Mugler Fall/Winter 2026 / FW26 at Paris Fashion Week entitled THE COMMANDER
What is understood as power? And what does the fetishisation of its visual codes reveal about us? With The Commander, Part 2 of A Trilogy of Glorified Clichés, Miguel Castro Freitas delves into one of the most defining pillars of Mugler’s legacy: power dressing. Here, power is explored not as force or pure glamour, but as the intention and allure that shape identity and desire, both past and present. In dialogue with the radical vision of Manfred Thierry Mugler, Mugler FW26 / Fall/Winter 2026 collection revisits the creator’s seminal explorations of authority and control, most notably in Les Secrétaires and Hiver Militaire. More than forty years later, these ideas are reconsidered through Castro Freitas’ contemporary lens, acknowledging their lasting appeal, while reflecting on how the aesthetics of power evolve with time.
“Ultimately, this show intends to acknowledge that self-empowerment is the most potent antidote of clarity to the oppressive forces and grey political climate that surrounds us at this very moment,“ said Castro Freitas, “and most of all, it’s a manifesto of the highest power that we should never forget to reclaim: FREEDOM.”
Power is not monolithic: it shifts, flexes, and seduces beyond boundaries. Military details are in dialogue with 17th century aristocratic court coats. The potent impact of art deco geometry is reimagined with the logic of 1980s corporate power wear, amplified and sensualized. Echoes of 1940s glamour and authority resurface, with Castro Freitas’ signature shoulders, cinched waists, and expressive curves, serving both as inspiration and as a reminder of the tensions embedded in visual codes of leadership. Garments traditionally associated with more functional power — workwear, ceremonial dress — are transformed into statements of self-possession and intent. Confidence remains central. Power is understood here as the ability to navigate attraction, release, and exchange. Throughout Mugler FW26 / Fall/Winter 2026 collection, early twentieth-century constructivism informs the rigor of silhouettes, while Bauhaus principles of structure and function lend architectural precision. Authority is articulated not only through shape, but through texture and colour: vibrant shearling, printed silks, metallic leathers and lamé. The body and glamour remain essential, not as embellishment, but as a form of affirmation. The Aurora and Lua handbags return, joined by seasonal briefcases featuring carabiner-inspired constructions.
Set inside Paris’ Palais de la Porte Dorée, The Commander examines how power is worn, interpreted, and redefined. It questions established roles as to who commands, who follows, and who submits, suggesting that strength can be metamorphized through dress. In true Mugler spirit, eroticism is not ornamental; it is a language of confidence and directness. With The Commander, Mugler proposes a renewed vision of power dressing, one rooted in agency.
All images Mugler FW26 / Fall/Winter 2026 by the brand. PR Agency KCD World Wide. Credits: Creative Director Miguel Castro Freitas, Stylist Robbie Spencer, Hair Anthony Turner, Make-up Karin Westerlund, Manicure Cam Tran, Casting Rachel Chandler at Midland Agency, Creative Production & Set Design Villa Eugenie & Music Direction Teho Teardo.