For his Fall/Winter 2026 collection, designer Joseph Altuzarra embraced tradition and provocation during New York Fashion Week. Looking through a Spanish lens, the collection explores the modern person’s wardrobe, ranging from the stark realism of Diego Velázquez to the emotional maximalism of Pedro Almodóvar.
Speaking to the layered identities that can coexist within a single person, unexpected pairings appear in the collection. Sweeping flamenco skirts in chiffons and georgettes with sculptural peacoats. Spilling out of tweed jackets are lace blouses with exaggerated cuffs, set against knit wrap skirts. Outerwear features matador-inspired shoulders, while ultra-luxurious suede finishes casual carpenter pants. A turtleneck is deceptive, as one moment it’s simple, and the next it converts into a hoodie. Patterns repeat, scarves drape dramatically, and fringed pom-poms fall around the collarbone and shoulders.
While each deconstructed silhouette draws on Spanish influences like Luis Buñuel, the color palette mirrors the moody chiaroscuro of Diego Velázquez and the synthetic vibrance of Pedro Almodóvar. Burgundies sit alongside bright greens and pale blues, while blush pinks mesh with dark browns and greens. Offering a poetic nod to the Balearic seas, fisherman-scarf motifs emerge among the prints.
Continuing the collection’s exploration of duality, accessories embody utilitarian and expressive flair. The ‘Tack Trunk’ reflects on the equestrian and bourgeois staple, and its design allows wearers to fully open or close it, revealing a suede interior. Other highlights include ‘Cubetto Bag,’ which fits snugly under the arm, and the ‘Maxi Cubetto,’ a square handheld bag with a soft bowling silhouette.
Held in the Altuzarra showroom, the FW26 collection brought drama and innovation to the historic Woolworth Building. See more of the brand and its designs at www.altuzarra.com.
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
