Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen’s fall-winter 2026 collection, Birthing Circle, centers the belly as a site of creation and transformation. Drawing on pre-industrial pregnancy corsets, sanitary belts, and early maternity wear, Whalen reimagines these references through pieces like the “Belly Bonnet” and “Stomacher.” Each look is hand-dyed in tones found within the human body, with exposed midriffs and sculptural emphasis on the womb and hips.

Founded in 2022, her eponymous label has taken a deliberately slow, research-driven approach—prioritizing depth over output, mirroring the Costume Institute’s ethos. As this year’s “Fashion is Art” theme invites designers to merge anatomy, history, and form, Whalen’s work feels especially attuned to the moment.

Daniel Del Valle

When you hear “Fashion is Art,” Daniel Del Valle may come to mind. The Spain-based designer, who launched TheVxlley just three years ago, has just been announced as a 2026 LVMH Prize finalist—an early signal of his impact. His wearable art is an elegant romance between the natural world, human beauty, and an overall ode to the earth.  Some of TheVxlley’s most notable pieces are the botanical, ceramic, and wooden vase tops and the four-dimensional “painting” dresses that place the wearer inside a living canvas. This immersive and surreal quality makes his designs feel tailor-made for this year’s theme.

Emily Eanae