Talk about small and beautiful. Gabriele Colangelo presented a compact yet beautiful spring 2026 collection that skillfully balanced strength and delicacy in a cohesive manner.
“I wanted them to hold the shape but also capture this impalpable, subtle sense of lightness. It’s a challenge to make the work exciting. I prefer to do less, but in a good way,” said the designer, who has been the creative director of Giada for a decade, of the ethos of his namesake label.
It’s a quiet luxury wardrobe with an Italian touch. He played with proportions, baring the backs and legs with his cohort of daytime ensembles in leather, silk twill and sheer organza. Colangelo also added versatility with buttons placed on the sleeves, under the arms and on the side of bias-cut dresses, for on- and off-duty transitions.
But the most interesting part of the collection was the looks that showcased his love of craft. He added hand-sewn glass beads in geometric patterns on French lace for a range of coats and dresses in black. The shadow of the lace, plus the dazzle of the beads, created a mesmerizing 3D visual effect.
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Other standouts included a skirt crafted with handwoven jacquard in silk, cotton and two-tone raffia, as seen on Aymeline Valade in the look book. The raffia was intentionally kept long at the back, giving it a wavy fringe effect that was both rustic and sophisticated. The thin belts made out of knotted faux python leather were eye-catching, too.