Beneath the ethereal arches of the Collège des Bernardins in Paris, Rahul Mishra unveiled a transcendent vision for Fall/Winter 2025–2026—a couture collection that blurred the boundary between romantic devotion and spiritual odyssey. Inspired by the seven classical stages of love in Sufi poetry, Mishra wove a tale of longing, surrender, death, and rebirth into a sartorial symphony where each garment sang its own verse of passion.

The show began with a heart-shaped cage embroidered in gold, worn over sheer fabric—a metaphorical exhale that introduced love as both protection and exposure. From there, the runway unfolded in movements, each ensemble a poetic response to the emotional evolution of desire. His atelier’s masterful craftsmanship turned ephemeral feelings into tangible luxury, from bodices drenched in luminous pearls to mosaic-like gowns shimmering in Klimt-inspired gold.

Embroidered roses bloomed like votive offerings, and lotus motifs echoed across silhouettes—sacred, not simply decorative. The collection didn’t just reference mythology; it existed within its own. Divine symbols and spiritual archetypes emerged through dense embellishment, intricate surface work, and surreal silhouettes that floated somewhere between reverie and ritual.

And yet, it was never static. A moonlit gown rippling with pond-like embroidery whispered calm reflection. Then came spectacle: Cardi B’s late arrival in a burgundy gown teeming with sequins and three-dimensional florals marked the emotional crescendo—love at its most fevered, feral, and decadent. The dress was both storm and sanctuary, unapologetically bold in the most Mishra of ways.

While others pare couture down to minimal gestures, Mishra dares to speak in maximalism—each look a manuscript of emotion stitched with unrelenting sincerity. He doesn’t chase trends; he builds universes. Here, couture becomes a sacred language, echoing myth, memory, and human vulnerability in a way that defies time.

In a world where fashion often hides behind irony, Rahul Mishra leans into feeling. This collection wasn’t just worn—it was felt. A living ode to love in all its chaos and divinity.