Fashion spectacle designed by Nicolas Di Felice for Courrèges Spring/Summer 2026, titled "Blinded by the Sun," provided one of the "most interesting forward-thinking fashion shows in Paris," according to Loïc Prigent. The event, held at the Carreau du Temple, centered on a reflection of the "heat wave, unescapable heat," and how the anxiety of the environment could be translated into wearable clothing. The set, which eliminated all shadows by saturating the lights to the maximum, was designed to become "actually becoming hot," making the crowd "feel the warmth of it".
Loïc Prigent reported from the show, noting the presence of stars like Emma Chamberlain, who was undergoing the "Courrègification" transformation. Chamberlain, wearing a blue outfit, which she noted was "kind of different" from the usual Courrèges palette, felt the material was "very heat resistant and somehow still nostalgic". She sat near singer Kim Petras, who revealed her deep-seated punctuality: "I've never been late for a concert. I’m German, I can't be late".
Nicolas Di Felice’s collection began with a focus on "very André, 60s silhouettes," reminding the audience that the original Courrèges miniskirt was "not actually that short". The earliest pieces utilized "very cold colors," specifically different shades of blue, which the team labeled "Teal," "aqua," "Pool," and "midnight blue". As the conceptual temperature rose progressively, the clothes became "more and more ample, more and more relaxed, comfortable," and were crafted "almost essentially natural materials this season". Di Felice maintained his "obsession with the house codes," using covered belts that "will multiply and really accumulate" and "almost melt under the effect of the heat".
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The concept of solar protection drove much of the collection, including experiments around "the sunshield that you normally stick on the window of your car". This theme inspired round hats, reminiscent of "The Courrèges Bomb" hats from 1965, and simple caps worn to protect oneself from the sun. Full-body garments and drapes were molded onto helmets to offer protection from UV rays. Di Felice observed that the collection reversed the historical premise of the brand; while the 1960s Courrèges woman was "the first to sunbath for hours" and "looking tanned was in," today, since the sun is harmful, "everything has changed".
Every day "summer gestures" and responses to the heatwave were integrated into the garments. One pattern extension appeared "as if the very simple triangle of the swimsuit started to melt and wrap around the girl". Other looks referenced the act of lifting a t-shirt to tuck it in when it's hot. One complex garment, a "dress made of belts," worn by Apolline Rocco-Fohrer for her 203rd fashion show, contained "99 belts" made of corn plastic, requiring specific "0.9 mm by 0.9 mm" measurements for closure. Other dresses appeared "dripping a little" or created optical illusions, suggesting the way one is "blinded by the sun".
Di Felice affirmed the importance of movement and flexibility, stating that André Courrèges "obsessed so much" over the need to "be able to move in his clothes," adding, "I would never allow myself to make things where you can't move in your clothes". Model Noor demonstrated the flexibility of a frame and tank top dress outfit, confirming she could "sit in it" and "bend" despite its stiff appearance. A particularly striking look, a dress covering the face, gave an attendee a "flashback" to the pandemic era, calling it a "post-Covid" or "vintage-inspired choice".
Loïc Prigent concluded the report by praising the collection as "magnificent, delicate, sensual," with transparency that was "not vulgar, without being too much". Another attendee noted that Di Felice’s pieces have "fun elements to them, but they’re still very wearable," allowing a woman to "visualize yourself, wearing it somewhere," such as to "go to work" or "Do my shopping". The show concluded with the triumphant bow of Nicolas Di Felice, who was congratulated backstage by his parents.
