When Anna Wintour became the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, she marked her leadership with a cover that broke magazine tradition. On the cover of the November 1988 issue was Israeli model Michaela Bercu dressed in a Christian Lacroix haute couture jacket and Guess jeans. The image signaled a new direction—a fresh attitude toward dressing: mixing high fashion with accessible streetwear. That style sensibility continues today.

A perfect example of this is M. Christian Lacroix’s latest collaboration with international fashion company Desigual, where artisanal design is reimagined through a contemporary lens. The collection had its Philippine launch on June 16 at Rustan’s Makati, and while the pieces are far removed from the 1988 couture jacket, they remain opulent, theatrical, and a celebration of color.

Manila Bulletin Lifestyle got a preview of the Spring/Summer 2026 collaboration collection, and what welcomed us were pieces rendered in a color palette that feels perfectly suited to Manila’s weather transition period.

The weather transition season comes with its own set of challenges. While pieces for summer and the rainy season can often be identified through their silhouettes and fabrication, days that alternate between pockets of sunshine and light drizzles make dressing a little more complicated.

The key lies in embracing the season’s duality. Think adaptable styles, easy-to-wear fabrics, and interesting textures. Clothing imbued with these characteristics can effortlessly navigate shifting conditions. And that’s exactly what Desigual and M. Christian Lacroix are offering.

“This collection functions as a creative manifesto. It doesn’t explain; it declares,” Desigual said in a statement. “It is emotional, direct, and full of conviction. Beyond reason, it appeals to intuition and attitude. Each garment shares a belief: that fashion is expression, imagination, and a sense of belonging; that color is energy, print is identity, and design is a form of freedom.”

The collection presents casual yet elevated silhouettes designed for the free-spirited and expressive woman. Hanging on the racks are fluid dresses, handkerchief skirts, ruched T-shirts, and more. These pieces provide the perfect canvas for M. Christian Lacroix’s vibrant prints and poetic blooms.

Standout pieces from the collection include a pleated handkerchief dress adorned with brushstroke prints, quilted patchwork jackets and pants, and tulle dresses and shirts that add lightness and a playful sense of transparency.

On the other hand, an exuberant and graphic floral vision takes center stage, with the orchid serving as the main motif. It is explored through multicolored, oversized prints and combined with op-art patterns inspired by Eastern aesthetics.

The collection is grounded in a carefully selected range of materials that combine comfort, fluidity, and responsibility. These include BCI cotton, organic cotton, Lenzing Lyocell, Tencel, recycled polyester, and fluid acetates, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to more conscious fashion.

Like Manila's ever-changing skies, the collection thrives in contrasts. It balances ease with artistry, comfort with drama, and practicality with imagination. In doing so, Desigual and M. Christian Lacroix prove that fashion need not choose between function and fantasy—it can effortlessly embody both.