Celine’s Été 2026 Campaign: A Sun-Drenched Ode to Riviera Elegance and Wear

day

Temperatures are slowly rising, and the allure of summer hangs in the air, leaving us yearning for sunnier climes. Celineis following suit, having just dropped their sun-drenched Été campaign inspired by the French Riviera. Michael Rider has teamed up with frequent connector Zoë Ghertner to lens this series of images, capturing models lounging by the pool and relaxing on the dunes at golden hour.

Été – translating to summer – is a chance for Rider to continue his foray into wear, delivering pieces which take the savoir-faire of ready-to-wear to new territory. Chunky gold jewellery is worn with bikinis, Triomphe logo leather tote bags are filled with towels or suncream and ballet flats walk along the sand. As is customary with most Été capsules, the collection will exclusively pre-launch at Selfridges Corner Shop from May 26th – mark your calendars!

This isn’t just another seasonal drop; it’s a full sensory immersion into the effortless chic that defines modern Celine under Michael Rider’s creative direction. Since taking the helm, Rider has steered the house toward a more approachable yet undeniably luxurious vision—one that honors its heritage while embracing the lived-in realities of summer days that stretch into golden evenings. The 2026 Été collection builds on his debut efforts, emphasizing how clothing becomes a vessel for memories: salt-kissed skin against linen, the weight of a well-worn tote bag heavy with beach essentials, the soft thud of ballet flats on warm sand.

stir

Michael Rider’s appointment as creative director marked a pivotal shift for Celine. Succeeding Hedi Slimane, Rider brought a fresh emphasis on wearability without sacrificing the brand’s signature polish. His collections blend preppy tailoring with relaxed silhouettes, vibrant retro colors, and a polished ease that feels distinctly Parisian yet globally resonant. For Été 2026, this translates into pieces designed for real summer living—lightweight, breathable, and unpretentious in their luxury.

Collaborating once again with Zoë Ghertner was a natural choice. Ghertner’s style—direct, luminous, and deeply attuned to natural light—uniquely captures the campaign’s essence. Images feature models against bright white backdrops or in open-air settings, where sunlight plays across skin, fabric, and accessories. Shadows create striking silhouettes, highlighting oversized sunglasses, fluttering silk scarves, and the gleam of gold hardware. The result is less about staged glamour and more about captured moments: the quiet haute of a late-afternoon poolside lounge or a stroll along dunes as the light turns honeyed.

Ghertner’s work has long celebrated intimacy and authenticity in fashion photography. Here, she infuses the French Riviera’s mythic allure—think Saint-Tropez escapes, azure waters, and that unmistakable Mediterranean haze—with a contemporary edge. Models like Samuel, Gabriel, Mona, Faith, Victoria, and others embody a carefree yet refined attitude. No stiff poses; instead, relaxed postures that invite the viewer to imagine slipping into these looks for their own summer adventures.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by CELINE (@celine)

The Été collection excels in its versatility. Core items include:

swim 

Triomphe triangle tops in monogram matte jersey pair seamlessly with high-waisted shorts or flowing skirts. Cotton poplin dresses and crochet cardigans offer breezy coverage for transitioning from sand to aperitivo hour. Colors range from crisp whites and navies to vibrant multicolores and earthy toffees.

sig

Chunky gold jewelry—links necklaces with beads and brass, bold hoop earrings—adds a statement layer even to minimal bikinis. The Triomphe logo appears on leather totes, raffia bucket bags, and shoppers, ready to carry towels, suncream, or a good book. New Luggage variations and Panier styles in raffia-calfskin mixes nod to Celine’s iconic heritage while feeling fresh for vacation.

shoe

Ballet flats in soft leathers brave the sand, while jelly bay sandals in eco-certified PVC bring playful color. Beach towels in terry cotton with Triomphe or C Sulky motifs turn practical into collectible. Sunglasses like the Morning Shade and Sundown models provide essential shade with architectural frames.

structure

Wool twill shorts, flare jeans in indigo, and double-face viscose dresses offer structure amid the fluidity. The collection balances structure with movement—fabrics that drape beautifully in the breeze yet hold their shape.

This focus on accessories underscores Rider’s understanding that summer style often revolves around thoughtful details: a belt cinching a linen shirt, a scarf tied around a straw hat, or gold hoops catching the light with every head turn.

frame

The French Riviera has long served as a muse for fashion and culture. From Coco Chanel sunbathing in the 1920s to Brigitte Bardot’s Saint-Tropez heyday, the region embodies hedonistic elegance—a place where luxury meets la dolce vita. Celine’s Été 2026 taps directly into this lineage while updating it for today’s sensibilities. It’s not nostalgic pastiche but a living interpretation: sustainable elements like eco-PVC sandals, breathable natural fibers, and pieces meant to be worn repeatedly, collecting stories along the way.

In a broader context, Rider’s Celine aligns with an industry-wide move toward “quiet luxury” that feels lived-in rather than ostentatious. Post-pandemic, consumers crave escapism tempered with practicality. This collection delivers that—high-end pieces that look as good rumpled from a day at the beach as they do styled for a coastal dinner.

The exclusive Selfridges Corner Shop pre-launch adds an event-like exclusivity. Past iterations have transformed the space into immersive pop-ups, complete with transporting visuals evoking Saint-Germain-des-Prés meets the Côte d’Azur. Shoppers can expect linen separates, monogrammed espadrilles, and that signature Celine polish in a setting designed to feel like a Riviera escape in the heart of London.

view

Since his arrival, Rider has revitalized Celine with a distinct identity: more colorful, more breathable, and deeply characteristic. His runway shows for Summer 2026 featured similar themes—light fabrics, playful prints, and a sense of freedom. The Été capsule distills this into essentials, making luxury accessible for everyday summer rituals.

Critics note the collection’s emphasis on how garments hold memories. A beach towel becomes a picnic blanket; a tote carries not just essentials but the weight of shared laughter. This emotional layering elevates the commercial into something poetic, reinforcing Celine’s position as a house that understands modern desire.

style

To channel the campaign:

Layer lightly with a swimsuit or triangle top beneath a crochet cardigan, then finish with oversized sunglasses and gold hoops. Mix raffia textures against smooth calfskin or terry cotton for contrast. Lean into navy, white, and multicolore accents grounded by earthy tones. Ballet flats transition easily from sand to city streets, while jelly sandals keep things playful by the pool. Most importantly, let jewelry act as armor—chunky but effortless, bold without overwhelming the minimalism beneath.

The beauty lies in effortlessness. Rider’s pieces reward those who wear them with confidence, letting the sun and setting do the rest.

clue

As we edge closer to May 26th, anticipation builds. The Été 2026 collection isn’t merely clothing—it’s an invitation to embrace summer fully: its warmth, its lightness, its fleeting yet unforgettable moments. Under Michael Rider and through Zoë Ghertner’s lens, Celine reminds us that true luxury is in the living.

Either you’re poolside in the South of France, dune-walking in a coastal getaway, or simply dreaming of sunnier days from the city, these pieces offer a portal. Pre-order alerts are set, Selfridges dates marked, and the Riviera spirit is calling.

In a fashion landscape often dominated by trends that fade quickly, Celine’s Été stands out for its timeless appeal rooted in the present. It celebrates the ordinary magic of summer—salt air, golden light, shared laughter—and wraps it in impeccable craftsmanship. Michael Rider continues to prove that wearability and aspiration can coexist beautifully.

This campaign doesn’t just sell a collection; it sells a feeling. And in the rising heat of 2026, that feeling is exactly what we’ve been waiting for.