For his Spring/Summer 2027 show, Simon Porte Jacquemus left behind the Provence of his early career and set his designs on a rocky islet in Balagne. A declaration of love for Corsica, luminous and mineral.
On the morning of June 29th, the Pietra peninsula in L'Île-Rousse was transformed into an open-air theater. Under a bright sun, facing the Mediterranean and the mountains that close the horizon, about a hundred guests took their seats, sheltered under large white parasols, fans in hand to ward off the heat. Below, the sea shimmered; in the distance, the mountains created a scene of almost unreal clarity. The fashion house was presenting its Spring-Summer 2027 collection, entitled "Le Bonheur" (Happiness).
The choice of location is far from arbitrary. Since his first shows, the designer has made the setting a character in its own right: the lavender fields of Valensole, the salt marshes of the Camargue, the gardens of Versailles. Built in the 19th century on a rock connected to the town by a causeway, the Pietra lighthouse ticks all these boxes: its graphic silhouette, its historical significance, and the light of the South. By setting up shop there, Jacquemus evokes a less Parisian, more rooted Mediterranean France, attuned to an imagery of sea and stone.
Far from the usual catwalks, the show blended seamlessly into the landscape. The models seemed to emerge from the maquis, moving along the path in a minimalist setting where each silhouette responded to the Corsican light. The creations, true to the house's aesthetic, combined minimalism, sensuality, and sculptural volumes. Immaculate white, deep black, vibrant red, sunny yellow, and sky blue echoed the Mediterranean palette. The light fabrics, carried by the breeze, gave the impression at times that the garments were floating above the ground.
What was striking, beyond the pieces themselves, was the atmosphere. In contrast to the sometimes exclusive nature of major fashion events, the ambiance was warm and welcoming, punctuated by conversations and bursts of laughter. The presence of the designer's grandmother, a discreet yet essential figure in his world, touched the audience and served as a reminder that, behind the international success, lies a family story.
The title serves as a manifesto. “Le Bonheur” (Happiness) designates neither a place nor a substance, but a state, which the house now associates with Corsica, its June light, and its heritage. It extends a line of programmatic names, following “La Riviera,” “L’Amour” (Love), and “Le Chouchou” (The Darling), and encapsulates a philosophy that seeks less effect than obviousness, less virtuosity than precision.
The commitment extends beyond the catwalk. The fashion house announced its support for the restoration and preservation of the lighthouse, continuing its patronage at Versailles, and launched a casting call for Corsican models to showcase faces from the island alongside its regulars. This was a way to anchor the event in its local community and leave a lasting legacy. On June 29th, it wasn't just clothes that paraded at the foot of the lighthouse, but a certain vision of Corsica—raw and luminous—now shared with the world.
