Retrofête presented its Fall Winter 2026 collection during New York Fashion Week, drawing on Paris after dark for a season shaped by rich interiors, saturated color and evening dressing. Co-founded by Ohad Seroya and Aviad Klin, the brand transformed the runway into an immersive setting inspired by the hospitality of a grand Parisian hotel. Metallic brocades, Victorian lace, leather and ornate embellishment defined the collection, while a palette of Ochre, Violette, Sarcelle and Groiselle deepened its nocturnal character.
INTERVIEWS
For its third runway show, staged at Capitale in downtown Manhattan, Retrofête presented Fall Winter 2026 as a see-now, buy-now collection, making the looks available as they appeared on the runway. The season expanded the brand’s established vocabulary through sculpted minis, outerwear, refined separates and a stronger footwear offering. Satin and velvet appeared across peep-toe pumps, lace-up heels, boots and new versions of the label’s signature slingbacks, while burnout fabrics, layered sequins, Victorian lace and decorative detailing shaped the collection’s richer surface treatment.
In an interview with DSCENE editor Jana Kostic, Ohad Seroya discusses the Parisian references behind Fall Winter 2026, Retrofête’s evolving idea of glamour, and the immersive format of the show. He also speaks about the season’s color palette, fabric development, Victorian influences and the growing importance of footwear, while reflecting on how the Retrofête woman has developed alongside the brand.
What was the starting point for Fall Winter 2026, and how did the idea of Paris after dark begin to take shape?
It started with a feeling more than anything else – my most recent trip to Paris, and how the city transforms at night. The interiors, the lighting, the energy of people who all seem to have somewhere to go and you want to be part of it.
I love that moment of getting dressed for the evening without knowing where the night will take you, and I started imagining the Retrofête girl living inside that feeling. Dinner, a drink, somewhere totally unexpected – I wanted the clothes to carry that same sense of possibility.
From there we leaned into old Parisian interiors – hotels especially. Velvet, tapestry, lace, rich textures with nothing too perfect and everything full of personality. That’s the feeling I wanted running through the collection.
I wanted people to experience the collection, not just watch it.
What did the presentation format allow you to express about the collection that a traditional runway might not have?
I wanted people to experience the collection, not just watch it. For me, when I have people into my home, comfort and hospitality are always top of mind. So bringing those two worlds together, fashion and hospitality, was a dream – sitting with a martini, talking to the people around you, watching the models move through the room. It felt intimate, like you were part of it rather than sitting through a show.
Showing in this format, with the collection shoppable as the looks walked the runway, made that feeling even stronger. Instead of “I’ll wear that in six months,” you could take it home and make it part of your wardrobe immediately. That felt natural for Retrofête, because our clothes are so tied to going somewhere, having a night out, creating a memory.
How has your idea of glamour changed since the early days of Retrofête?
In the beginning, glamour was about immediate impact for me. It was sequins, sparkles, or something that made you walk into a room and get noticed. That will always be part of Retrofête, but I think my idea of glamour has become much deeper.
It can be an intricate fabric, an unexpected color combination, the way a jacket changes the silhouette of a dress. I also think glamour is more personal to me now. After eight years, I know the Retrofête girl much better. I know what makes her feel excited, what makes her feel confident, and what makes her want to get dressed. I want her to put on Retrofête and think, Okay, where am I going tonight?
What did you want this collection to say about the Retrofête girl now?
I think the Retrofête girl has always had a strong personality. She knows what she likes and she’s not afraid to be noticed. What’s changed is that she’s grown up with us. She can be glamorous one night and completely effortless the next. She can have dinner in Paris, end up at a party in New York, and be back on a plane the next morning.
With this collection, I wanted to show that Retrofête can evolve without losing the energy that made the brand what it is. The glamour is still there, but there’s more depth to it now. More texture, more contrast, more personality.
I want our girl to put something on and feel it instantly: this is it, I’m going out, I’m the moment.
What interested you about bringing Victorian references into the Retrofête vocabulary this season?
I found myself really drawn to old European interiors. The furniture, architectural details, shapes, textures. All these little things, and thinking, how do we turn that into clothing? Lace is also such a big part of our DNA. I grew up seeing my mom wear it, and it was actually part of our very first collection. So it always felt very natural to me. This season, I wanted to take that familiar Retrofête element and push it somewhere a little more romantic. I also love mixing those delicate details with a piece that feels strong, like leather. A look can feel so feminine, but when you pair it with something bold, somehow it just works. That contrast is very Retrofête to me.
How did you develop the color palette of Ochre, Violette, Sarcelle and Groiselle?
For Fall Winter, I always naturally move toward deeper, richer colors – and I’m not afraid of color. It can make a look feel more luxurious and alive. I think about color the way I’d think about a room: you want different tones that feel elevated together without everything perfectly matching.
The palette this season has a lot of depth, but there’s still an element of surprise. Purple has been recurring for years, so Violette felt natural. Ochre has always been a color I’ve loved – there’s something rich and unexpected about it. Then we brought in Sarcelle and Groiselle, and together they create a mix that feels bold and expressive. Very Retrofête.
Which material or fabrication became essential to defining the collection?
I think the fabrics are what really give this collection its personality. We were very focused on creating things that felt fresh and interesting. We found a print in Paris that we loved and developed it into our own burnout fabrication. The way it falls across the body – it’s indescribable. Then there’s a little secret with the sequins. We used six different types and layered them together, which gives each design so much more dimension. I love when you look at something and think you understand what it is, and then you get closer and realize there are so many elements to it. That’s what makes a look feel special.
There’s no real comfort zone for me when I’m designing.
Was there one look that unlocked the direction of the collection for you?
I’ll never be able to choose one. I’m obsessed with every single look that walked down that runway. For me, it’s really about how everything works together. One look can feel completely different depending on who’s wearing it, how she styles it, where she’s going. Every piece has its own personality, and then when you put them all together, you get the full Retrofête world.
Where did you allow yourselves to take the biggest risk this season?
There’s no real comfort zone for me when I’m designing. I’m not looking to blend in, I’m looking to be unforgettable. Even when something seems simple in the Retrofête world, there’s still drama underneath it. Take the one-shoulder silhouettes, a small detail, but it pushes the look that much further.
For me, the risk is making sure nothing ever feels too safe. I want our girl to put something on and feel it instantly: this is it, I’m going out, I’m the moment.
Footwear has a stronger presence this season. How did you approach expanding that part of the Retrofête wardrobe?
There’s something about a woman in heels that is everything to me. I’ve always been obsessed with footwear, the right shoe takes a look to the next level. Runway shows have helped us develop this category too. When you see the full look together, you realize how much the shoe drives the entire silhouette. Strappy stilettos, peep-toe pumps, bold boots – and our signature slingbacks, back with a little more attitude. I want you to notice the shoe. This season, we were intentional about making footwear part of the story.
