Just after unveiling their latest bridal collection, the designers spoke to&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL, detailing their creative process, iconic design signatures, and favorite wedding dresses of all time.&nbsp;

For Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, fashion has always been about creative expression and the freedom to explore. Ever since the duo founded Viktor&amp;Rolf back in 1993, their unique, avant-garde approach to design has existed at the core of the label. Between <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/viktor-rolf-haute-couture-spring-summer-2025-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">haute couture</a>, ready-to-wear, and bridal collections, each and every creation has explored a unique narrative, emboldened through masterful craftsmanship and visionary design philosophies.&nbsp;
In the world of haute couture, the label is renowned for its artistry, utilizing sculptural silhouettes and intricate detailing to produce designs that challenge the limits of traditional wearability, elevating fashion to a level that isn't just about function, but rather, intertwines it with wearability.
When Viktor&amp;Rolf introduced their first Mariage collection in 2016, the same was true. Almost a decade later, the design duo continues to craft gowns that tell stories through audacious silhouettes, elaborate detailing, and opulent, romantic fabrics.&nbsp;
The Fall/Winter 2026 Mariage collection continues to push beyond traditional <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/fall-winter-2026-bridal-trends-dresses-styles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bridal</a> boundaries, emphasizing elegance and romance that are transformed through a contemporary design lens. Utilizing sculptural florals, glamorous layered pleats, and precise tailoring, the line celebrates the artistry and bold, unconventional spirit that continues to drive the designers and their creations forward.&nbsp;
Below, see the designers debrief their Fall/Winter 2026 Mariage collection in a conversation with&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL.&nbsp;

Viktor&Rolf Fall/Winter 2026 Mariage collection. Courtesy of Viktor&Rolf.

L'OFFICIEL: Do the avant-garde worlds of haute couture and bridal couture feel different throughout the design process? How does your mindset shift when going from one to the other, and are there separate goals for each one?
Viktor&amp;Rolf: Our couture shows are a laboratory with a lot of creative freedom regarding design and presentation. Designing wedding dresses is more of an applied art form. But working with restrictions is actually quite liberating and inspiring: it challenges creativity. With Couture, we tell stories where the clothes are like actors in a play, and with Mariage, the individual dress is the story.
L'O: In your time working one-on-one with brides, what has surprised you the most? How do you go about crafting individualized looks to make brides feel special?
V&amp;R: Working on a bespoke piece with a private client is like a small personal adventure. In Couture, a lot is possible, and the creation of a personalized dress is a collaborative effort. We personally meet with each bride and invite them to Amsterdam for their fittings, where our Couture Atelier and showroom are located.

L'O: Many of your collections are based around expansive themes and stories. With the Fall/Winter 2026 bridal collection, is there a story behind the looks?
V&amp;R: In the end, the style and story of our collections can always be called 'minimal baroque': opulent, graphic, sculptural. The Fall/Winter 2026 bridal collection explores bold proportions, elegant lines, and sculptural floral artistry. This season, oversized roses and glycine blossoms are the signature floral motifs.
L'O: Is there a concept from either bridal or haute couture that you&rsquo;ve been eager to try, but haven&rsquo;t been able to yet?
V&amp;R: Our work is a constant quest for new ways to express ourselves through fashion. Sometimes ideas need time to grow and cannot be realized instantly, for conceptual or technical reasons (A good example is the 'upside down dress' from Last Stage Capitalism Waltz Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2023 collection). In order to have new ideas, you need to work. Ideas generate new ideas.

L'O: Asymmetry and pleats are often seen throughout your bridal and haute couture collections&mdash;are there any other design signatures that move between these two worlds? Are there any other details you would define as a &ldquo;signature&rdquo; of Viktor &amp; Rolf?
V&amp;R: Haute Couture is our creative laboratory, a space where we experiment freely. Many of our bridal silhouettes are inspired by it, from ruffles and bows to sculptural flowers. Tulle, satin duchesse, and gazar are our signature fabrics for bridal creations.
L'O: In terms of haute couture, what&rsquo;s the most experimental or avant-garde collection you&rsquo;ve created to date? How does the creative freedom you have with couture inspire new ideas?
V&amp;R: It is difficult to pick one because, in a way, each and every collection involves some kind of experiment, and some kind of 'discovery', or something new. Sometimes the discoveries are a bit bigger, sometimes a bit smaller.

L'O: Several of your previous collections are inspired by artists and art movements, like Van Gogh Girls from Spring/Summer 2015&mdash;are there any particular works or artists that you&rsquo;d like to look to in the future, especially considering you started your careers as artists?
V&amp;R: Funnily enough, the name Van Gogh Girls came after the collection was completed. While designing, we weren&rsquo;t directly thinking about Van Gogh himself, but rather about the vibrant patterns of Vlisco fabrics. Our inspiration comes from everything around us &mdash; it&rsquo;s never limited to a single theme or subject.
L'O: Florals make their way into many of your collections, and are seen in some of your most iconic designs&mdash;and fragrances. Do you have any favorite flowers in particular, in terms of either scents or aesthetics?
V&amp;R: We love an explosion of flowers.&nbsp;
L'O: Are there any wedding dresses from film or pop culture that you think are particularly culturally important? What makes a truly iconic wedding dress?
V&amp;R: Cinderella's! Even if her ball gown was not exactly a wedding dress, it epitomizes the iconic fairytale glamour and loveliness we strive for when designing Mariage collections.
Below, see all of the looks from the Viktor&amp;Rolf Fall/Winter 2026 Mariage collection.

Inside Viktor&Rolf's "Constant Quest" For Artistry And Experimentation In Bridal Fashion

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