Dior Spring 2026 Preview: What Will Actually Sell

I browsed through the Dior Spring 2026 catalogues. There are currently three — one with RTW, showing runway looks along with item names and codes, and two with accessories. I kept returning to them over several days to fully understand how I felt about the collection that will soon arrive in boutiques.

When it comes to RTW, there isn’t much to say yet, because the runway photos in the catalogue reveal very little. Perhaps the only thing that stood out to me: four outfits marked as haute couture.

The brand is clearly betting on Bags. From Miss Dior, I was particularly drawn to the models with clovers, although the colors are bright — combined with the embellishment, these will be more “collector” pieces, which will likely be reflected in the price. The raffia model also caught my attention, although the bag charm looks a bit too... literal? The soft-shape experiment in woven leather — not convincing.

The Dior Bow looks like heavy mass-market.

I always viewed the Book Tote mostly as a trend — much like the Hermès beach pouches or even the Dior Saddle in a way: a design that stays popular for a few seasons and then fades. It may resurface later, and that is exactly what happened with the Dior Book Tote, originally inspired by — surprise, surprise — the simple totes sold in bookshops.

Leaving the new prints aside, I do think the smaller size and the addition of a handle are genuinely interesting developments. They allow the bag to shift from a relaxed, seaside-walk accessory into urban and dynamic.

Disclaimer: Any resemblance to Madame Bovary’s fate and the owner of the corresponding bag is purely coincidental, hah.

The Dior Cigale — excellent, calm classic. Comes with a long strap for shoulder carry, offered in two sizes, and a range of colors. I can easily see it entering the brand’s classic offering. It reminds me of the Capucines by Louis Vuitton (and there was a similar model by Dior, I forgot the name). The only drawback: the handle seems too fragile and thin; it would benefit from being sturdier, with a more structured shape.

The Diorly bag — great on the go. Looks amazing in suede. The market already has many similar styles; it’s not groundbreaking design, but I’m sure it will find its fans.

The SpongeBob Crunchy bag is fun — if it cost no more than €1500. Beyond that, I honestly don’t see how it fits into a wardrobe. It appears to be made of leather (judging by the photos — the description doesn’t specify), but I would have made it in a tech fabric, nylon or even silk — and kept it within that accessible price range as something playful. I also disliked how it was styled on the runway — mixing completely incompatible aesthetics. I would have opted for a casual outfit for such bags, instead of pairing the Crunchy bag with evening looks.

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Shoes

Dior footwear is now led by Nina Christen. At 40, she has already worked at Bottega Veneta (author of the Lido sandals), Céline under Phoebe Philo, Loewe, and The Row. Her own brand continues to grow — this year I’ve repeatedly seen it in celebrity appearances, fashion editorials, and it recently launched on Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa. It’s also set to open its first boutique in Paris next year.

The Muse pump may find its place in the wardrobes of female executives in their 50s.

I added the Aurore model in blue and green silk tartan to my wishlist. While the design is beautiful, it strongly reminds me of Magda Butrym’s models from a few seasons back.

I really liked the sculpted shape of the Wing. What I would change is adding two or three models in classic colours with a higher heel — brown? Grey? Black? For those who are tired of classic stilettos, which are abundant in other brands.

Whisper pumps — not for me. The “ears” feel excessive to plain basic mules, and too long. That is, of course, the whole charm — but this raisin bun is not to my taste.

Dior Bow slingbacks — excellent, but again I have questions about materials and the range. The higher heel version exists only in silk, which significantly limits the audience — such models are usually chosen for events, and spend the rest of their time resting on a shelf. I'd add more variants in leather to complement the RTW collection. As for heel height: perhaps I’m missing something in current preferences — I personally love high heels, and kitten heels are acceptable only occasionally; otherwise I prefer flats. Make the heel higher — and it would balance overly open toes, otherwise it looks... floppy?

Dior Initials pump — impressed by the smooth lines. Both pairs — the high-heel version in black leather, and the low-heel in tan suede — are going on my wishlist. This model, perhaps somewhat simplified in terms of metal detailing, just like Wing, could easily become part of the brand’s classics for several seasons.

The Derby D surprisingly comes only in embossed crocodile. I would love more variations in colour and finish.

A separate note on two sporty models. The first — essentially Converse covered in clover embroidery. The second — Coeur, embodying the idea of “sneakerinas”. The granite-coloured model with the softened square toe looks promising — my only hesitation is the large logo. But I generally don’t love logos, except in rare cases (like on sneakers).

Belts

I really like the Medallion idea — light and airy — transferred onto shoe details and even the shoeboxes. There is a certain ease and playfulness to it. This could have unified the whole collection, which otherwise carried two or even three unrelated themes. The show could have been articulated as the evolution of Miss Dior into a kind of J’adore Dior woman. It didn’t happen. But the belts — are great. The plaque type, by the way, is being heavily used by Celine this season.

Jewelry

I genuinely liked much of it; it embodies the house spirit. But again, I see several lines that are hard to merge into a single narrative. Here are bold rock rings; next — the most delicate blossoming flowers. Some of them open over time, gaining colour — a metaphor for Miss Dior evolving into a J’adore woman. The third line — medallion jewellery — could almost be integrated into that story, but still stands somewhat apart.

The catalogue has many bag charms. They’re cute, but feel like an attempt to catch a departing train — charms became popular again thanks to Miu Miu, then picked up by Balenciaga, and then reinterpreted by everyone. The customer is getting tired of the sheer amount of options, and this styling trick is already on its way out. Another point — the theme of the charms. They’re united by a narrow concept around garment-making. This could be a fantastic gift for a tailor or designer, but I doubt it will resonate with a wider audience.

Overall impression of accessories is mostly positive, but the key questions remain — ones I raised in another note:

Who is she, the Dior woman?

Commercially speaking — who is the brand selling to, and how does it envision its client? Perhaps if that answer were clearer, the offering would feel more focused.

*Can't wait to try it on for 2Jour Stylist Club.