Zendaya shines in silver as minis dominate the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week
The return of the mini skirt dominated the front row at Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in Paris yesterday, with Zendaya leading the charge in an eye-catching look that lit up the Louvre.
The 29-year-old Dune star, long regarded as a fashion trailblazer, turned heads in a metallic silver coat dress cut short to showcase her legs. Trimmed with a shaggy cream shearling collar and cuffs, the outfit shimmered under the lights, while a sky-high pair of silver stilettos completed the dramatic ensemble. It was a statement that left little doubt: the mini is back.
Zendaya was far from alone in embracing the hemline shift. Sophie Turner, also 29, arrived in a short black skirt paired with a sharp-shouldered leather jacket, sheer tights and slouchy boots — a look that blended toughness with glamour. Ana de Armas, 37, took a different angle on the trend, pairing a black monogrammed Louis Vuitton sweatshirt with a pleated black mini and knee-high boots.
Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor, 30, added to the chorus of short hemlines, appearing in a richly textured brocade coat dress worn with brown boots. The front row was filled with stars seemingly united in their embrace of the mini, from Vuitton ambassadors Jennifer Connelly, Stacy Martin and Lea Seydoux to model Natalia Vodianova, wife of LVMH heir Antoine Arnault.
The visual message was clear: the mini skirt, after years of midi and maxi dominance, is poised for a revival.
Not every guest joined the leg-baring trend, however. Emma Stone, 36, went against the grain in a cream rib-knit tube dress paired with a shrug, her understated elegance standing apart from the bolder looks around her. Ava DuVernay, 53, and France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, 72, also opted for more demure attire.
Ironically, those who eschewed the mini were more in line with what actually appeared on the runway. Louis Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquière unveiled a collection full of bubble skirts, peplums and grand demoiselle gowns, drawing inspiration from history while delivering thoroughly modern silhouettes. Minis were absent from the catwalk, leaving the front row to carry the torch for the rising trend.
Ghesquière’s vision for Spring/Summer 2026 was whimsical yet sharp, blending historical echoes with contemporary craftsmanship. Structured skirts sat alongside voluminous shapes, with tailoring and detailing that reminded the audience why Louis Vuitton remains at the heart of fashion innovation.
The juxtaposition was striking: the runway called for drama and reinvention, while the celebrity attendees signalled a simpler message — short hemlines are back in style.
For fashion-watchers, the takeaway was unmistakable. Whether or not minis ruled Vuitton’s official collection, the influence of Zendaya and her peers will almost certainly dictate what filters down to wardrobes around the world. As one of the most photographed stars of her generation, Zendaya’s silver mini-coat dress is poised to become a defining image of this Paris Fashion Week.
In the world of high fashion, the runway often tells one story while the front row tells another. Yesterday, the contrast only heightened the buzz: if the celebrities at Louis Vuitton have their way, the mini is about to dominate again.
