One of the most influential names in the history of fashion photography, Steven Meisel photographs Alaïa’s Winter–Spring 2026 campaign. This work continues the Maison’s tradition of collaborating with some of the most respected figures in the world of photography—a tradition initiated by founder Azzedine Alaïa and carried forward today by creative director Pieter Mulier.
Echoing Meisel’s iconic body of work and directly referencing the Maison’s heritage, these images evoke a strong sense of nostalgia while asserting a claim to permanence. Inspired by the philosophy of the collection, the campaign is built on a reduced, sculptural, and powerful visual language. Its simplicity and direct framing present a radical approach. There is no noise—only pure beauty.
The purified simplicity of the setting, its unembellished approach, and the deliberate repetition of a single composition direct the focus entirely to the body and the garments. This fundamental reduction is conceived as a method of achieving timelessness. Each image creates the impression of a frozen moment, almost like a painting. While the sculptural visual language historically associated with the Maison evolves here into a more monumental dimension, the bodies are treated almost as if they were sculptures.
This uncompromising approach is also reflected in the casting choices. Vanessa Becker, Noor Khan, Iasmin Silva, Jiahui Zhang, and Danielle Currie represent a rising new generation of models. This plurality also reflects Alaïa’s own multifaceted identity.
The music for the Winter–Spring 2026 show was composed by Gustave Rudman. The same soundtrack is used in the campaign films, extending this atmosphere and rhythm into moving images. Designed to be remembered, these visuals focus not on reality but on quality, inviting the viewer to dream. Defined by the idea of timelessness, this fashion moment leaves a lasting impression—just like Steven Meisel’s visual world, just like Alaïa itself.
The Alaïa Winter–Spring 2026 collection is available at Beymen stores and on Beymen.com.
Photographer: Steven Meisel
