Hanako Maeda said her Spring 2026 collection was an exploration of contrast. “There’s a lot of juxtaposition between architectural tailoring versus something that feels romantic and soft, or the idea of sportswear versus evening wear,” she said.
Here’s how that was physically manifested: The geometric pattern of gingham was woven onto the drapey voile of an evening gown; a soft cardigan with frilly sleeves was thrown over a gray A-line dress. Blazers had a pleated flare. A denim jacket was paired with a soft lace skirt. (That lace work was the strong point this season, delicate when in a demure white and edgy in a matching black set.) “These opposite elements when they come together—it creates a sense of chemistry,” said Maeda, noting that opting for a more “subdued monochromatic palette highlighted this idea of texture and different kinds of materials.”
There were several evening looks in the collection, which was a new (ish) direction for Maeda: after doing a formalwear collaboration with Mikimoto’s Les Pétales high jewelry collection, she felt inspired to design more special occasion looks. A navy illusion neckline dress, albeit unrealistic to have styled over a shirt, felt like a classic design that many women will be drawn to.
