Julie Kegels Takes Home the LVMH Prize
Two years after launching her label in 2024, Belgian designer Julie Kegels, known for exploring feminine identity, has won the 2026 LVMH Prize. “I’m speechless,” she said after Jennifer Lawrence announced her name at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris on Friday, and given the speed of her trajectory, that reaction is understandable. She takes home a €400,000 grant and a year of mentorship from LVMH experts, making her the thirteenth winner in the prize’s history. Two additional prizes were awarded alongside the main prize: Zane Li of Lii, who also appeared on the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund shortlist this year, took the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, and Anil Padia of Yoshita 1967 won the Savoir-Faire Prize. The other finalists were Petra Fagerström, De Pino by Gabriel Figueiredo, Ponte by Harry Pontefract, The Vxlley by Daniel del Valle Fernandez, Institution By Galib Gassanoff, and Colleen Allen. [WWD]
Victoria’s Secret Expands its Angel Search Into a New Docuseries
Victoria’s Secret is turning the making of an Angel into its own spectacle. This week, the brand released the trailer for Angels Among Us, a docuseries following aspiring models through the casting process and onto the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles. More than 100,000 hopefuls entered the search, underscoring the continued cultural currency of the Angel title even as the brand has reworked its approach to the iconic franchise. Rather than simply documenting the runway show, the series puts the pursuit of becoming an Angel at the center of the story, offering a look at the ambition and competition behind one of fashion’s most coveted castings. The first episode arrives on YouTube September 27, ahead of the October 18 show. In an increasingly content-driven landscape, it is a strategic move from Victoria’s Secret, as the runway is no longer the whole event, the journey to getting there is part of it too. [WWD]
H&M x Elie Saab Is Coming
H&M has announced Elie Saab as its designer collaborator for Fall 2026. The collection, launching October 22, spans 55 pieces across womenswear, menswear, accessories and footwear, with prices ranging from €29.99 to €399. The H&M collaboration series has included, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Versace,Balmain, Alexander Wang, Simone Rocha, and Rabanne. Saab’s house was built almost entirely on red carpet glamour and bridal fantasy. “We’ve always been true to ourselves,” the couturier told Vogue. “We’ve never been driven by trends. If you look across the archives, what you see is consistency and craftsmanship.” He continued: “We wanted to be sure we could do something where every piece was special—without compromise—because otherwise it wouldn’t be Elie Saab. No one wants ‘basic’ from Elie Saab.” [Vogue]
After 30 Years, LVMH and Marc Jacobs Part Ways
LVMH completed its $925 million sale of Marc Jacobs to WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group on Tuesday, September 1, closing a chapter that began in 1997, the same year Jacobs was appointed as creative director of Louis Vuitton. Under the new structure, WHP Global and G-III each hold a 50% stake in a joint venture owning the brand’s intellectual property, with G-III operating its retail, wholesale and e-commerce businesses under a long-term licence. Marc Jacobs remains creative director, which was a condition of the deal from the start. “Marc Jacobs is a defining name in fashion, with powerful cultural relevance and global growth potential,” said Yehuda Shmidman, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of WHP Global. “We want to thank LVMH for its stewardship of this brand over nearly three decades and for being a trusted partner throughout this process. Together with G-III, we have created a powerful platform that combines best-in-class brand management with exceptional operating expertise.” [WWD]
The Met Pulled the John Galliano Exhibition Weeks After Announcing It
The John Galliano: Horizons retrospective that was set to be the Met’s next spring Costume Institute exhibition has been canceled. The backlash centered on Galliano’s past antisemitic and racist statements, and it grew quickly, as numerous donors and museum supporters opposed the show. “After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano said on Instagram. “I do not want the debate surrounding me to place The Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute.” Andrew Bolton said museums have a responsibility to examine “difficult histories with rigour, candour and care.” Anna Wintour described Galliano’s decision as “very courageous and a measure of the man he is.” The Met said a new spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and Met Gala details will be announced at a later date. [Vogue]
Ib Kamara Exits Off-White
In 2022, Ib Kamara took over Off-White, a house inseparable from it’s late founder Virgil Abloh, and stewarded the brand across four years and three runway shows in New York and Paris. His departure, announced August 31, comes as the Parisian-based brand undergoes a significant shift under its owner Bluestar Alliance, which has moved the brand to a more accessible positioning since acquiring it from LVMH in 2024. Off-White is now pivoting to a collaboration-driven creative model, inviting ten external contributors, from Kid Cudi to Luar’s Raul Lopez, to design capsule collections through April 2027. No successor has been named and the label will not show this season. “Working at Off-White has been an honour and a profound creative education,” he said. “Off-White is bigger than any one idea, exactly as Virgil intended.” [WWD]
Jin Soon Choi on Her Legacy as Fashion’s Premier Manicurist
For more than two decades, Jin Soon Choi, founder of JINsoon, has been the manicurist behind iconic collaborations with Steven Meisel, Pat McGrath, Marc Jacobs, and countless industry legends. In the latest Behind the Image segment, Models.com speaks with Choi about her life before the salons, the chance encounter that launched her editorial career, and how “elegant simplicity” became her signature, leading to work with some of fashion’s top publications. Read the full interview here.
September Covers Continue
September covers continue with A-list actors including Anne Hathaway, plus pop artists Dua Lipa and Harry Styles. The second batch of September covers has arrived in the database, don’t miss it. Models.com Pro members get access to MDC Talent Watch Reports, data-driven insights combining Models.com’s industry intelligence with social media trend analysis. Get a sneak peek here.
MDC Selects: These Rookies Have Their Eyes on the World
Meet the new faces bringing diverse backgrounds and ambitions to fashion, from competitive athletes and creative minds to global travelers and more here.
