From drop-waist dresses to speakeasy-inspired suits, Ferragamo infuses the spirit of Jazz Age rebellion into 2026.

      For Ferragamo's spring/summer 2026 collection unveiled at Milan Fashion Week, creative director Maximilian Davis offered a contemporary perspective on the Roaring Twenties. He drew from archival visuals, particularly a 1925 portrait of silent film actress Lola Todd draped in leopard print, to examine the patterns, fabrics, and cultural influences that characterized the Jazz Age. The outcome was a collection enriched with silk satin devoré animal prints, flowing tailoring, and lavish embellishments that reflect the era's glamour and defiance. "This was a time when women were defining a new femininity—it symbolized freedom and self-reclamation," Davis stated in a press release. "It was an era of individuals carving out their own spaces and rebelling against societal expectations—and that essence made its way into people’s wardrobes." Beyond just prints and textures, the collection embodies the liberated spirit of 1920s fashion. Elements like "speakeasy suiting," drop-waist slips adorned with lace, and reimagined zoot suits underscore a sense of self-expression. Read on for my analysis of the collection.

      The Silent Screen Muse

      The image of American actress Lola Todd from 1925 served as the foundation for Maximilian Davis's spring/summer 2026 collection. The silent film star was dressed entirely in leopard print, including a coat, stockings, and Ferragamo shoes. "I was intrigued by how various materials, prints, and textiles were transported from Africa and the Caribbean to America and Europe, becoming symbols of status," Davis noted in the press release.

      The Modern Flapper

      From Halloween festivities to Great Gatsby-themed events, we're all familiar with clichéd flapper costumes. However, Maximilian Davis's interpretation of this classic look is refreshingly authentic. There are no bejeweled headbands, feather boas, or long cigarette holders here. One outfit, in stunning chartreuse, reimagines the dropped waistline that granted 1920s women remarkable freedom of movement. Another outfit, featuring beautiful lace cutouts, provides a modern twist on the slip dress, which previously astonished with its corset-free design and non-hourglass shape.

      The New Shoes and Bags

      The spring/summer 2026 collection reaffirmed Ferragamo's strength in the accessories sector. I anticipate that the new sculptural S heels will be highly sought after come spring. In a press release, Davis referred to one style of shoes as "fetishistic" due to the chains at the ankle. The Ferragamo Hug bag has also been refreshed for the season, available in patent leather, woven leather, nubuck suede, and stamped crocodile patterns.

      The Latest Leopard Print

      This is not the same leopard print that Lola Todd donned in 1925. Davis has put an engaging twist on one of fashion's most beloved motifs. I particularly admire how he combined red leopard print with unexpected brown polka dots. The leopard designs also incorporated touches of chartreuse—one of the major color trends for this collection—in shoes and bags.

      The Reimagined Zoot Suit

      This collection blurred the distinctions between men's and women's fashion of the time. "Harlem Renaissance zoot suits and relaxed, expressive dandyism infuse the spirit of menswear," the press release detailed, "while men's ties are transformed into scarf sashes wrapping tuxedo waists or are panelled into patchwork dresses."