The Most: PAPER's Superlative Picks for Spring/Summer 2026
BY
Jordan Bradfield | Oct 23, 2025
If you squint hard enough at the front row of any fashion show, it starts to look suspiciously like a high school cafeteria.
The it-girls holding court at Miu Miu, clad in archival Prada. The art kids pondering the meaning of shape through asymmetrical bangs at Comme des Garçons. The intellectual outsiders at Rick Owens, gazing down on the masses from their 12-inch platforms. The jocks? Somewhere in Milan, getting oiled down at DSquared2. We could go on — rest assured, we already did behind closed doors.
Somewhere in our Fashion Month delirium, too many time zones, too few meals, the various FROWs started to blur into yearbook photos for different high school clubs. The more we looked, the more we couldn’t look away: every show its own personality type, every collection vying for the class vote. We figured: why not lean into this fever-dream of feel-good nostalgia?
It’s been nearly a month since fashion month ended — which, in today’s nostalgia economy, basically makes it vintage. So in honor of our collective goldfish memory, PAPER has reduced the SS26 season into a chaotic, deeply unserious class superlative roundup of the shows we thought were, well, the most.
And the winners are…
BOTTEGA VENETA
Photo courtesy of Bottega Veneta
She's the classmate who somehow aced every AP class, interned at the MoMA over summer break, and still had perfect skin. You just know she’s headed for a Forbes 30 Under 30 mention—probably in multiple categories.
MAISON MARGIELA
Photo courtesy of Maison Margiela
Never entered a room where heads didn't swivel. The girl who literally couldn’t shut her mouth – even if she tried.
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
Photo courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier
Always getting flagged as “disruptive in class,” banned from the pep rally mic, and detention was their favorite period. Chaos, their native language.
CHANEL
Photo courtesy of Chanel
Our radiant optimist. She said “fuck being jaded” and reminded us that joy — real, unfiltered, sparkly-in-your-eye joy — is the most luxurious accessory of all.
BURBERRY
Photo courtesy of Burberry
Never late, always layered. She’s at every game, paints the school banners, and leads the rally chants—while serving full archival plaid with a side of pep.
SCHIAPARELLI
Photo courtesy of Schiaparelli
She cries couture tears, speaks in symbolism, and accessorizes exclusively in gold-plated emotion. Every entrance? An eclipse. Every exit? A myth.
TOM FORD
Photo courtesy of Tom Ford
The school’s certified thirst trap. They know they’ve got it, know you want it, and lean in just enough to leave you spiraling.
THOM BROWNE
Photo courtesy of Thom Browne
You thought they were just sketching in class, but turns out they were designing a new world order. Whether they save us or sink us? To be determined
DRIES VAN NOTEN
Photo courtesy of Dries Van Noten
Permanently sun kissed. Their passport’s full, their suitcase is silk-lined, and school is just a layover between villas.
AREA
Photo courtesy of AREA
Their parents, always conveniently out of town. The basement parties, legendary, and rumor has it, they inspired NYC’s most exclusive club, Basement – and honestly, we believe it.
SIMONE ROCHA
Photo courtesy of Simone Rocha
Our cafeteria chameleon, she knows everyone, drifts between every table, and somehow remembers your birthday. She’s artsy, in-the-know, and impossible to hate—Prom Queen, no campaign required.
DIOTIMA
Photo courtesy of Diotima
She wasn’t zoning out in class — she was calculating alternate dimensions. She challenges every teacher not for clout, but for truth. They’ll name a theory after her before the decade’s out. Give her the medal and step aside.
BALENCIAGA
Photo courtesy of Balenciaga
She’s not who she was in middle school. Tea, she’s not even who she was last season. Sure, you got bangs. But that overnight shape shift? Compelling. The unknown? Even more.
STELLA MCCARTNEY
Photo courtesy of Stella McCartney
Laser-focused, self-assured, and sustainably suited. She’s not chasing micro-trends—she’s writing policy while pulling power fits. Hail to our future chief.
ASHISH
Photo courtesy of Ashish
The classmate whose outfits were louder than their laugh. The embodiment of serotonin. If joy is contagious, they’re patient zero.
JANE WADE
Photo courtesy of Jane Wade
Still taking a call, even during finals. Always booked, probably double-booked – and the one muttering “sorry, have to take this” as she’s already halfway out the door of homeroom.
AARON ESH
Photo courtesy of Aaron Esh
Perpetually running 45 minutes behind, probably on purpose. They were too cool for punctuality—but too iconic to penalize.
MUGLER
Photo courtesy of Mugler
The one who stayed booked and busy. Fast-talking, sharper than a stiletto, and already building an empire. Your net worth just shrank being near her.
GUCCI
Photo courtesy of Gucci
No one can explain why she’ll be famous. Some things you just, feel. Call it aura. Call it legacy. Call it being photogenic, even in 4K. Some people were just born to be fawned over.
Graphic design by Jewel Baek
