Last week, the Italian house Max Mara unveiled its Resort 2026 collection in the majestic setting of La Reggia di Caserta, a Baroque palace and UNESCO World Heritage site just outside Naples. A quick aside, for those who (like me) weren’t entirely clear on the term: a Resort or Cruise collection is a mid-season line originally created for women who escaped to warmer destinations during the winter months. A wardrobe for sunny getaways, perhaps like yours ;)?
I always find these collections fascinating. They tend to offer more relaxed silhouettes, designed with ease and elegance in mind. And Max Mara, well, I’ve always had a soft spot for the brand. Don’t you? As for this collection… it’s a beauty. Inspired by the golden age of 1950s Italian cinema, it evokes the elegance of Borsalino hats, sweeping capes, midi skirts, high-waisted trousers, and tasseled loafers, all infused with the quiet precision of Neapolitan tailoring. A graceful dialogue between nostalgia and modernity, structure and softness.
I loved it. And I thought perhaps you would too. So I’ve handpicked a few of my favorite looks from the runway, decoding their colors, shapes, and styling cues to share what I believe hints at the direction fashion may be taking next. I hope this little escape inspires you as much as it did me.
Independent and unsponsored, this article is written with curiosity and discernment. Some links are affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase, always at no cost to you.
1. The Rise of Cobalt
Cobalt blue is quietly taking over. I first noticed it in the Chanel Métiers d’Art 2024/25 collection, and here it is again at Max Mara; this time in a sumptuous cashmere coat layered over a satin slip dress in a cornflower-blue hue. It’s rich without being loud, bold yet refined. A shift is happening: instead of defaulting to black, navy, or burgundy (a shade that’s dominated recent autumns) we’re leaning into color with both depth and luminosity, especially when rendered in luxurious, light-catching fabrics like cashmere or silk. Cobalt is quietly becoming the new neutral, for those in the know ;).
2. A Soft Lavender for the Season Ahead
I’m completely taken with this shade: a soft, luminous lavender that appeared across several Max Mara Resort 2026 runway looks. It’s particularly striking in stripes, as seen on this matching shirt and shorts set, but also beautifully rendered in this second ensemble, a silk blouse and skirt delicately patterned in midnight blue.
This pale lavender is subtle yet captivating, and I’ve also spotted it in Hermès’ Fall/Winter 2025 collection, where it pairs surprisingly well with vivid Hermès orange, deeper rust tones, chestnut brown, terracotta, and even unexpected contrasts like raspberry, saffron yellow, or navy blue. It’s a quiet color, elegant and modern, and I suspect we’ll see it make a discreet entrance this fall/winter before blooming into full trend status by spring/summer 2026.
3. The Quiet Power of Pale Pink
Have you noticed? Pale pink has slowly been claiming its place in our wardrobes since last winter. I myself gave in to the trend with a lovely pair of pale pink suede loafers, and I wrote about my growing obsession with the color last season, just here.
There’s something undeniably uplifting about it. It flatters fair skin tones (like mine!) and softens the features in a way that feels gentle and refined. It also pairs effortlessly with pieces most of us already own; beige, camel, ivory, light blue… It slips in with quiet ease. And it’s not going anywhere just yet. At Max Mara, we’re seeing it again: on this tailored blazer and matching shorts, a soft faux-fur coat, and even a long silk jumpsuit adorned with delicate patterns. So don’t be surprised if this beautiful shade continues its quiet reign come autumn, whether in the form of an office-ready blazer-and-trousers set, or a statement coat in that same soft hue.
4. The Return of the Over-the-Knee Boot
These over-the-knee boots, with their strong ’70s spirit, appeared at Max Mara styled with high-waisted shorts, a chic, transitional way to wear shorts into autumn or winter, especially paired with sheer black tights. We first spotted this boot silhouette at Chloé, with the Eve over-the-knee boots shown during the Pre-Fall 2024 presentation, worn there with flowing chiffon dresses and ruffled skirts for a look that felt unmistakably bohemian and effortlessly feminine.
5. Ivory, the New Winter Neutral
I truly adore this color, it feels endlessly chic. I never quite embraced the butter yellow trend that popped up everywhere this season; I’ve always found it a bit too yellow for my taste. But this ivory, especially on a long cashmere coat, with just the right hint of yellow or beige, that slightly warm, soft white, this, to me, is the quintessence of chic. We already saw the beginnings of this trend last winter, with the rise of long white wool coats. And I believe this autumn/winter, this shade will extend beyond outerwear: into knitted dresses, tailored trouser suits, hats, sweaters, and perhaps even plush faux-fur coats? It’s a beautiful tone that pairs effortlessly with colors many of us already own: espresso brown, charcoal, taupe… or worn as a head-to-toe monochrome look, it’s the ultimate in understated elegance.
6. Shimmering Darkness
It’s a trend already spotted at the recent Chanel Fall–Winter 2025 show, and again in the Pre-Fall Women Off-Season 2025 collection: iridescent blacks and inky navy tweeds that seem to shimmer in the dark. Like that stunning Max Mara black coat or this strapless maxi dress adorned with a constellation of tiny rhinestones, pieces where embellishment transforms the fabric, giving it an entirely new dimension, almost a new color. I can already imagine the upcoming holiday capsule collections sparkling with a thousand and one lights, just enough to light up the winter nights, softly and elegantly :).
7. The Mocha Mousse Moment
Brown is back, and it’s more refined than ever. I’m especially drawn to this warm, mid-tone camel or taupe: a soft, muted beige-brown that leans neither too yellow nor too grey. It instantly brings to mind Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025. Warm, grounding, and quietly elegant, these tones evoke the comforting richness of coffee, cocoa, and cashmere, offering a sense of softness and sophistication all at once. Honestly, this autumn/winter, I’d love to find the perfect wool coat in a beautifully blended melange of this delicious shade :).
