London Fashion Week SS2026: A Season of Vision, Velocity, and Emotional Precision
London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 unfolded as a masterclass in creative tension—between heritage and rebellion, theatricality and restraint, and the ever-evolving dialogue between fashion and identity. The capital reaffirmed its role not just as a stage, but as a crucible for ideas, experimentation, and emotional storytelling.
The week opened with Harris Reed’s “The Aviary,” a gothic spectacle staged at St Pancras Hotel. Reed, known for his Victorian silhouettes and gender-fluid drama, delivered crinolines and corsets in a blaze of yellows, blues, and blacks bespoke fabrics created in collaboration with Fromental wallpaper studio. Meanwhile, H&M’s catwalk show brought high-street glamour to the schedule, with top models like Lila Moss and Romeo Beckham walking in slouchy boots, leather tailoring, and festival-ready looks.
Erdem
Milliner Stephen Jones offered a more intimate experience, inviting guests to try on his sculptural hats each one a portal to a new persona. It was a reminder that fashion, at its best, is transformative.
Noon by Noor returned to Somerset House with a collection that challenged stereotypes of Middle Eastern fashion. Architectural silhouettes and poetic restraint replaced glitter and ball gowns, offering a monochromatic meditation on modernity. The Bahrain-based brand continues to prove that Gulf fashion can be both regionally rooted and globally relevant.
Noon by Noor
Contemporary vision blends quiet luxury with confident femininity
Chopova Lowena, beloved for her iconic “Cabiner” skirt, presented her collection exclusively for the Summer season. Despite her brand’s deep London DNA, she maintains a singular annual presentation, making each outing a cult moment for street-style aficionados.
Jonathan Anderson, balancing his role at Loewe and the revamp of Dior, skipped the runway this season and instead hosted a press presentation at his Soho store a quiet nod to the pressures of creative leadership in a multi-brand era.
John Richmond’s Covent Garden party targeted the youth his perennial audience of music lovers and night owls. It was less about the clothes and more about the culture they inhabit.
Malone Souliers
Roksanda’s show at the newly opened Rosewood Hotel in Grosvenor Square formerly the US Embassy was a study in democratic elegance. With no hierarchy in the front row, her collection spoke of luxury with a modern lens. Among the guests: Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte herself, actress Golda Rosheuvel, adding a regal touch to the proceedings.
Kent & Curwen, under Daniel Kearns, continued its reinvention of British collegiate style. From rugby-ball-shaped bags to picnic-check tailoring, the brand fused tradition with playful modernity, proving that heritage can be expressive rather than rigid.
Edeline Lee’s rainbow-hued collection at the Peninsula Hotel was a joyful carousel of impeccable tailoring and in-house craftsmanship. Her circular catwalk evoked a merry-go-round of optimism, with embroidered tights and sculptural silhouettes that felt both wearable and whimsical.
Erdem, ever faithful to the British Museum, delivered a breath-taking collection inspired by Swiss medium Hélène Smith. With antique lace, exaggerated hips, and romantic brocade, the show felt like a couture séance equal parts historical and visionary. The British Museum itself is rumoured to be the future host of a British version of the Met Gala, further elevating its status as a cultural and fashion landmark.
Alessandra Rich returned to London with her signature blend of retro glamour and modern femininity, while Malone Souliers hosted a high-altitude presentation on the 17th floor of a brutalist landmark. Surrounded by a 360-degree view of London’s skyline, the brand’s SS26 collection drew from the late ’60s and early ’70s an era of unapologetic freedom. A floral installation by Athlyn studio created a meadow-like effect, opening a dialogue between structure and organic form.
What sets London apart is not just its creative energy, but its emotional precision. From the poetic restraint of Noon by Noor to the couture finesse of Erdem, the city continues to champion designers who dare to dream and who understand that luxury is not just about price, but about perspective.
As the British Fashion Council’s new CEO Laura Weir put it, “It’s about rebuilding British fashion to a point where it garners the respect it deserves”. This season, London did just that with elegance, eccentricity, and a fearless embrace of the future.
