When W Magazine shared the fashion story ‘Skin Is In: This Season’s Forecast Calls for Leather Weather’, Mother Nature had other summer plans of her own. Wearing leather in high-summer does sound edgy until a woman suits up for the sake of fashion.

The first two months of summer 2026 in western Europe claimed hottest on record status, surpassing the previous heat record set in 2022, claimed the European Union’s climate monitor. July 2026 was the hottest month ever, according to weather monitoring service Copernicus. Record high temperatures set along the Atlantic and western Mediterranean ocean waters, putting sea life and coastal communities at even greater risk, threatening to kill multiple coral reef restoration projects in full bloom.

VOX shares an info rich explanation of ‘Why scientists are using cheap picnic coolers to protect some of the world’s most endangered animals”, written by Benji Jones in Palau, Micronesia. The hunt is on to identify the most heat-resistant varieties of coral reefs on the planet, using human ingenuity and low tech, readily available resources.

Returning to fashion’s alternative reality, top model Ida Heiner posed on pre-summer sands in the W trend forecast for leather and suede outerwear becoming summer’s edgiest cover-ups.

Charlotte Collet styled the fashion story using Akris, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Givenchy by Sarah Burton, Gucci, Loewe, McQueen, Miu Miu, Zadig & Voltaire and more in images captured by Zoe Ghertner [IG]. / Hair by Lucas Willson; makeup by Lilly Pollan