Our second season buying Auralee. This time, we were met by Michael — a new face, extremely casual in the best way. They were serving Maurten carb bars, which felt oddly on-brand. Like their clothes, this is also real luxury ! At least, for those of us who run. Rasmus, our newly appointed COO and newly converted ultra-runner, was visibly pleased.

Otherwise, it was the usual Auralee experience: impeccable colours, fabrics, and beautiful clothes.

Michael walked us through the lookbook. The focus this time: seasonal transition pieces. Beyond that, there was no clear direction, Michael told us. Ryota Iwai, the founder and designer, builds from what he sees in real life. What people on the street are actually wearing, and how they are wearing it. The way a jacket sits after a day of wear. It makes the clothes feel real because they are real.

All of this was greatly carried over into the show, styled by Charlotte Collet. Layering that looked unintentional. A beautiful contrast between fabrics, colours, patterns, mixing the lightest cashmere with soft leathers, earthy tones with saturated pops of colour. It’s like getting dressed in a hurry and almost getting it right by accident. Grabbing a coat to throw over your shorts, knowing you’re heading out to a cold morning and coming home on a warm afternoon.

The collection itself moved through cashmere, silk, wool, leather, and linen. Mostly light, mostly loose.  Like always, every single fabric, apart from their leather goods, is developed from the ground up. Which gives them full control, and makes it so Ryota is able to fully execute his ideas and vision.

Auralee doesn’t tell you how to wear the clothes — the rest is up to your morning !

Inside a small showroom on a quiet street in the 6th arrondissement was Meta Campania Collective. We had agreed to meet Rasmus there. Before that, we’d spent a few hours at the various Comme des Garçons showrooms. There was a bit of traffic and street buzz thanks to a parade, but once we left CDG, it felt like the entire city had joined in. Our six-minute ride turned into a 25-minute detour — with Victor and I somehow finding ourselves inside the parade for a solid five minutes.

Now, to the collection.

Mattia walked us through the lookbook and explained how the collection was loosely inspired by Jon’s background as a violinist. Like every season, it channels how artists live, dress, and work — in Meta’s own words: this time, embracing a sun-filled sense of living. In retrospect, this felt spot-on considering it was never less than 25 degrees and sunny during our stay. We saw familiar silhouettes: the Bill, Julian, Alain — along with new shapes added to the brand’s ever-expanding universe. All, of course, made in Italy using the finest materials: cottons, silk, cashmere–cotton blends, nylons, linens, wools, and the softest suede.

But the highlight for me this season was the footwear: ultra-light silk slippers in an array of colours.

Other standouts? Short shorts that felt like a nod to vintage running gear, and deep-cut polos that showed a generous amount of chest !