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Haute couture highlights from Paris, in photos

Paris opened its Spring/Summer 2026 haute couture season with theatrical runway moments and diverse designer visions.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Bare skin, fantasy and the machine: 3 takeaways from Paris’ starry couture week

PARIS (AP) — Demi Moore and Cynthia Erivo were among celebrities who took their seats in a sweltering university courtyard for the most anticipated show of Paris couture week: Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut for Balenciaga. In his first Balenciaga couture show — and the fashion house's biggest statement since it revived its haute couture line in 2020 — Piccioli sent out ballooning gowns and hooded feather cocoons on Wednesday, then closed with model Gigi Hadid engulfed in rooster feathers. For his bow, he walked out flanked by his entire atelier in white coats, to a standing ovation. The debut capped a four-day season ending Thursday that came down to three things: flesh, fantasy and the machine.
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