
Kamali speaks of pieces you reach for instinctively, the kind you choose without thinking because they simply work. That sense of ease does not exclude playfulness. The collection is punctuated with impulse items that inject humour and lightness: a pendant shaped like an apple core, a clam-inspired ring with a hidden mirror inside, or a mini Marcie bag reduced to its most playful expression. Because yes — fashion is allowed to smile.
Pre-Fall 2026 does not aim to impose a single silhouette or dictate fixed combinations. Instead, it proposes an open language, where spontaneity leads and technique supports. Chloé once again positions itself as a symbol of modern femininity, sophisticated comfort and that rare — yet unmistakable — balance between freedom and coherence. In a landscape dominated by repeated formulas, Kamali bets on instinct, executed with precision. And it works.
