So as I’m FINALLY sitting down to write this I have now been in Korea for ten days - which is crazy because where has that time gone! I’ll be here for seventy-five days, and aim to document the entire extravaganza for you!  Korean era is slaying so far However, do not fret. I will be sharing the details of my experience thus far - dirty details and all - right from the start. Which leads me to my first point perfectly… Packing & Travel.  I spent an exceptionally unnecessary amount of time packing, ‘perfecting’ what to bring, which of course ended up being a procrastination technique to avoid processing that I was leaving home for such a long period of time once again. Eventually I decided to just trust I had everything I would need - spoiler alert I obviously did, and when my long awaited departure time came I predictably had a full on panic attack, and ended up looking so distraught at airport security I was drug tested, searched, and questioned. You’d think I was being sent off to war. However the experience of saying goodbye for a long time is truly soul crushing so it’s a semi-valid reaction. I really pulled it together once I was through security and managed to settle in for the 13 hour flight. How on earth is that even legal? My legs felt like rocks by the time we landed and my eyes felt as if I’d been punched fourteen times over per eye from the amount of tears that had poured out of them. the flight had me feeling an overwhelming sense of sonder. But I was thirteen hours deep and felt somewhat optimistic about what Seoul may offer, so I hastily acquired a taxi and headed to the model apartment - also a new experience for me as I had my own solo apartment in Tokyo. Meeting Roomies!!! My first experience with a model apartment did not disappoint. It lived up to the stereotypes I'd heard, they really do only supply the bare necessities; a bed, one mug, a singular fork, and perhaps a pot and pan if you’re lucky. But it had character… and six other random girls from all over the world inside to welcome me. I quickly learnt I’d be sharing a room with the two English speaking girls, one Australian and one Canadian - a room of Commonwealth. Pun intended. After dumping my bags I tried to stay awake long enough to make a good impression with my new roommates, but the combination of jet lag, homesickness, and the sudden realisation that I was very far from home meant I quickly retreated into my shell and attempted to sleep. Before that, though, the conversation had taken an… interesting turn. Within minutes the girls had begun sharing their thoughts about the agents, some of which weren't positive. Hearing this mixed with the fact I was running on approximately zero hours of sleep, and the fact I'd never met said agents led to me thinking, 'What on earth have I got myself into?' I’d arrived on a Sunday, and Monday happened to be a public holiday for Samiljeol, which celebrates South Korea’s independence. Meaning I had two full days to sit, wait, overthink, and spiral slightly before meeting my Korean agents. Those two days were a strange blur of jet-lag naps, trips to a nearby Starbucks to panic call my mum, and a few oddly comforting conversations with the girls in the apartment. It felt like the world’s slowest countdown to the moment my actual modelling experience would begin. And when it finally did… well. Within about five minutes of meeting the agents, it became clear the truth sat somewhere in the middle. A few of the stories I’d heard had a grain of accuracy, others had clearly grown in the retelling, and the rest were probably just classic model-apartment mythology. The reality was they were very nice and seemed perfectly normal. Questionable driving habits aside - but honestly, after the emotional turmoil of my first 48 hours, I decided I could live with that. Into the swing of things: For anyone uneducated on this side of modelling, a casting is to a model what an audition is to an actor. So the more castings the better. Unbeknown to me, castings in Korea are actually quite different to Japan. While they felt familiar in the sense that you have no idea what’s going on and cannot understand a thing anyone is saying about you, they’re different in that there are usually no overlaps between agencies and they often turn out to be more like a fitting than a casting. castings!!! Which is brilliant, because it means a bigger success rate for booking jobs. The clients often already know who they want and just want to confirm in person that you suit what they envisioned. Turns out from that first day of castings I booked one of the jobs. Booked = Confirmed = Moneyyyyy… so as you can imagine I was overjoyed at my speedy rise to work. However, having only been in the country for two days I was still very homesick and ended the day crying on the phone to my Aunt in an E-Mart as my foreign card was declined and the ATM rejected me multiple times. You could safely say I was still in the adjustment period. Thankfully with each day it got a bit easier, as it inevitably does when living in a new country. You slowly find your favourite coffee shops, learn the location of your groceries along the aisles, and little by little the homesickness fades into a love for a new way of life. First Job in Korea: So Dinky… lols By Thursday I had my first job! Yay me. It was for a brand called So Dinky (so cutesy) and was from a casting a few days prior where a tiny little rat dog licked my toes… and yes, it also ended up at the job. Great.  As most ‘firsts’ are, it was a bit rocky to start with. I was told to wash my hair that morning… and was quickly told off for having wet hair. Makes sense. My posing was also rather rusty, however I got the hang of it within a few looks and the rest of the job flew by. There was one slightly moody makeup artist who seemed personally offended by the biological necessity of blinking while she worked on my face. But the rest of the team were lovely and remarkably energetic about my presence, which is always nice. The dog, however, remained chaotic. It had the vocal confidence of a Great Dane and the energy of a sugar-fuelled toddler, all while being deeply obsessed with feet for some reason. Someone show it feet-finder ASAP. One thing that surprised me about working in Korea is that models are accompanied to jobs by an agent who acts as a translator throughout the day. It’s actually quite a luxury, having someone guide you through the schedule and translate instructions, although it does take a moment to get used to the constant back-and-forth while you’re trying to focus on posing and lighting without understanding much. the website covered in my face! The job itself went well, but the day after came my first introduction to the modelling industry’s favourite pastime: bonding through bitching. The translator had shared a few observations with my roommate about my posing, which I found a little unprofessional. But modelling, like many creative industries, has a very chatty ecosystem. Information travels fast and everyone seems to know a little bit about everyone else. The atmosphere between models can sometimes reflect that too. A few of the girls jokingly commented that I’d be “stealing their jobs” after doing well at early castings - the kind of comment delivered with a smile, but with a tiny hint of competition underneath. Which, to be fair, is part of the job. Modelling is built on competition; it’s literally a room full of people being compared against each other. Normally I’m used to being on the less lucky side of that equation, so finding myself on a good streak for once is very nice and I will be taking full advantage of it!  One final note from this shoot: the food. Exceptional. It instantly reminded me of working in Japan, where the catering on set is somehow always incredible. You arrive for a lunch break and end up eating like you’ve wandered into a very good restaurant - a perk of the job I will never complain about. Weekend Antics: After a shorter week of castings because of the bank holiday we were all free for the weekend, so my roomies decided to show me around Myeongdong - an area in Seoul renowned for thrifting, shopping, eating, and everything in between. Because of this it is of course absurdly busy. The thrifting did not disappoint. As an avid shopper I will definitely be returning to one shop in particular… Root Vintage in Myeongdong is THE place to be if you want a bargain designer find. I was gobsmacked. I cannot wait for my best friend Aoife to arrive next week because not only is she my favourite person, she is also my much needed bad influence for shopping. We spent the rest of the day browsing this truly amazing wholesale store called Nyu Nyu - I literally haven’t shut up about it. I got the cutest red beanie because it is absolutely freezing here and it cost a whopping £2.50. Insanity. On Sunday I wanted to do something a bit more cultural, so me and Minna, one of my roomies, went to Bukchon Hanok Village - a historic part of Seoul still populated by traditional Korean buildings. As you can imagine it was quite picturesque. We wandered around for a while and found the cutest souvenirs - I’m always going to fall for a cute magnet or a perfectly coloured bookmark. On the way back we found a pizza place and they only had one table left… in the basement. We were absolutely lolling but it was actually quite cute and I wolfed it down immediately. I needed something Western in my system so badly. So that was the end of week one and I’m now headed into week two hoping it would be full of jobs… and knowing for a fact it would be packed with castings. We are SO back guys… and I missed you lots. With love, Mimi x Follow us on socials to stalk everything I'm doing and see it before the blog does! IG: @itswithlovemimi TikTok: @mimipiqua

Week 2 in Seoul has been utilised to its max capacity. I’ve been to many more castings, some good, some bad, and have somehow done a few more jobs all back to back! Feeling very much like Kate Moss.  Potentially that is an exaggeration but you get the gist, things are going well and I’m now truly settled into my new Korean life. I’ve located my local supermarket, found my favourite coffee shop, and actually like my roommates (high-key they are both hilarious).  I’ve acclimatised to the funky tasting water, the weird obsession with French culture (every other shop here is French named), and I’ve even grown accepting of the overwhelming amount of plastic surgery available here.  Not only that but I’m actually booked and busy! I mean not to toot my own horn or anything but what can I say? Koreans clearly love the pale, dirty blonde, underslept look that I’ve got about me. Just wait until Aoife arrives and then they’ve got a matching set.  A few casting anecdotes from the week for you:  (because this week was truly a treat from a hilarity point → )  On Monday a (different) dog licked my toes and then tried to bite my finger when I stroked it - very much in need of some anger management classes.  On Tuesday me and Parker went to a casting for a company called ‘Different Emotional Wearable Look’, and it was different, and emotional for sure! First of all they had us change in a broom cupboard together, and someone walked in halfway through while we were butt naked… but it didn’t stop there, when in their clothes i was asked to step inside the office to show the entire team and the ringleader looked up, took one look at me, and went, ‘OH NO!’ while aggressively shaking her head. So I’m thinking I may not have got that one. #humbled And the casting stories didn’t stop there on Tuesday because we also got driven basically to the North Korean border by our agent on the way to the last casting of the day. After driving for almost an hour we ended up on the outskirts of Seoul, in this picturesque town and we both were thinking this better have been worth the drive - spoiler alert it wasn’t.  They didn’t even look at me because it was clear they had requested only Parker. Great organisational skills! However they tried Parker in a few things and asked her to pose, while this was happening someone was doing some drilling above us and the noise from it was SO loud and off putting I actually almost died from holding in my laughter.  Wednesday we started off in such a Boujee part of Seoul, so I was just in full tourist mode staring in wonderment. The first casting was in THE most perfect office i’ve ever seen, it was a showroom x coffee shop downstairs and then an office x meeting space upstairs. The stylist was so cute I wanted to squish her, and then on the way out I attempted to buy a coffee from the shop and they ended up taking our orders and giving it for free! What cuties.  cheeky final image from job 1 Got slightly more humbling as the day went on as the following casting had me in a swimming costume - of which I was not well prepared for. Bear in mind the 3 other girls also got asked to change and they were fully covered. So that was... interesting, but I’m hopeful they liked me because it was super cute and I could do with a swimming costume for my interrail trip this summer #freebie? Oh my god and totally unrelated but I almost forgot… I managed to find a potato in the supermarket. That’s literally unheard of in Asia. I was audibly, visually, and physically gagged. I couldn't even process what I was seeing for a good two minutes. So I of course picked up a few. Just thought I’d share this seemingly meaningless detail with you because you definitely care.  Moving onto my jobs of the week…  Thursday 12th March: MODEST MOOD This job was actually so chilled, arguably too chilled because I kept being told I didn’t look relaxed enough. So much so that the stylist kept coming over to push in my sternum to make my shoulders hunch. I felt like the hunchback of Notre Dame for the day but at least the client was happy!  The hair and makeup was done by the stylist, and I started to slightly question her judgement when she wacked out a greige coloured lipstick and used it as contour, as well as making me look somehow slightly sunburnt and also somehow very pale - but again as long as they were happy that’s all that matters.  The first of 40 looks went not very well because apparently I naturally pose very feminine, bear in mind I was dressed in a floral skirt and lace top, however, they wanted me to pose more ‘cool’. So that I did, or perhaps not because again my sternum got a right old shove.  About two hours in we were a quarter done and the pace needed to quicken so I genuinely reached flow state, and started banging out poses left, right and centre - or as they’d say in the e-commerce world I now live in - front, 45° , side and back. We wrapped with about thirty-seconds to spare and I got an eye opening chat about Korean botox with my agent on the hour long drive home. What a day.  Friday 13th March: LENIL  Job number two of the week was eventful, funny, and beyond freezing. Korean weather is no joke and it is severely bipolar. The shoot was outside of the city, in a nearby smaller city called Seongnam, and of all places they had chosen a house that was actively being renovated… which meant there was of course no heating, water, or electricity. Because of this it was somehow colder within the house than it was outside! And what better weather than -2 to be shooting Springwear. I was frolicking (or moving like a very frozen, stiff human) in all kinds of skirts, dresses, shorts, sandals and flip flops and everything seemed to be made of linen which was just fabulous.  Aside from the fact I had to blow-dry my toes in between changing looks it was such a sweet day. The brand owners were a married couple and although they spoke no English we managed to have a brief conversation over lunch about their trip to London last November where apparently there was NO RAIN for their entire trip? Unheard of.  What made this job so lovely was how overjoyed they were by just my presence. There were 21 looks in total and the entire team were very happy with my continually improving poses to display them - as was my translator so she better not bitch about them this week!  We wrapped up on time and within 2 minutes we were out of there, and onto the hour long drive back into the city - not fun, but at least I get to see the city out of the window and as I did I started to have a little movie scene moment where I began feeling immensely grateful to be here and to be not only booked and busy but also be enjoying my time!  Extra-Curriculars: Weekend Antics  The weekend ended up very unplanned again but we managed to head to the famous DongMyo flea market today (Saturday 14th March) and it was eventful to say the least... I went hoping to find a cool vintage watch and possibly a bag if I was lucky - but ended up buying only one item at the very first stall we stumbled upon, a red Ralph Lauren bomber jacket that I bought from the sweetest Korean man (who loved us and gave us free rings!)  In comparison to the Tokyo flea market it was remarkably disorganised and I felt quite uncomfortable if I’m honest. The demographic was 99% Korean and we got treated one of two vastly contradictory ways. Either we were loved and admired - mainly by pervy men of course! Or we were VERY disliked, I’m talking being shoved, shouted at and spat at! WOW.  Now it is certainly a privilege but I have never experienced racism before so for me this was completely new. I felt humiliated and dehumanised the entire day, which obviously wasn’t nice, however I do now appreciate how racism can be so deep rooted into society and feel I will now be even more so aware of it within everyday society. Other than that we were also deeply disturbed by seeing a dead rodent of some kind in one of the vintage bags!!! I still feel dirty even describing it but basically to set the story for you we were walking down a side street full of stalls and came across a studded, leather, vintage bag - upon opening it I realised it was filled with a dead rodent. So I obviously screamed, threw it and ran away immediately. I’m typing this five hours later and I still feel semi-nauseous.  We thankfully stumbled upon Dongmyo shrine on the walk back to the main road and I managed to take some photos and take in something cultural after almost vomiting from the rat fiasco. (pics above!) The weeks are whizzing by, and I can’t even compute how I’m now moving into week 3! I’m slightly tired and still missing home, especially because this weekend is UK Mother’s Day so I’m upset I won’t be there for that but I’m so so so lucky and feeling very grateful for this experience.  Ok it’s getting soppy so I must stop. See you next Saturday… and of course IG eats first so follow us over there to see what I get up to in real time.  IG: @itswithlovemimi TikTok: @mimipiqua With love,  Mimi x

The one thing I hate about placements is how little you get to know about your own life. For example, this is week 3 in Seoul and I only narrowly know what I’m doing up until lunch time… brilliant for a person who thrives under structure and organisation.  Our schedules are consistently getting changed which means the maximum notice we get is 12 hours - which makes it quite difficult to plan what your next move is because of how crazily fast everything can change!  The weeks are filled with 5 days of castings (unless we are booked for a shoot). Now 5 days of castings of course means a whole lot of driving - and bad driving at that. Our agent Chloe is quite a menace on the roads, having nearly killed us all three times. I'm really clinging on in the backseat every day.  Castings:  This Monday dear Chloe took us to 6 castings and the second casting of the day was a surprise swimwear casting! These swimming costumes were SO extortionately tight that they were difficult to get on for me and Parker (who has THE most tinsy-tiny waist I've ever encountered) I mean if it isn’t fitting us, who is it fitting?  I had to jump to get it over my bum so Beyoncé I really do feel your pain now. I’m with you sis. But seriously, the designer was a man and this size ‘small’ was remarkably similar to that of a toddlers body shape - just saying.  The rest of the day was SO tame, other than the fact I had straightened my hair over the weekend and the agents saw it on Monday and made a request for me to have it straight for every casting moving forward… After being told my natural curls are lovely and so beautiful for weeks! Oh!  I of course haven’t listened to this straight hair praise and showed up to the first casting of Tuesday with a very voluminous abundance of waves on display. And what do you know… the client was obsessed with my hair - so I’m hoping Chloe is rethinking her comments. I also managed to have a 1-1 chat with the usually ominous head agent this week and she’s actually very chill, we spoke about her family and then I of course jumped the gun and asked her all kinds of questions about my work schedule and working as a duo with Aoife - to which she told me we already have several shoots lined up together!  After that ego boost, I treated myself to my first walk along the Han River which was incredibly beautiful and also totally bipolar with the weather. I layered up in a jumper and a coat and on the way back I was left in only a t-shirt. Thank god it’s heating up though because for a few weeks it was Baltic.  During this walk I ended up calling bestie Aoife for 2 hours - I meant to read a book but that quickly went out the window. She arrived this week and the reunion was everything and more!  The IG is about to be popping. Imagine being paid to have a two month sleepover, and play dress up with your best friend, not only do you get to wear cool clothes and laugh nonstop, you also get a free batch of professional pictures together. So jazzed about that. … THE BIG MOMENT  The much anticipated day arrived.. I picked up bestie from the bus and we ecstatically jumped up and down for about five minutes.  Although she’s been to Seoul before, it was surreal to see her here because I've acclimatised myself to this new way of life and it’s so strange to see someone from home in this new place! Introductions and unpacking over and done with we went out to dinner to debrief as soon as possible and it did not disappoint! We ordered THE most garlic-y pasta known to man, genuinely if a vampire walked within the continent of Asia they would’ve died immediately.  To have her here is so weird but more amazing than anything else. I had an intense moment of gratitude this morning when I woke up, realised she was above me (bunk beds), and then realised we are quite literally being paid to hang out and live together for 8 weeks! HOW INSANE IS THAT?!?!?!  I never expected to model, nor did I think I would be afforded these insane experiences with it so to have made this friendship through modelling and to now be in Seoul together three years later - is genuinely ridiculous. It’s incomprehensible to me, but I am beyond grateful nonetheless.  The rest of the week was spent watching previous job images release across instagram pages and websites as well as frolicking around in the casting car to a multitude more castings. None of which had anything interesting to report other than the fact Aoife and me kept making eye contact with each other and having to quickly lock in. The entire thing has now become a try-not-to-laugh challenge! Another point - I haven’t worked any jobs this week. Which usually I would question but I actually feel quite calm. Work fluctuates for models and you can go one week from making a few thousand or even more to the next week making absolutely nothing! This week is one of the latter for me unfortunately but it’s picking up yet again and is entirely dependent on the client's vision and how the castings have gone!  First night out in Seoul !! So… we went out last night (Friday) and boy is there a lot to tell. First of all every single person in the entire vicinity of South Korea seems to be bisexual, and crazily sexually driven. Why was every single person making out with each other? The fact I don’t drink obviously made me more aware of this but I’ve been to clubs before and I’ve never seen so much within a small space of time - praying no one contracts an STD because it’s highly likely.  The night started in a little bar, where a bucket of Long Island something or other was shared. It was an interesting set up, there was a dance floor filled with some 5’2 American cowboys, who later we got into a political debate with as one of them claimed he was, “Proud to be a racist” - I ACTUALLY CHOKED ON MY SALIVA. Why on earth would you admit to be a racist, and second of all, why would you ever be proud of it. Trump supporters make me want to die.  Thankfully, we moved onto the next location of the night and located some of the models from other agencies, however immediately I missed Japan because why was every single model there not serving model - everyone was your average Joe - I hope that’s not how some people view me. Our Big Itaewon night out! We ended up at this place called Danco in Itaewon which is supposedly notoriously known to bring in models … and a time was had. You just have to say, “I’m a model” and they bring you straight in and give you bottles upon bottles of free drinks. We danced for hours and made friends with a big group of Korean gals who were SO fun!  Everything was very demure until I looked at the tables and all the bottles were suddenly empty! I won’t detail the happenings of others around me because that’s not mine to tell, but let’s just say it got provocative.  After a few hours every other model in Seoul decided to come in as well - and the selection of male models was severely disappointing - such a shame. The thing that really sent us home was the fact that this larger group of models randomly didn’t like that we were there (even though we were there first!) so they told the security we had stolen from them and to kick us out!! WILD ACCUSATIONS.  me and my girls So we voluntarily left because by this point everyone was properly white girl wasted, and I was rounding up the troops into a taxi. A taxi which then scammed us because as previously discussed, white people are very much racially prejudiced against.  When in Seoul I guess…  This week was both amazing and quite emotionally taxing, however I am beyond happy to be with Aoife and the entire apartment is very much more bonded after last night. I honestly love our little roommate relationship. It’s such a wholesome and unique experience to be a model on placement and no one else within your everyday life can relate to the experiences because for the most part they are absurdly niche - so you bond in an incomparable way.  Manifesting a booked and busy coming week and of course you’ll be the first to hear about it.  - follow along on socials because of course the IG eats first!  IG: @itswithlovemimi TikTok: @mimipiqua  With love,  Mimi x

After presenting an exceptional haute couture lineup, the anticipation surrounding Blazy’s ready to wear offering reached a new level. Creating even a single collection of that calibre requires immense technical ability, imagination, and attention to detail, yet it is not unusual to see designers follow a dramatic, almost dreamlike showcase with something far less compelling. Fortunately, Matthieu Blazy has a clear sense of his creative direction and the skill to execute it, thus steadily shaping a version of Chanel that feels distinctly his own.  In a week when Timothée Chalamet made dismissive remarks about ballet and opera, another French creative stepped forward in quiet appreciation of those art forms. Blazy unveiled his Autumn Winter during Paris Fashion Week, opening the show to a mix of Gaga’s “Just Dance” layered with excerpts from Billy Elliot.  Subtle references to ballet ran quietly through the collection. Hair was pulled tightly back into precise, performance-ready buns by hairstylist Duffy, echoing the discipline of the studio. Meanwhile, tweed garments were reshaped to resemble off-duty athletic wear, blurring the line between rehearsal and everyday life. Still, the collection stopped short of leaning into full ballet tropes, avoiding anything overtly literal like tutus or ballet pumps.  Even those less drawn to Blazy’s aesthetic can recognise the care involved in his process. His work reflects a deep engagement with the house’s past and a clear intention to respect its legacy, even if not every outcome aligns with the majority’s personal taste.  At Paris Fashion Week, where symbolism often drives the narrative, Blazy has leaned into the idea of reinvention. Since stepping into his role at Chanel, he has approached the house with curiosity rather than caution. The invitation itself, a miniature metal tape measure worn as a pendant, hinted at a process of rebuilding. His deep dive into the archives is more than surface level.   Speaking on Matthieu Blazy, the Chanel President, Bruno Pavlovsky remarked, “What has surprised me the most is the depth of his research. With Karl [Lagerfeld], you didn’t know if the storytelling was true or not. That is not at all a criticism - after 30 years here, he had that freedom - but Matthieu is starting again at the roots.”  Emerging, is a dialogue between past and present, as Blazy reshapes Gabrielle Chanel’s vision into something distinctly his own, balancing heritage with reinterpretation.   “Fashion is both caterpillar and butterfly. Be a caterpillar by day and a butterfly by night. There is nothing more comfortable than a caterpillar and nothing more made for love than a butterfly. We need dresses that crawl and dresses that fly. The butterfly doesn’t go to the market, and the caterpillar doesn’t go to the ball.”    - Gabrielle Chanel    “Chanel is a paradox. Chanel is function, Chanel is fiction. Chanel is sensible, Chanel is seductive. Chanel is day, Chanel is night. It represents the freedom to choose between the caterpillar and the butterfly whenever you want. I wish to create a canvas for women to be unapologetically who they are and who they want to be.”    - Matthieu Blazy   That sense of rediscovery has translated into real demand, with boutiques across the city drawing consistent crowds throughout the week. A simple embroidered cotton shirt is selling at €3,900, while new handbags are restricted to one per customer, reportedly to discourage resale at inflated prices. Whether that strategy achieves its aim remains open to debate. our fave looks from Chanel AW26 Limiting availability can just as easily heighten desirability and push values higher. Blazy’s broader aim seems to be restoring a certain aura associated with earlier eras of the house, reconnecting with its origins and reestablishing a sense of rarity. Compared to the tenures of Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, his direction feels more exploratory, with an energy that recalls a younger brand still defining itself. The collection returns once again to the signature Chanel jacket, this time treating it as a starting point rather than a fixed icon. Blazy reshapes it through a range of materials, from knits to tweeds, alongside fabrics threaded with synthetic fibres and subtle shimmer. The result expands its versatility without losing its identity. There is also a growing presence of looks that feel less tied to traditional ideas of gender, reflecting a more fluid approach that aligns with how Gabrielle Chanel originally borrowed from practical, working wardrobes to redefine women’s clothing.  As the show unfolded, the mood became noticeably more relaxed and playful. The rigid, structured Chanel suit gave way to styling that felt lived-in and current. Pieces were layered with an ease that suggested real wearability, with shirts left open and slightly undone over soft knits. A hint of 1920s influence appeared in a series of flapper-inspired dresses. Meanwhile suits carried an expressive, almost spontaneous energy, resulting in a collection that felt vibrant and full of movement.  If last season established a foundation, this collection feels like the next phase taking shape. Even the setting reinforced that idea, with construction cranes surrounding the Petit Palais, suggesting that the house of Chanel is in the midst of transformation - actively being rebuilt for a new era.  Written by Philipia Hatziandreou Edited by Mimi Piqua

Paris Fashion Week March 2026: The Only Cheat Sheet You Need Paris. The big fish, the blueprint – the main event. By now we’ve seen all what New York, London, and Milan had to offer for this season and while they definitely supplied some 'wow' factor and newness, it is undoubtedly Paris that always comes out on top. Starting later today Paris takes centre stage to allow the largest fashion houses to share their latest and for fashion lovers from all around to stare in wonder! Paris is what we wait for the entirety of fashion month, the pinnacle of excellence... age-old heritage houses, the intellectual designers, the shows that don’t just influence trends but define fashion history for many years to come!  It’s also the longest, densest, and most overwhelming schedule of the entire month. It stresses me so I’m here to supply you with your calm, curated, no‑stress Paris Fashion Week guide… what’s on, when to watch, and why it matters.  The Vibe This Season Paris AW/26 is about authority, artistry, and long-term impact. This comes from both heritage houses but also fresh faced talent! So ... I’ve split it down for you into three colour-coded categories:  Up-and-Comers Debuting Designers Must-See Shows (The final word of fashion month) You don’t need to watch everything… so I’ve researched and narrowed down for you! This is what matters.   Day-by-Day: What’s Worth Watching Monday 2 March – Opening Day IFM Master of Arts - 2:30 PM -   A look at the future of fashion through Paris’s most prestigious fashion institution. CO - 3:30 - 6:30 PM - Conceptual presentation blending fashion, art, and intellectual design. Weinsanto - 4 PM -   Bold, theatrical silhouettes with a strong Parisian edge. Kimhēkim - 5:30 - 8 PM  -  Structural, gender-fluid fashion with architectural precision. Julie Kegels - 6PM - Playful, wearable experimentation from an emerging voice. Hodakova - 7 PM -   Sustainable, deconstructed luxury with conceptual depth. Tuesday 3 March Ganni - 10 - 6 PM - Playful Scandi cool with commercial relevance. Marie Adam-Leenaerdt - 11:30 AM - Sharp tailoring and intellectual minimalism coming from an up-and-comer in the industry! Mame Kurogouchi - 1 PM - Precision, texture, and Japanese craftsmanship. Christian Dior - 2:30 PM - One of the most influential shows of the week, month, and if not, year! Anderson has such an impeccable take on Dior and no collection has let down as of yet. I'm expecting aesthetics of course, but above all else a strong meaning and direction. This is always a temperature-check show - what Dior does will quietly ripple across womenswear for seasons to come. Pressiat - 4:30 - 7 PM - Dark glamour and sculptural silhouettes. ALAINPAUL - 6 PM - Clean, modern tailoring with a contemporary Parisian sensibility. Saint Laurent - 8 PM - After last seasons INSANE show in front of the eiffel tower I have no idea how Anthony Vaccarello will outdo himself! Strong shoulders, precise tailoring, and unapologetic attitude... it never gets old because it is simply YSL! AW26 will likely build on this momentum, reinforcing Saint Laurent’s position as one of Paris’s most culturally dominant houses. Wednesday 4 March Courrèges - 10:30 AM -  Futuristic Paris minimalism with strong visual identity. The Row - 12 PM - Quiet luxury at its purest. Always influential. Balmain - 1:30 PM - High-glamour power dressing with dramatic flair coming from new crearive director Antonin Tron! Excited to see what he does with this iconic maison. Dries Van Noten - 3 PM - Colour, print, and poetic storytelling. Stella McCartney - 4 PM - Building on last season’s balance of sustainability and modern tailoring, Stella McCartney’s AW26 should refine on these ideas and define responsible luxury fashion, proving the importance of environmental ethics within the industry. Acne Studios 5:30 PM - Scandinavian cool with experimental P aris polish as per usual! Excited for Acne. Tom Ford - 7 PM - Sleek sensuality and brand-defining glamour. Alaïa - 9 PM - Presenting Pieter Mulier's last collection for the house after he announced his departure from the Maison! He will be missed so this show is a MUST WATCH! Thursday 5 March Chloé - 10 AM - Following on from last season the focus on bohemian-chic is something Chloé is renowned for but after it's virality last year the potential is insane! I'm expecting feminine chic, bohemian vibes and of course Parisian romance. Off-White™ - 11:30 AM - Streetwear luxury with cultural influence. Carven - 12:30 PM - Modern Paris tailoring with wearable appeal. Rabanne - 2 PM - Metallics, futurism, and modern glamour. Uma Wang - 3 PM - Quiet, poetic fashion with artisanal depth. Cecilie Bahnsen - 4 PM - Romantic volume and modern femininity coming from an up-and-coming house with lots of potential! Schiaparelli - 5:30 PM - Daniel Roseberry has quite literally never disappointed me. So i'm expecting his usual surrealism, wearable couture, and overtly dramatic fashion theatre. Counting down the minutes to this one! The balance he has between art and fashion is beyond impressive. Mossi - 6 - 8:30 PM - Experimental luxury and modern craftsmanship. Rick Owens - 6:30 PM - Dark, brutalist fashion with cult influence. Isabel Marant - 8 P M - Effortless Parisian cool that never tries too hard, AW26 I'm hopeful for cozy, layered knits, sleek boots and a continuation on what they do best... boho. Friday 6 March Mugler - 10 AM - Body-conscious glamour and sharp silhouettes. Loewe - 11:30 AM - After pushing craft and sculptural experimentation last season, Loewe remains one of Paris’s most intellectually influential houses and with Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez now at the helm it can only get better and better! Ruohan - 12:30 - 3 PM - Soft tailoring and refined elegance. Issey Miyake - 1 PM - Innovation, movement, and fabric technology. Lanvin - 3:30 PM - Parisian heritage reinterpreted. Nina Ricci - 4:30 PM - Soft glamour and modern elegance. Givenchy - 5:30 PM - Refined luxury with strong brand heritage. Yohji Yamamoto - 7 PM - Intellectual fashion with emotional depth. Victoria Beckham - 8 PM - After her last collection refined the brand’s signature sharp tailoring and understated sensuality, Victoria Beckham’s AW26 show will be one to watch for its continued evolution into confident, modern Parisian elegance + the family drama of course!  Saturday 7 March Celine - 12 PM - One of the most watched shows of the season - for me atleast! I am a Celine girl through and through. Noir Kei Ninomiya - 1 PM - Sculptural fashion as wearable art. Hermès - 2:30 PM - Timeless luxury and craftsmanship. Vivienne Westwood - 3:30 PM - Punk heritage and political fashion as per I hope. MAXHOSA AFRICA - 4-6:30 PM - Cultural storytelling through knitwear. Elie Saab - 4:30 PM - Elie Saab always supplies THE wow factor for red-carpet dresses, events, and even bridal. Uber-feminitiy and the upmost glamour ooze from every inch of this show. One of my faves for sure. Comme des Garçons - 5:30 PM - Conceptual fashion at its most radical. Balenciaga - 8 PM - One of the most polarising and discussed shows of the week. Sunday 8 March Margaret Howell - 10:30 - 1 PM - Quiet British tailoring in Paris. Paloma Wool - 11 - 1:30 PM - Artistic, wearable fashion with a cult following. Lacoste - 12:30 PM - Sport-luxe with Parisian polish. Akris - 2 PM - Precision tailoring and understated luxury. Niccolò Pasqualetti - 3 PM - Emerging designer with strong craft focus. Jean Paul Gaultier - 4:30 PM - Always theatrical and emotionally charged. Ottolinger - 6:30 PM - Deconstructed, experimental fashion. McQueen - 8 PM - Always darkly romantic but impeccably structured... I can imagine AW26 leaning into moodier textures and dramatic tailoring with that signature McQueen edge. Monday 9 March Zimmermann - 10 AM - Romantic femininity with global appeal. Gabriela Hearst  - 1 PM - Sustainable luxury with artisanal focus. Abra  - 4-6:30 PM - Experimental silhouettes and youthful energy. Chanel - 7 PM - If we are being real PFW ends after this show, nothing can top it! Matthieu Blazy has not dissapointed thus far an d following his haute couture collection rooted in tweed, proportion, and cinematic staging, this show will continue to define Parisian luxury - for ready-to-wear! Tuesday 10 March - Closing Day Louis Vuitton - 12 PM - A global spectacle and one of the most influential shows of fashion mo nth. Usually quite inventive, especially in recent years so I'm expecting more sleek luxury with clever nods to tech, inventive outerwear and maybe a statement leather. Miu Miu - 2 PM - Youthful, trend-setting, and endlessly copied, because who doesn't want to copy the best in the gam e! AW26 I'm thinking will be quirky, whimisical, playful, and endlessly feminine. Miu Miu is perfect for those who want fun with a little edge - of which I am one! Litkovska - 5 PM - Minimalist elegance with a twist, this Ukrainian brand host their first official runway at PFW. Situationist - 6 PM - This Georgian brand are having their big break! Showing their first runway show in the official calendar. Pierre Cardin - 7 PM - Futuristic heritage and legacy design. If You’re Short on Time… Prioritise These 5 Christian Dior  Saint Laurent  Schiaparelli  Loewe Chanel  That sounds like the perfect mix of experimental jaw-dropping artistry , sculptural design and full-on production shows.  Full PDF for Paris Fashion Week Schedule: LINK HERE How to Use This Cheat Sheet New to Paris? Start with the Must-See list. Trend-spotting? Watch Up-and-Comers first - they will grow the fastest. Industry-focused? Track the Debuts for long-term shifts. Final Thoughts Paris Fashion Week is the conclusion that defines everything before it. Less chaos than London, less commercial pressure than Milan, and more ‘WOW’ big names than any other city. If I had my own Maison and I wasn't at Paris Fashion Week I know I’d be aspiring towards it!  Use this guide as your master map. Watch what excites you, skip what doesn’t. Paris doesn’t require you to watch everything, whatever calls to you watch that! Over the week, I’ll be breaking down the most important collections, key trends, silhouettes, colours, and moments shaping AW26 (although I’ve just moved to Korea so jet-lag is kicking my butt. Pray for me lol)  With love, Mimi x Stay up to date with me while I'm in Korea! (and of course reporting all things fashion) -

If you are reading this it means I’m currently on a 15 hour flight to Seoul, South Korea! Over the past few months I’ve dropped it into a few captions, a few posts etc but for those of you who are new here… I’m an international model and have been confirmed for a three month modelling placement in Korea! So as of right now I begin my three month stay... SCARY! I am both completely and utterly terrified but equally outrageously excited, I can’t seem to make my mind up between the two. Some mornings over the past month I’ve woken up in a fit of panic, complete and utter anxiety consuming my being, others I’ve woken up with a stupidly big ego after dreaming I get in Vogue Korea #manifest What is a modelling placement: A modelling placement is probably an unknown process to you if you aren’t within that world so I will explain. A placement is when an agency from another country (not your place of residence) shows an interest and asks if you would be interested in going to model for them for a set period of time. Exactly like a footballer going on loan to another club (my dad would be so proud of that reference!)  Your comfort zone will kill you Last year I did my first ever placement in Tokyo, Japan and I actually was miserable for the first few weeks. Lonely, scared, feeble, extremely jet-lagged, and the furthest outside my comfort zone I’d ever been, however after this initial period it truly became the best experience of my entire life.  Although geographically Korea and Japan are near neighbours they feel quite different to me so part of my fear stems from the fact I may not enjoy it as much… but of course only time can tell.  My comfort zone, much like everyone else's, has become far too much of a safety blanket. I have every inch of it memorised, I know where every crevice is located and could walk through it blind. what I imagine my comfort zone looks like It's for this reason I must leave the safe, warm, protective cushion of my comfort zone, for I do not wish to know the four walls of my mind better than I know myself.  A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.  I will grow - astronomical amounts - throughout this new adventure, and return to the cosy cottage that I envision is my comfort zone, able to proudly hang a new photo frame to the wall of my memories.  New Faces in New Places!!! This is where you all come in, I will be publishing as per (semi) usual. As I will be full-time modelling I’m hopeful I will be booked and busy with some incredible jobs. I’m talking: my face in magazines, billboards, storefronts, websites, runways - the lot.  I’m manifesting it all and I will be describing it ALL. No details spared, so if you were looking for an international model/ fashion lover/ everything in between gal, who is willing to overshare her entire life… you’ve ended up in the right place!  This new once per week posting schedule will be titled New Faces in New Places (myself being the new face and Korea being the new place). I will be giving you a rundown of all my modelling activities and life in general with a weekly catch-up of activities, and of course there will be TikTok vlogs galore so if you don't follow us already get to it... @mimipiqua The point is I will have to temporarily pause publishing on upcoming trends, fashion news, and runway commentary etc... basically unless god-forbid another fashion icon dies I will not be commenting on it. So many fashion icons have died in recent months but I am begging can the rest of you just hang on for these three months. Please and thank you.  Pray for me Although I am likely rocking myself psychotically side to side 10,000 metres up in the sky right now this is entirely voluntary and I’m 99% sure it will turn into one of the best experiences of my life!  I will be back with the first issue of New Faces in New Places in about a week! Hopefully with lots to discuss other than the unavoidable jetlag I will no doubt experience. Stay in the loop with every weekly update by signing up to our newsletter to be notified… With love,  Mimi x

MFW February 2026: The Only Cheat Sheet You Need If New York sets the tone and London disrupts it, Milan refines it before Paris ultimately casts the deciding vote. Milan Fashion Week is where fashion gets serious again, beginning today - luxury houses, impeccable tailoring, and collections that actually shape how we dress next season. But with one of the most packed schedules of fashion month, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So consider this your calm, curated, no-stress Milan Fashion Week guide - what to watch, when it’s on, and why it matters, not everything included because truly some of it's just irrelevant! The Vibe This Season Milan AW/26 is all about heritage, reinvention, and power moves. Expect: Major creative director debuts, refined Italian craftsmanship, and a balance of quiet luxury and high-glamour spectacle. This is the most commercially influential fashion week - but also one of the most emotionally charged this season. There’s a clear split between: Up-and-Comers Debuting Designers Must-See Shows (Usually big, established names) You don’t need to watch it all. Just the right shows. Day-by-Day: What’s Worth Watching Tuesday 24 February - Opening Day Diesel - 4 PM - The first show of the season . Expect denim, disruption, and a very loud opening statement. Max Zara Sterck - 5 PM - Experimental and directional — Milan’s emerging edge stepping into the spotlight. Casa Preti - 6 PM - Conceptual tailoring with artistic depth. One for the insiders. Venerdì Pomeriggio - 7 PM - Romantic, narrative-driven fashion that leans poetic rather than commercial. Wednesday 25 February Luisa Beccaria - 9:30 AM - Dreamy femininity and Italian romance. Soft silhouettes, florals, and elegance. Jil Sander - 10:30 AM - Minimalism at its sharpest. Precision, restraint, and intellectual luxury. Antonio Marras - 12:30 PM - Emotion, storytelling, and rich Italian heritage woven into every look. Fendi - 2 PM - A historic moment: Maria Grazia Chiuri presents her debut collection for Fendi. One of the most anticipated shows of the week. Missoni - 4 PM - Signature knits and colour done the Milan way — wearable and iconic. N°21 - 6 PM - Sharp, sexy, and very Milan. Tailoring with attitude. Etro - 7 PM - Bohemian glamour and rich textile storytelling. MM6 Maison Margiela - 8 PM - Conceptual, deconstructed, and always fashion-student-approved. Thursday 26 February Max Mara - 9:30 AM - Italian elegance perfected. Expect coats, tailoring, and quiet luxury excellence. Boss - 11:30 AM - Confident power dressing with global appeal. Florania – 1:15 PM - Emerging talent bringing softness and structure together. Prada - 2 PM - Always a cultural moment. Conceptual, challenging, and essential viewing. Emporio Armani - 4 PM & 5 PM - Men’s and women’s co-ed collections under Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco - youthful, refined, and wearable. Especially anticipated after Armani's death late last year. The first season done without any impact from his influence. Marni - 6 PM - A major debut: Meryll Rogge’s first collection for Marni. Expect evolution with emotional depth. Roberto Cavalli - 8 PM - High-glamour, drama, and Italian sensuality turned all the way up. Friday 27 February Tod’s - 9:30 AM - Opening the day with craftsmanship, leather, and Italian savoir-faire. Marco Rambaldi - 10:30 AM - Gender-fluid glamour with nostalgic flair. Sportmax - 11:30 AM - Sharp tailoring and modern femininity. Blumarine - 12:30 PM - Romantic Y2K-coded glamour with a soft edge. Gucci - 2 PM - One of the most anticipated shows of the season: Gucci by Demna. Expect internet discourse, tension, and a major brand shift. Moschino - 5 PM - Theatre, irony, and fashion as performance. Institution by Galib Gassanoff - 6 PM - Experimental and avant-garde - Milan’s darker edge. Saturday 28 February Ferrari - 9:30 AM - Opening the day with sleek, modern luxury. Ferragamo - 11:30 AM - Modern refinement and accessory excellence. Dolce & Gabbana - 12:30 PM - Maximalism, drama, and unapologetic Italian glamour. Tokyo James - 2 PM - Sharp tailoring with cultural depth — increasingly unmissable. MSGM - 5 PM - Youthful, colourful, and playful Milan energy. Simon Cracker - 7 PM - Sustainable, deconstructed, and experimental. Bottega Veneta - 8 PM - Louise Trotter presents her second collection after last season’s infamous SS26 show. One of the week’s most important moments. Sunday 1 March Hui - 9:30 AM - Craft-led luxury with cultural depth. Giorgio Armani - 11:30 AM & 12:30 PM - Timeless elegance from a true master. The first season without his iconic influence since his unfortunate death last year.   J. Salinas - 2 PM - Relaxed, global, texture-led fashion. Tell The Truth - 3 PM - Conceptual storytelling with a social edge. Francesca Liberatore - 4 PM - Modern tailoring and refined experimentation. Monday 2 March: Digital Shows The final day is dedicated to digital presentations, including: Nadya Dzyak, Dhruv Kapoor , I AM ISIGO. If You’re Short on Time… Prioritise These 5 Fendi (Maria Grazia Chiuri debut) Prada Gucci by Demna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Marni (Meryll Rogge debut) Bottega Veneta That gives you heritage, reinvention, cultural impact, and pure Milan excellence. Full PDF for Milan Fashion Week Schedule: LINK HERE Beyond the Runway: One of the most significant moments of the week isn’t a show at all. From 25–27 February, Fondazione Sozzani  will host “Paving the Way - Franca’s Legacy”, a public documentary screening honouring Franca Sozzani (a powerful tribute to one of fashion’s most influential figures.) Alongside the shows, Milan’s social calendar is packed with daily presentations, private events, and city-wide fashion moments. Final Thoughts Milan Fashion Week is where fashion proves its longevity. Less noise than London, less spectacle than Paris – but arguably the most influential when it comes to how fashion actually functions. Use this guide as your shortcut. Watch what excites you when reading, skip the rest. Not everything is for everyone! Over the week, I’ll be documenting every significant detail from the most talked about shows, breaking down the trends, key looks, colours, patterns, textures etc. So keep an eye on socials and the blog! With love, Mimi x

London Fashion Week February 2026: A No-Stress Cheat Sheet If New York sets the tone, London disrupts it. London Fashion Week starts tomorrow... here's all you need to know. London Fashion Week is where emerging designers, experimental silhouettes, and genuine creativity can take centre stage. It can feel overwhelming fast - so this is your edited, fashion-editor-approved guide to what’s actually worth watching, when it’s on, and what kind of energy to expect. No scrolling every livestream. No panic. Just the good stuff. The Vibe This Season LFW AW/26 leans heavily into: Emerging talent & Up-and-Comers Debuting Designers Must-See Shows (Usually big, established names) This is less about commercial polish and more about point of view. London is where fashion gets brave again. Especially under Laura Weirs new take on the British fashion council. Day-by-Day: Thursday 19 February Paul Costelloe - 12 PM - Classic British tailoring with a romantic sensibility. Expect refined silhouettes and traditional craftsmanship. Stephen Jones Millinery - 12:30 PM - A masterclass in hat-making. Conceptual, theatrical, and endlessly influential. AGRO Studio - 1 PM - Experimental and sculptural, pushing fashion into art territory. Sinead Gorey - 2 PM - Body-positive, radical pattern cutting with a strong ethical backbone. One of London’s most important voices right now. London College of Fashion - 5:30PM - Future fashion stars in the making. Raw creativity, unfiltered designs, and bold experimentation straight from the classroom. Mark Fast - 6PM - Knitting meets drama. Expect innovative textures, body-conscious silhouettes, and conceptual detailing. Harris Reed - 7PM - Gender-fluid glamour and theatrical elegance. A standout show blending emotion, bold silhouettes, and London’s fearless edge. Central Saint Martins MA Fashion - 8 PM - Raw creativity at its most unfiltered. This is where future fashion stars are born. Friday 20 February Patrick McDowell - 11 AM - Sustainability meets elegance. Known for romantic silhouettes with a strong ethical mission. Bora Aksu - 1 PM - Soft gothic romance. Expect lace, drama, and historical references. Phoebe English - 1:30PM - Thoughtful, sustainable fashion with clean silhouettes and wearability at its core. Tolu Coker - 2 PM - Cultural storytelling through fashion. Textile-led, meaningful, and beautifully crafted. Dreaming Eli - 4PM - Pla yful, avant-garde designs with an experimental edge; fun, unexpected, and artistic. Fashion East - 5PM - Cutting-edge emerging talent curated for maximum London impact. Always bold and fresh. Mithridate - 7 PM - Sharp tailoring with a modern global perspective. Increasingly one to watch. Natasha Zinko - 8 PM - Playful chaos and anti-fashion energy. Loud, ironic, and very London. Saturday 21 February Selasi - 10AM - Innovative, inclusive designs redefining gender within fashion. Karoline Vitto - 11 AM - Radical body diversity and sensuality. Redefining WHO fashion is for. Talia Byre - 11:30 AM - Quietly cool, wearable, and deeply thoughtful. A London favourite. CompletedWorks - 12PM - Minimalist accessories with cultural storytelling; subtle, purposeful, and considered. Toga - 4PM - Japanese-inspired, eclectic designs with unexpected textures and layered styling. Chopova Lowena - 4:30PM - Romantic craftsmanship meets modern drama; textural, handcrafted, and unforgettable. Chet Lo - 6PM - Modern tailoring with experimental twists; sleek, bold, and city-ready. Richard Quinn - 8 PM - Pure drama. Big prints, bigger silhouettes, and unforgettable runway moments. Sunday 22 February Erdem - 12 PM - Poetic femininity, florals, and impeccable craftsmanship. Always elegant, never boring. Emilia Wickstead - 2PM - Poised, feminine, and refined; timeless elegance with a contemporary flair. Simone Rocha - 4 PM - Romantic, emotional, and instantly recognisable. One of London’s crown jewels. Jawara Alleyne - 5:30PM - Textured, thoughtful designs that combine artisanal techniques with modern storytelling. Paolo Carzana - 8 PM - Slow fas hion with a deeply personal touch. A quiet LFW highlight. Monday 23 February Alessandra Rich - 9:30AM - Glamorous, feminine, and effortless; elevated classics with a modern twist. Di Petsa - 12PM - Innovative tailoring and unique creative direction. Conner Ives - VDFF - 3PM - Youthful, boundary-pushing designs with a playful, contemporary edge. Raw Mango - 4PM - Handcrafted, textile-led luxury with a quiet, global aesthetic. Ashish - 5PM - Max imalist designs full of energy, sequins, and London theatricality. Temperley London - 6PM - Romantic, feminine, and richly detailed. Burberry - 7 PM - The main event. Expect British heritage reworked for a global audience. If you get overwhelmed or are short on time... prioritise these 5 shows: 1. Harris Reed 2. Chopova Lowena 3. Richard Quinn 4. Simone Rocha 5. Burberry That gives you emerging talent, emotion, drama, and British fashion at its best. Full PDF for London Fashion Week Schedule : LINK HERE Final Thoughts London Fashion Week is coming back little by little every year. Making itself known amongst the bigger shows. London Fashion Week doesn't care only about prestige but also about letting fashion be experimental. Use this guide to dip in and out without drowning. Watch what excites you, skip the rest, and let London do what it does best: surprise you!!! Over the next 5 days I will be noting down my favourite looks, shows, and WTF moments so stay tuned for my LFW roundup. With love, Mimi x

NYFW February 2026: The Only Cheat Sheet You Need New York Fashion Week is officially here, beginning today! Which means your feeds are about to explode, your IG will show nothing but runways for the next month, and you'll be overwhelmed thinking "What's worth watching?" So consider this your calm, curated, no-stress NYFW guide - what to watch, when it’s on, and why it matters. Bookmark it, skim it, dip in and out. This is NYFW without the overwhelm. The Vibe This Season NYFW February 2026 feels like a mix of American heritage, downtown grit, and commercial polish. There’s a clear split between: Up-and-Comers Debuting Designers Must-See Shows (Usually big, established names) You don’t need to watch it all - just the right shows. Day-by-Day: Wednesday 11 February Proenza Schouler - 12 PM - Quietly one of the most influential American brands. Expect intelligent tailoring, modern femininity, and clothes editors actually want to wear. Coach - 3 PM - Coach continues its Y2K-meets-Americana revival. This is one to watch for accessories, bags, and viral styling moments. Collina Strada - 5 PM - Sustainability with a sense of humour. Expect eco-conscious fabrics, playful chaos, and politically charged messaging found in very trendy looks. Tory Burch - 7 PM - Polished, powerful, and very wearable. Always a masterclass in elevated American sportswear. Public School NY - 8 PM - Sharp, political, and culturally plugged-in. This is where NYFW gets its edge. Thursday 12th February Carolina Herrera - 10 AM - Old-school glamour done right. Expect colour, volume, and red-carpet-ready silhouettes. Christian Siriano - 4 PM - Drama, inclusivity, and unapologetic glamour. Always delivers statement gowns and bold construction. Michael Kors Collection - 6 PM - Peak American luxury. Clean lines, rich textures, and clothes that translate directly to real wardrobes. Elena Velez - 8 PM - For something darker and more experimental - raw textures, conceptual silhouettes... creative overload. Friday 13th February Calvin Klein Collection - 12 PM - Minimalism royalty. This is essential viewing for anyone interested in the future of American understatement (although I was dissapointed last season) PatBo - 1 PM - Craft, colour, and Latin American influence - a refreshing contrast to NY minimalism. Fforme - 2 PM - Quiet luxury. Expect minimalist silhouettes, elevated fabric choices, and a very modern take on American elegance that feels understated but intentional. 7 For All Mankind - 3 PM - Denim everywhere. Expect a strong focus on fabrication and styling. Ulla Johnson - 4 PM - Romantic, artisanal, and endlessly wearable. Expect handcrafted details, rich textures, and a bohemian femininity that always feels thoughtful and original. Area - 6 PM - High-shine glamour with a conceptual edge. Expect bold silhouettes, and playful takes on modern luxury that feel made for fashion week headlines. Sergio Hudson - 7 PM - Power dressing done beautifully. Clean tailoring, rich colour palettes, and serious presence. Saturday 14 February Altuzarra - 11 AM - Elegant, refined, and quietly sexy. A consistent NYFW highlight. LII - 1 PM - Sharp, sensual minimalism with a downtown edge. Expect sleek tailoring, elevated evening-wear, and a confident, body-aware approach to modern luxury. Anna Sui - 2 PM - Maximalist nostalgia at its finest. Prints, colour, and joy! Khaite - 7 PM - Modern American luxury at its sharpest. Expect elevated wardrobe staples, precise tailoring, and that effortless "cool-girl" vibe that Khaite does better than almost anyone. Sunday 15 February Marina Moscone - 10AM - Modern minimalism with a romantic undertone. Expect fluid tailoring, soft draping, and a quiet elegance that feels intimate, refined, and very New York. Diotima - 12PM - Craft-led luxury with deep cultural resonance. Known for intricate handwork and powerful storytelling, Diotima delivers emotionally rich fashion that feels both artisanal and contemporary. Sandy Liang - 1 PM - Downtown cool meets playful femininity. Cult Gaia - 2 PM - Sculptural silhouettes and accessories that will dominate on Instagram. Bach Mai - 4 PM - High-drama couture energy with a modern edge. Expect sculptural silhouettes, rich fabrics, and an unapologetically glamorous approach. Private Policy - 5 PM - Gender-fluid, experimental, and culturally sharp. Very Gen Z. Kim Shui - 8 PM - Sensual, graphic, and deeply identity-driven. Always visually striking. Monday 16 February Raúl Peñaranda - 12 PM - Strong craftsmanship with a couture sensibility. Dennis Basso - 1 PM - Classic New York elegance - think evening-wear and luxe fabrics. J. Press - 2 PM - American heritage menswear with timeless appeal. If you find yourself overwhelmed or you are running low on time, make these 5 your priority: 1. Proenza Schouler 2. Carolina Herrera 3. Tory Burch 4. Fforme 5. Khaite That combo gives you heritage, modern minimalism, downtown cool, and commercial relevance. Full PDF for New York Fashion Week Schedule : LINK HERE Final Thoughts NYFW usually isn't that brilliant but it does an amazing job at setting the tone for the weeks ahead. Laying down the groundwork for London, Milan, and Paris to follow. Use this guide as your shortcut. You don’t need to see everything - just the shows that matter to you. Over the next 6 days I will be noting down my favourite looks, shows, and WTF moments so stay tuned for my NYFW roundup. With love, Mimi x

Welcome back. If you’ve read Part 1 you will be aware of my predictions for silhouettes, styling and overall vibe… however Part 2 focuses on patterns, colours and textures. From patchwork denim, to trompe l’œil, texture overload and shoes that refuse to behave, these are the trends that will bring the drama to the runway. Without further ado… 1.Mixing Textures (Maximum Sensory Overload): A/W26 will be about how clothes feel , not just how they look. Mixing textures e.g. leather with lace, sequins with wool, denim with sheer, creates visual tension that feels exciting. I am hopeful womenswear will layer textures unapologetically, often clashing them on purpose.  If it feels like too much, it’s probably right. This trend thrives in motion, so the runway boasts the perfect place for its debut.   2.Plaid as a Styling tool:  Plaid never truly disappears, but A/W26 feels like a season where it might become a signature styling point. In my mind I’m envisioning it used as a core styling piece. Rather than full tartan suits, I predict plaid showing up in accessories and layered moments. Maybe a silk scarf tied loosely at the waist, slung over a trench, or even knotted onto bags.  For womenswear, this feels like a nod to 90s nonchalance rather than British stiffness. Burberry is known for their plaid so I can 100% see them using this! Think mismatched plaids, scale clashes, and lightweight fabrics that feel intentionally off-season.  A plaid jacket worn open over something sheer, or a scarf breaking up a monochrome look, feels far more A/W26 than head-to-toe coordination. It’s plaid without the commitment - more wearable, and styled like you didn’t overthink it (even if you absolutely did!) 3.Quirky Polka-dots : A/W26 polka dots will feel more refined but also more mischievous. Smaller dots, tighter spacing, softer fabrics, but paired with strange colour combinations that stop them feeling overdone or safe.  The excess fabric theory absolutely checks out, but designers won’t just repeat themselves. Instead, expect polka dots layered over tailoring, printed on sheer base layers, barely noticeable, or clashing against other patterns.  This is where the “quirky girl epidemic” really comes into play – fashion is swinging back towards individuality, and polka dots are playful enough to carry that. Lime green with tomato red, muted browns with baby blue, or even tonal dots that only reveal themselves up close. Not everyday pieces, but statement ones. Personality and showing it off is SO BACK!  4.Patchwork denim: This one is quite rogue but I came across some images from the Balmain 2001 show the other day and the patchwork denim literally spoke to me. I am quietly hopeful that A/W26 will reuse this idea – trenches made of denim panels, skirts layered with tights, jackets that feel pieced together over time.  Love, Love, Love patchwork!!! Double denim won’t be enough; this season wants excess. The patchwork element adds nostalgia but also individuality – no two pieces look the same. It taps into sustainability conversations too, whether intentionally or not. Denim that looks lived-in, reused, reworked – imperfect in the best way. 5.Trompe l'œil Everywhere:  Trompe l’Œil had a major menswear moment, and there’s no way womenswear ignores that. Optical illusions – printed textures, fake layering, deceptive materials. Faux fur that’s printed, knits that aren’t knits upon closer inspection, garments pretending to be something they’re not. It’s playful, clever, and slightly surreal.  Perfect for a season where designers want to show intelligence without taking themselves too seriously. Trompe l’Œil rewards close inspection – and that feels very runway-relevant!!! I am very pleased with myself for learning this word, it’s now a new favourite of mine.  6.Funky Statement Shoes: Shoes are no longer an afterthought. DSquared made that crystal clear. I was watching the show on loop just to understand the shoes! In menswear, the shoe was mixed with a cowboy boot, while in womenswear it was transformed into a high-heeled boot. A/W26 footwear will be sculptural, strange, impractical, and iconic. Hybrid designs (hopefully) will dominate.Even when outfits are simple, shoes will do the heavy lifting. Womenswear will exaggerate silhouettes, play with cut-outs, and push wearability boundaries. You might not be able to walk far in them, but you’ll definitely be memorable.  7.All the greens (Colour of the season?!?!)  If there’s one prediction to put money on, it’s green. Every shade imaginable. Olive, khaki, forest, lime, moss, mint. Seeing as it is AW26 we are dressing for the colder months so perhaps these array of greens will pop up in a trench, or an ‘imperfectly’ tailored shirt, an ‘undone’ pair of trousers, or even a super quirky pair of shoes.  Whatever it is mark my words it is coming in a shade of green. Green feels alive – and after seasons of neutrals, that’s exactly what fashion wants. You can hold me to this one.  Final Thoughts I am indescribably excited to see what the runway displays for us this season! This era of fashion is SO exciting and the creative directors have finally got a good rhythm going. Across menswear, and inevitably womenswear, designers are leaning hard into personality, imperfection and excess.  Whether that’s through chaotic layering, tactile fabrics, optical illusions or styling choices that feel intentionally “wrong”, clothes are being worn with attitude again. THANK GOD FOR THAT!!!!!!  There’s a clear rejection of quiet luxury in favour of something louder, messier and far more expressive. Pieces look designed again not 3D printed, they are lived-in, reworked, touched, and that humanity is exactly what makes this season exciting. A/W26 isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. With New York Fashion Week kicking off the season in a few days on the 11th, this post marks the beginning of a month-long runway deep dive here on the blog.  Expect my usual Fashion Week cheat sheets before each city kicks off, followed by detailed round-ups of my favourite shows, looks, details and moments from NYFW, LFW, MFW and PFW. And (slight disclaimer) I’ll be moving to Korea at the start of Milan Fashion Week, so if posts arrive a little jet-lagged or emotionally unhinged, just know it’s the homesickness talking. Fashion Month waits for no one, unfortunately. With love,  Mimi x