When in Rome: Daniel Roseberry’s Fantastical Reptilian Schiaparelli Haute Couture 2026
By Alexus Mosley
Photo Credit/Schiaparelli
Daniel Roseberry opened couture week with a breathtaking vision at Schiaparelli Haute Couture 2026, blending technical mastery with wild imagination. Inspired by a transformative visit to Rome, where he first experienced the Sistine Chapel, Roseberry translated the tension between structural rigor and expressive release into every fabric fold and silhouette. “I was so struck by the difference between the walls and the ceiling,” he reflected. “The walls were done 40 years prior…so static and controlled, and then the ceiling is like this four-year slow motion, orgasmic thing. I was so inspired by that release.” With this collection, he sought to honor the precision of past seasons while amplifying its emotive, expressive dimension.
Photo Credit/Schiaparelli
The runway came alive with fantastical interpretations of reptilian and arachnid creatures. Among the most striking was “Isabella Blowfish,” a sharply tailored ensemble adorned with sculptural spines that reimagined traditional tailoring as avant-garde fantasy. Each piece embodied Schiaparelli’s signature artistry, marrying technical brilliance with a fearless storytelling spirit.
Set against a soundtrack that combined cinematic grandeur with contemporary energy, John Williams’ TV Reveals and Robyn’s Dopamine (Jamie xx Remix), the show felt both epic and otherworldly, transporting the audience from Renaissance inspiration to the cutting edge of modern couture.
Front-row luminaries included Demi Moore, Teyana Taylor, Carla Bruni, Jodi Turner-Smith, Farida Khelfa, and Lauren Sánchez with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, all witnesses to a show that transcended presentation and became a living work of art. Roseberry’s Schiaparelli proves once again that couture is not only a display of craftsmanship but a vehicle for imagination, history, and unbridled fantasy.