Now that fashion week has officially packed up its bags, it feels only right to look back at one of the season’s most entertaining sideshows—the runway invitation. What used to be a fairly straightforward way of sharing the where and when has become its own part of the spectacle, with houses sending out objects that tease the mood of a collection as a preview. By the time the invite reveals have made their rounds online, the conversation is already well abuzz, and for fashion aficionados watching from the outside, it all offers a cheeky little peek into the world-building that happens before a show even begins.
Some maisons approached fall/winter 2026 with invites that felt like especially clever scene-setters. Case in point: Dior sent out miniature green chairs inspired by those found in the Jardin des Tuileries, with the rich green shade later tying in perfectly with the show’s lily-pad-decorated venue. Alaïa, meanwhile, turned its invite into a DIY leather mannequin bust, tying the whole thing back to the house’s deep connection to construction in a way that felt hands-on and genuinely exciting to receive. Chanel, on the other hand, joined in with a tape-measure necklace, folding one of fashion’s most familiar atelier tools into something charmingly literal and very easy to imagine guests wearing straight to the show.
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On the flipside, several houses clearly understood the appeal of giving invitees something a little odd and a little playful. Loewe’s inflatable lobster claws had exactly the kind of delightfully bizarre energy that fashion people love to latch onto, while Balenciaga sent out a carousel of cards complete with a magnifying glass, adding a small sense of game to the whole reveal. Meanwhile, Chloé took a daintier route, with a pretty resin globe containing a dandelion—a show of preserving something delicate inside a slicker object.
With the myriad of ways luxury houses now approach the little invite, it is easy to see why they have become so fascinating in the first place.. They offer little sneaks and keep the fantasy going well before we even get the first glimpse of the actual pieces. Below, take a look at some of the best runway show invitations from the fall/winter 2026 season.
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Loewe
Loewe’s invite came in the form of a giant inflated lobster claw made from leather, a contrasting sight from its vibrant yellow packaging.
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Bottega Veneta
The brand worked with British contemporary artist, Poppy Jones, on a hand-painted illustration that doubled as the show invitation.
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Alaïa
Alaïa’s invitation was a tactile experience, arriving in separate leather pieces that formed a mannequin bust once assembled.
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Dior
The fall/winter 2026 invite for Dior featured a pair of mini chairs, inspired by the very same ones in Paris’ Jardin de Tuileries .
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Balenciaga
A more interactive experience, Balenciaga sent out a carousel of cards with the show details and reminders that recipients can view through its accompanying magnifying glass .
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Chanel
Chanel’s invitation was more of an accessory than anything. The necklace, engraved with the show details, was a nod to one of fashion’s most important tool—the measuring tape.
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Diesel
A more playful take: for its fall/winter 2026 show Diesel sent out clear, yellow bananas to guests.
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Courrèges
Courrèges offered a more simplistic take, with its invite taking shape in the form of classic white clocks.
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Givenchy
For Sarah Burton’s fall/winter 2026 show for the house, guests received a black leather bow doubling as as the invite.
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Celine
Celine’s invitation took shape as a huge silk scarf, printed with all the relevant details for Michael Rider’s latest show for the brand.
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Schiaparelli
Another accessory invite, Schiaparelli sent out lustrous gold ‘finger’ rings for their guests.
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Chloé
For Chloé’s fall/winter 2026 show, the brand sent out delicate resin globes containing a dandelion to its guests.
