Much has been written about the contemporary relevance of haute couture, a rarefied dressmaking medium that is built on tradition and strict rules (to call yourself a couture house, you must adhere to those set out by La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode). There are only a few houses doing it,’ said Jonathan Anderson at his Dior couture debut this week. The standout collections of Haute Couture Week S/S 2026Dior’s ‘Grammar of Forms’ exhibition at Musée Rodin, which allows visitors to see Jonathan Anderson’s first couture collection in conversation with garments by Christian Dior (until 1 February 2026) (Image credit: Adrien Dirand)Though rarely has Haute Couture Week – which concludes in Paris today (29 January) – demanded so much attention. Schiaparelli(Image credit: Schiaparelli)There is an enjoyable sense of spectacle to a Schiaparelli show, which in its 10am Monday morning spot heralds the start of Haute Couture Week. He said it came from an impulse to strip it all away and attempt to get to the heart of what Chanel is: ‘What makes Chanel, Chanel?