The 2026 LVMH Prize Finalists Are Here
Nine designers are now in the running for one of fashion’s most coveted prizes. The LVMH Prize announced its 2026 finalists today, a global shortlist spanning Belgium, Sweden, France, the U.K., Spain, Georgia, China, the U.S., and, for the first time, Kenya. Among them: Julie Kegels, Petra Fagerström, Gabriel Figueiredo of De Pino, Harry Pontefract of Ponte, Daniel del Valle of The Vxlley, Galib Gassanoff of Institution, Zane Li of Lii, Colleen Allen, and Anil Padia of Yoshita 1967. Several have honed their craft within major houses before launching their own labels: Figueiredo freelances for Dior, Pontefract is part of Glenn Martens’ Maison Margiela artisanal team, Kegels trained at Alaïa, and Allen previously worked at The Row and Calvin Klein. The final will take place on September 4 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, where a revamped 17-member jury will award a €400,000 endowment. New additions include Celine’s Michael Rider, Loewe’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, and Pucci’s Camille Miceli, with Maria Grazia Chiuri returning in her role as chief creative officer of Fendi.[WWD]
The Met Rethinks the Mannequin
With the Met Gala just ten days away, this year’s exhibition, Costume Art, is already generating conversation for something beyond the red carpet: its mannequins. Curator Andrew Bolton has commissioned 25 new figures modeled after real people across a range of body types, pointing to the ways certain forms have been historically excluded from art, including the corpulent, disabled, and aging body. The typical fashion mannequin is roughly a women’s size 2, these figures challenge that standard. Nine individuals underwent full-body photogrammetry scans to create the figures, among them disability activist Sinead Burke, presented in a custom Burberry trench and a Vivienne Westwood dress, musician Yseult in a Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior look, and designer Michaela Stark, whose corsetry-based work centers bodies fashion has often edited out. Stark’s three mannequins, dressed in her own designs, appear in the Reclaimed Body and Corpulent Body sections of the new Condé M. Nast Galleries, a 12,000-square-foot space inaugurated by the exhibition. The exhibition opens to the public on May 10, and the mannequins will not be retired afterward, they will enter the Met’s permanent collection. [AP News]
Chanel Taps Jacob Elordi as Ambassador
Chanel has tapped none other than Jacob Elordi as the newest ambassador for the Bleu de Chanel fragrance. The brand teased the announcement on Instagram, posing the question, “Who is Bleu?” Elordi joins previous ambassadors, including Timothée Chalamet. Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur, Head of Global Creative Resources for Fragrance & Beauty at Chanel, said, “I had been following Jacob Elordi’s career for several years, since Euphoria. I first met him on the set of the See You at 5 film for N°5, in which he stars alongside Margot Robbie, and it was a revelation. He perfectly embodies Bleu de Chanel, expressing freedom, mystery, magnetism, and a masculinity that blends modernity with a certain classic elegance.” [V Magazine]
Victoria Beckham x Gap Is Here
Victoria Beckham is partnering with Gap on a collection that reworks everyday staples through her signature lens, blending her refined aesthetic with some of Gap’s most recognizable pieces. Fleece sets, khakis, tees, and a strong offering of denim anchor the collection, finished with subtle details like Beckham’s VB signature in red stitching. Logo hoodies, sporty jackets, and jeans draw from Gap’s ’80s and ’90s silhouettes, bringing a slightly vintage edge to the lineup, while co-branded logos appear across key pieces. The campaign, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and directed by Troy Tyler, features creative direction by Isaac Lock and styling by fashion image consultant Alastair McKimm, with models Mica Argañaraz and Lina Zhang. “I love to elevate essentials, and there are so many in this collection,” Beckham said. “I often style a great pair of jeans with a heel, or combine a casual T-shirt with a strong tailored silhouette.” Prices range from $34 to $328, and is already selling out. [Vogue]
Teyana Taylor Is the New Face of Revlon
Teyana Taylor has joined Revlon as the newest ambassador for its Super Lustrous lipstick range. The singer, director, and actress, who took home a Golden Globe in January for her performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, will front the brand’s ongoing Be Unforgettable campaign, a reference to Revlon’s original ’80s print series that featured Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Oprah Winfrey, and Liza Minnelli. “Revlon has always championed women who define their own path, so stepping into this next chapter of ‘Revlon Be Unforgettable’ is an honor,” said Taylor. The Super Lustrous lipstick was originally launched in 1939 and sells around 11 units a minute today. Taylor joins a growing roster of ambassadors for the brand that includes Madelyn Cline, Ashley Graham, and country singer Megan Moroney, who was added earlier this month. [WWD]
i-D Launches Dedicated Beauty Vertical and Zine
i-D Magazine is expanding its beauty coverage with the launch of its first-ever print beauty zine, a new vertical spanning print, digital, and social. The initiative is led by editor-in-chief Thom Bettridge alongside makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez, who was appointed global beauty editor-at-large in November 2025, and beauty features editor Nellie Eden. Tyla fronts the inaugural issue, exploring her cultural heritage through a series of beauty looks created with Gutierrez. The 50-page zine also includes a reworked version of i-D’s “Straight-Ups” franchise, shifting the focus from outfits to faces, with Londoners reflecting on their relationships to beauty. A second print zine is set to follow later this year. Gutierrez said, “i-D has managed to create a space that’s aspirational, letting both legends and newcomers create images that stand the test of time. In terms of collaboration, that’s what I’m really excited about.” [BoF]
Dior’s Crafting Fashion Exhibition Lands in Atlanta at SCAD
A Dior exhibition is coming to Atlanta, and rather than focusing on the finished image, Dior: Crafting Fashion turns its attention to the process behind it. On view at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, the show brings together nearly 100 haute couture looks alongside muslin prototypes, sketches, and mood boards, tracing how the house’s identity has been built as much in the atelier as on the runway. Spanning seven sections, the exhibition follows Dior from its founder through successive creative directors, including Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano, Raf Simons, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Jonathan Anderson. Rather than presenting a single narrative, it highlights how each designer has reworked the house’s codes through their own lens, drawing from art, architecture, and contemporary culture. Highlights include the Atelier room, where annotated muslin samples reveal the technical precision behind couture, and sections like “Dior Gardens” and “Head to Toe,” which explore the house’s enduring motifs and early ambitions around total look dressing. Accessories are also given focus, with the Lady Dior bag reimagined by contemporary artists and tied to the brand’s broader cultural impact. The exhibition runs from April 16 to August 23 at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. [Harpers Bazaar]
New Super Kit Butler’s Day Off
Kit Butler enters his New York era at a defining moment, fresh off being named Models.com 2025 Model of the Year. After a decade of top-tier bookings shot by photographers like Steven Meisel, Alasdair McLellan, and Luigi & Iango, the New Super has built a reputation for consistency, versatility, and trust. In an exclusive behind-the-scenes with director Will Pippin, Models.com joins Butler on a rare day off between fashion capitals to talk runway adrenaline, industry sacrifices, and the mindset required for long-term relevance. Watch the interview here.
Gideon Ponte on His Cerebral Approach to Set Design
Models.com’s next Behind the Image spotlights set designer Gideon Ponte, whose work helped shape iconic films like Mary Harron’s American Psycho and I Shot Andy Warhol—the latter marking his breakthrough realization that set design could be a career. Today, Ponte collaborates with leading luxury houses including Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Valentino, with a strong focus on the collaborative effort behind every image. In the latest Behind The Image, discover how technology has changed the process, who’s one to watch, and more. Read the interview here.
Model of the Week: Silvia Arenas Went From Shanghai to Paris To Debut at Chanel Couture
“Going from Shanghai to Paris and making my debut with Chanel Haute Couture… come on! It was a moment I had been waiting for my entire life,” says Silvia Arenas, Models.com Model of the Week. Originally from Barcelona, Arenas always wanted to be a dancer, but her path shifted at 16 when she stepped into the world of modeling. Now, over 15 years later, her client list includes powerhouses like Chanel, Givenchy, and Tom Ford. Don’t miss this interview by Rosie Daly, where she shares the one song she has on repeat, something that might surprise people about her, and a change she hopes to see in the industry. Click the link here to read the full interview and view images by Zoe Karssen.
From Vilnius to Costa Rica, These New Faces Are Writing Their Own Playbooks
From Lithuania to New York, Models.com brings you six new rookies this week! See who’s an epic fantasy nerd, who’s been collecting vinyl since they were 13, and who has travelled around the world solo. Check out the full interviews here.
