5 highlights from London Fashion Week FW26 Women's From King Charles in the front row to the return of sporty collaborations on the runway
The London Fashion Week FW26 Women's has just come to an end, a week that proved that British talents are ready to shine again. The arrival of Laura Weir, the new CEO of the British Fashion Council, over the past year has already borne fruit, infusing London fashion with new vitality. More space for emerging talents, greater accessibility and investment: these were the key points of the strategy adopted by Weir to relaunch London Fashion Week. Judging by this past week, the plan seems to be working.
Here, then, are five highlights from London Fashion Week FW26 Women's.
King Charles at Tolu Coker
The Tolu Coker show did not need Little Simz opening the runway or King Charles seated front row to make an impact, but the presence of these two celebrities allowed the British-Nigerian designer’s wonderful collection to receive the media attention it deserved. Titled Survivor's Remorse, the collection once again explored themes dear to Coker, such as nostalgia for childhood, a sense of community, as well as grief and the search for joy. Welcoming King Charles was a symbolic moment for the brand’s founder, who has always sought to «redefine what aspiration can mean», wrote Tolu Coker, «where it can derive from and its potential to shift the way we see ourselves».
Scary Spice walks for Natasha Zinko
At Natasha Zinko, too, one guest in particular captured the audience’s attention. Mel B, also known as Scary Spice, walked for the Ukrainian designer, adding energy and spirit to an already dynamic show. Against the backdrop of an urban street, modern reinterpretations of Y2K-inspired pieces took the runway, with looks created through upcycling and reuse that referenced Zinko’s formative years. Mel B closed the show wearing a structured plaid robe styled as a wrap mini dress, a brilliant idea that reshaped one of the most ordinary garments in everyone’s wardrobe.
The botanical fashion of The Vxlley
«A collection of wearable sculptures» is how Daniel del Valle described this new The Vxlley collection. The Narcissist is the title of a show that combined tailoring mastery and refined taste, creativity, and a touch of healthy madness. Tops made of bread, vases worn as shirts, flowers emerging from shoes and trousers, mosaics forming bouquets, and cascades of fabric transformed into dresses turned the runway into an exhibition space. There wasn’t a single look less extraordinary than another, and we can’t wait to see them all on the red carpet.
Simone Rocha x adidas
By now, making a collaboration with a sportswear brand feel original is no easy task. Fashion has tried everything, from gorpcore to hybrid sneakers, from ultra-modern running shoes to the revival of past models. After working with Crocs for several seasons, Simone Rocha has now explored the universe of adidas, a choice that added the spark her show needed to feel more contemporary. Sweatshirts and accessories were adorned with bows and rhinestones, paired with sporty micro shorts and fitted quarter zip tops finished with frilly hems. Sneakers, sporty ballet flats and pastel pink, black and gold mules were fastened with three red laces. As if Dorothy Gale had suddenly decided to take up cross-country running.
The new old glamour of Conner Ives
@nssmagazine Dominique Jackson aka Elektra Abundance has just walked the Conner Ives FW26 runway in London #dominiquejackson #connerives #tiktokfashion #londonfashionweek #lfw audio originale - nss magazine
Collection after collection, Conner Ives is establishing a new way of making fashion that has nothing to do with sportswear and, precisely for that reason, feels refreshingly new. First, he invites friends of the brand to walk the runway, from Tish Weinstock, who opened the show, to Dominique Jackson, who closed it wearing a wedding dress. Secondly, although his designs clearly draw inspiration from the past, the message conveyed is political, constantly evolving alongside the times. «I work to live», reads one of the T-shirts worn on the runway, a subtle critique of the lack of freedom in contemporary life.
