Michael Rider’s Celine debut brings cool, timeless ease

The French house embraces a new era with nods to the past and eyes on the future

Watching Celine’s spring-summer 2026 collection feels like stepping into the day of a chic, effortlessly cool art student heading to their internship—stylish, slightly nonchalant, but always intentional.

This show marks a new chapter for the French fashion house as it welcomes its new creative director, Michael Rider, who previously honed his craft under the iconic Phoebe Philo at Celine. Rider debuts his first collection following Hedi Slimane’s departure last year.

“Coming back to Celine, and to Paris, back to 16 rue Vivienne in a changed world, has been incredibly emotional for me. And a complete joy,” shares Michael. “I’ve always loved the idea of clothing that lives on, that becomes a part of the wearer’s life, that may capture a moment in time but also speaks to years and years of gestures and occasions and change, of the past, the present and the future, of memories, of usefulness and of fantasy, of life really,” he adds.

And live on, the clothes do. Rider’s collection is rooted in timelessness and anchored by versatile pieces that transcend trends. On the runway, there was a parade of pants—from slouchy and relaxed to lean, almost spray-on styles. Blazers nodded to the 1980s with sharp, wide shoulders paired with harem trousers and flat shoes, evoking a nostalgic yet fresh energy. The 1990s also made an appearance via vintage-cut jeans teamed with oversized blazers or sweaters casually draped over shoulders, giving a relaxed, effortless vibe.

Accessories were bold yet functional: oversized leather, canvas, and raffia bags perfect for carrying internship essentials (and then some) alongside stacks of mixed-metal jewelry adorning fingers and wrists.

All in all, it was a promising debut for Michael Rider at Celine. The collection honored the house’s codes while setting the stage for a future defined by timeless wearability and a certain Parisian cool.