STAUD Spring 2026 RTW

Images via STAUD

Sarah Staudinger’s Spring 2026 collection feels like a love letter to California. After losing her childhood home in the wildfires, she turned to what she knows and loves to express both grief and gratitude. The collection honors the Golden State, its landscapes, its spirit, and the resilience of its people. It feels personal because it comes from a place of real loss and real love.

You can see the California vibe in every piece. Surf culture and beach life surface throughout. Long board shorts appear trimmed with lace or rendered in playful stripes. Crop tops echo the shape of rash guards, sometimes adorned with cute shark motifs. New bags mimic surfboards, complete with actual surf fins, Staudinger clearly pays attention to detail.

Some pieces carry memory and nostalgia. There are après-beach covers in soft yellow terry cloth, beaded gold shirts that shimmer as though catching light on a warm summer evening, palm tree prints spreading across silk dresses and coats. One coat shows a skyline of palms set against an orange and green gradient fading into deep navy, a reminder that even after devastation, beauty remains.

Textures are tactile and expressive. Fabrics flow, stretch, appear worn in, or gleam depending on the light. Some pieces feel like they were made for the beach, but elevated, something you would reach for when you want to feel both at home and stylish. The proportions shift just enough to feel modern, but without losing warmth or familiarity.

What makes this collection so compelling is how it balances joy with reflection. It does not shy away from sadness or loss, but it also celebrates what remains: sun, surf, community, resilience. The palette warms the heart. The silhouettes feel both fresh and worn-in. The craftsmanship shows love. Through all of it you sense Staudinger’s voice more clearly than ever.