‘For years, I have been drawn to the idea of creating a garment woven from energy alone. We have shaped couture through solids, liquids, living matter and even gas. This is the first time we have worked with the fourth state of matter, plasma. Glass and tulle still hold it to the earth, but we are one step closer to couture that exists as atmosphere alone.’ – Iris van Herpen
Iris van Herpen returned to Paris Haute Couture Week with Sonic Starquakes, a collection that explored the invisible forces connecting the human body to the vast movements of the cosmos. Her Fall Winter 2026 Haute Couture collection continued the designer’s ongoing dialogue between fashion, science, technology and nature, transforming celestial phenomena from sonic vibrating stars and supernovae to spiraling galaxies and plasma turbulence into extraordinary couture creations.
Inspired by the intuition that the internal forces of the human body are connected to those of the universe, van Herpen explored the relationship between vibration, matter and energy. The collection also drew parallels with the work of Victorian inventor Margaret Watts Hughes, who used her voice to create vibrational geometries, revealing the hidden patterns formed through sound and movement.
Among the collection’s most remarkable creations was the Helix Nebula Dress, which introduced plasma the fourth state of matter into couture through two hand-blown glass forms that respond to human touch. Surrounded by 10,000 glass spheres, the garment transforms the wearer into a conductor within its own electromagnetic system. The collection’s centerpiece, Fractal Universe, pushed the boundaries of couture craftsmanship even further, having been cryogenically preserved and charged within a particle accelerator. Its final form emerged through the interaction of charged electrons, which etched luminous plasma channels into its structure, allowing elemental forces to shape the creative process.
Echoing the celestial universe of the collection, lead makeup artist Andrew Gallimore created otherworldly beauty looks using Anastasia Beverly Hills products, transforming the models into luminous figures from another realm. The makeup featured glowing skin, moon-bathed pearlescent textures, supernova-inspired halos at the center of the face and ethereal lashes that reflected the collection’s exploration of light, energy and cosmic movement.
“The looks for Iris Van Herpen Couture Fall 2026 were inspired by Iris’ beautiful clothes, their colors and textures, mood and feeling, and indeed her inspirations; all things planetary, light and lightning. I created moon-bathed pearlescent looks. Glowing celestial skin. Supernova halos in the center of the face and otherworldly lashes. Resulting in a parade of goddesses from another universe!” noted Lead Makeup Artist Andrew Gallimore. For all of us who can only dream of couture, we can take notes from Andrew and channel the collection through beauty.
Credits:
Runway Photography: Gio Staiano
Styling Genesis Webb
Casting Maxime Valentini
Stage Director: Kim Vos
Make-up: Andrew Gallimore, sponsored by Anastasia Beverly Hills
Hair: Global Creative advocate Hester Wernert-Rijn using Authentic Beauty Concept & Ukysah.
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Nail Artists: Juan Alvear & Sammy Does
Sponsors: Kat Burki, Fresha, Perrier-Jouët, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Marie-Stella-Maris, Authentic Beauty Concept
Footwear Collaborator: United Nude / Rem D Koolhaas
