MILAN FASHION WEEK SPRING/SUMMER 2026: DAY 4

editors ELIANA CASA, MAREK BARTEK, MARIA MOTA and MARIE-PAULINE CESARI

SPORTMAX
review by FIONA FROMMELT

all images SPORTMAX provided by the brand

Bells and Whistles at Sportmax SS26. Sportmax foreshadows a summer filled with effortless elegance that meets the brand's signature cool undertones. The show opened with a series of trench coats: long and short, sleeveless or cut to reveal a single arm, some accented with oversized pockets, all leaning toward the asymmetric. Cut in soft beige tones, they sat effortlessly on the models, with hems that fell past the shoulders. 

This collection was one full of surprises. Beneath these outer layers, a nod to the brand’s early ’90s DNA emerged: Sheer tops and see-through low-waisted pants traced the runway with lightness, an ode to Sportmax’s own archive, yet reimagined with modernity. Grand floral prints unfolded on dresses, tops, extremely long gloves, shoes and even bags. This marked a departure from the brand's usual resistance to decoration, or at least one that we have not seen in the last few years. Another welcomed surprise was the return of some of the Resort 2026 silhouettes, of the vests and pants, which were reimagined in terms of fabric and hemming. Denim became the most unexpected fabric of this runway: Previously, in a darker tone showcased in Resort 2026, we witnessed a light blue denim set consisting of the perfectly draped denim pants (that definitely will become a staple piece for many), combined with a denim vest, and a denim jacket with a leather collar. With each of these looks, the brand's typical nonchalance is evident. 

Accessories layered on whimsy and strength. Leather flowers bloomed across handbags, oversized belts in deep burgundy and black accentuated hips, and sculptural jewellery glinted like gilded bells on wrists or in ears. This SS26 collection merged Sportmax’s signature cool with the unexpected beauty of florals. Playfully nodding to the brand’s archival designs, Grazia Malagoli demonstrates that Sportmax remains fully in command of its own allure. Despite the fresh twists and reworked silhouettes, the collection exudes confidence, self-assurance, and is unmistakably Sportmax. Perhaps a new era has just been rung in…