christian louboutin aw26 | jaden smith’s debut

Jaden Smith chose to paint the town red for his Christian Louboutin debut, and honestly, it was the kind of main character moment that would make Doja Cat proud. Taking over Paris Fashion Week, the newly minted Men’s Creative Director staged an immersive, deep-lore exhibition that felt more like a cinematic universe than a traditional fashion presentation.

The exhibition was structured as a gradual reveal, starting in a projection room that paid homage to the pioneers of cinema like the Lumière brothers. Smith’s vision for the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection is rooted in a surprisingly humble concept: the history of the working man. He is looking at the stonemasons, the scribes and the doctors of lost epochs, but reimagining their kit as something “forged under immense pressure in cosmic space.”

When it comes to the actual footwear, the range is a full-spectrum blueprint of modern masculinity. The Trapman corner was a standout, reframing a signature Louboutin silhouette through the lens of 90s hip-hop. Smith describes hip-hop culture as the centre of his design philosophy, but he is pairing that energy with the formal attire of the future. Then you have the Corteo, a classic businessman’s shoe that Smith views as a symbol of discipline and intention. For those leaning into the current obsession with utility and tech-wear, the TCT I (Tactical) is essentially the shoe version of a high-spec waterproof jacket.

 

Beyond the shoes, accessories like the TFT-VI Harness Bag and the Djanis Tote appeared, each crafted in classic Louboutin leather but configured with the obsessive practicality that has come to define Smith’s debut. Belts, keyrings and heavy metal jewellery pieces were also part of the capsule, giving the collection a cohesive, hard-edged finish.

The exhibition space is littered with personal and historical Easter eggs that make the whole thing feel incredibly intimate. There was a 360-degree installation of vintage TV screens looping historical moments and an angel sculpture from Christian Louboutin’s own private collection that symbolises their creative bond. Smith even played with early photographic methods, developing images by hand using silver and chemical solutions, then printing them as red-illuminated negatives.

Naturally, the internet has been in a bit of a meltdown since the first images surfaced. The online reaction has been overwhelmingly valid, with fashion circles on X praising the hard launch of Smith’s creative era as a serious level-up for the brand. Most of the discourse is living for the fact that Smith has managed to honour the Louboutin legacy while making it feel relevant to a generation that values lore and world-building over just a status symbol.

Everything culminates in a massive, exploded red head that dominates the final chapter of the journey, a psychedelic and immersive tribute to that iconic scarlet sole. For those who cannot wait until the full collection arrives in June, an avant-première capsule drops today in a strict chromatic trilogy of red, black and white.

Discover the collection here.

photography. courtesy of Kasia Wozniak
words. Gennaro Costanzo