Saint Laurent and Vuitton kicked off Paris Men's Fashion Week with retro-influenced collections, as the fashion industry recovers from frequent creative director changes and declining interest in luxury goods.

Saint Laurent kicked off the event with a playful Spring/Summer 2026 collection, pairing cropped pants with exaggerated shoulders and pleated trousers with wide coats casually tied at the waist.

The shorts, reminiscent of those worn by the brand's founder, Yves Saint Laurent, in his youth, were paired with bright, loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and complemented by large sunglasses, AFP reported.

The show marks Saint Laurent's official return to fashion week after two and a half years of absence from the official Paris men's fashion calendar.

Many brands in the luxury sector are experiencing turmoil as big profits disappear and consumer interest in luxury products declines.

Saint Laurent's parent company, Kering, is no exception. Its sales fell last year, causing its share price to drop 28% since the beginning of the year.

However, shares rebounded 12% last week after former Renault boss Luca de Meo was appointed as Kering's new CEO.

Alice Feillard, fashion buyer at Galeries Lafayette, Europe's largest department store chain, said the return of Saint Laurent's creative director Anthony Vaccarello to Men's Fashion Week was “very positive” and would help strengthen the brand's men's line. | BGNES