Pierpaolo Piccioli is just like us - he's also counting down to the April release of Euphoria, Season Three. So much so that for this collection Piccioli called in Euphoria creator Sam Levinson to collaborate with on this Autumn Winter 2026 collection, titled ClairObscur. Inside a dark, low-ceilinged show space, pillars were lit up with LED screens scenes from the upcoming season and to the tunes we already associate with the show.

Piccioli had been thinking of the tension between darkness and light, referencing the Renaissance technique of using light and shadow to define volume. Thinking about Cristobal Balenciaga's focus on the human form, Piccioli framed the face with collars and hoods; created super-steep heels that had a secret panel of leather in them to secure the foot and magic up a clever optical illusion; and suspended cocoon shapes for brightly coloured weightless coats were like flashes of hope in the darkness. Accessories included lighter versions of the Hourglass bag and slightly off-kilter brogues developed with J.M. Weston. There is also a new bag on the block: the George bag which comes with a new Balenciaga emblem.

I am deeply interested in people, in the narratives they carry, in the complex intertwining paths that shape their lives," said Piccioli. "This has always informed and shaped my work, my creative approach. I am drawn to fragility and imperfection, because that is where I recognise authenticity and beauty of life. This is why I chose Sam’s work on Euphoria to be part of the ClairObscur collection narrative: for its ability to convey a sense of our realities, through a prismatic representation of human fragilities and strengths. This show is a way of weaving stories together, leaving space to imagine a multitude of possibilities. It is about always finding the light in the darkness." We'll be sat for season three in a full Balenciaga look.

balenciaga.com