Under the creative direction of Michael Rider, Celine’s Autumn/Winter 2026 menswear collection emphasizes classic silhouettes to supplement individual style. Rider joined Celine in early 2025, and since then, the American designer has utilized the brand’s chic, understated look and transformed it by placing emphasis on the person, rather than the clothes. 

Photographed by Andrea Spotorno, the menswear campaign showcases black and white imagery to unveil “classics with bite.” Spotorno culminates the collection by capturing looks that feel familiar and entirely new all at once. Cropped, belted leather jackets and crocodile-stamped lambskin shoes, for example, illustrate pieces composed of traditional fabrics revitalized in a bold, purposeful manner. The collection’s classic, high waisted trousers and calfskin jackets reflect Rider’s American background merged with Celine’s Parisian elegance. In this way, Rider expands menswear by combining quintessential Celine design with his background. 

While the collection maintains traditional apparel, Rider revitalizes menswear by experimenting with whimsical accessories. For example, leather bracelets are fit with bold, decorative charms, which culminate the collection as refined elegance mixed with playful exploration. The collection is framed as supplemental to various life moments, whether that be day or night, and as seen through traditional garments fit with creative twists, Celine is simultaneously committed to functionality and individual expression.

In a note describing the collection, Rider explains that the collection stresses feel over ornamentation. The campaign emboldens the brand’s patrons to focus on energy, confidence, and “character over costume.” In other words, personality should shine through one’s attire, not the other way around. Under Rider’s direction, Celine executes understated looks that embolden individual stylistic expression while withstanding everyday life. As such, Celine’s Autumn/Winter 2026 menswear collection represents an arena for timeless classics that feel bold, modern, and new.

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