Hermès SS26’s flirtacious take on equestian chic

As always, Hermès delivered a poised and pronounced womenswear collection. Creative director Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski is consistent in providing equestrian chic; however, this collection took on a more flirtatious and juvenile persona.

Mini skirts and figure-forming dresses streamlined down the runway, using the quilted technique used on horse rugs, giving each piece structure and stability without sacrificing femininity. The colours and tones were reminiscent of the Camargue in the south of France, where horses are used to herd bulls, and the sand banks transport you to a different time.

Corsets were everywhere! Harnessed, bound, and reimagined as both armour and ornament. There was a quiet sensuality in how they framed the body, a balance between discipline and play. Leather (the house’s most sacred medium, of course) was treated with an unexpected lightness.

There was also an undeniable sense of motion, as if the garments were meant not just for display but for movement, galloping, perhaps, or running wild. This, naturally, ties back to the Camargue. The silhouettes, though restrained, hinted at a sense of rebellion.

Nadège seems to be exploring what freedom looks like within the Hermès woman’s world, one that has always been ruled by precision. If her past collections spoke of quiet confidence, this one whispered of curiosity. It is made for the woman who dares to unbutton her collar and step into the light.