Pop. Conner Ives SS26

September 24, 2025 | Design & Culture by Ed

The Conner Ives show was a standout highlight of London Fashion Week. The designer – who first took the world by storm with his “Protect the Dolls” fundraiser T-shirts (with all proceeds donated to Trans Lifeline, raising $600,000 for the charity to date) – brought the dolls back to the runway this season. Though he has long cast a higher proportion of trans models than most, this time the vast majority of the lineup was trans or gender nonconforming. His tribe of high-voltage beauties celebrated the magic and power of pop.

“Pop music will never be lowbrow,” Ives declared. With his idols in mind – Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, and contemporary pop princess Addison Rae – the designer delivered ultra-feminine, party-ready dresses in acidic tones. A fabulous bias-cut gown in shocking pink silk crepe, topped with a brown chiffon overlay, was styled with faded feathers plucked from an early 20th-century burlesque fan and arranged around the model’s neck like the hackles of an elegant bird. Just fabulous. An especially brilliant stroke of design brilliance appeared in one of the finale looks: a gown covered in leather sequins, painstakingly laser-cut from discarded jackets and then hand-embroidered onto silk chiffon over six weeks. Drama! The collection also included cool, sporty separates for day.

After so much mildness and plainness on the spring runways, Conner Ives’s collection arrived as a much-needed antidote – full of glamour, bravado, and charisma.

ED’s SELECTION:

Conner Ives Tulle-trimmed Shirred Organic Cotton-piqué Shirt

Conner Ives Embellished Draped Stretch-jersey Flared Track Pants

Conner Ives Crystal-embellished Recycled Stretch-jersey Maxi Dress

Conner Ives Ano Fringed Macramé-trimmed Embroidered Silk-crepe Halterneck Top

Conner Ives Cropped Embellished Stretch Recycled-satin Skinny Pants

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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On Display. Simone Rocha SS26

September 22, 2025 | Design & Culture by Ed

“It’s this slightly teenage, debutante feeling – when you’re on display and don’t really want to be there,” said Simone Rocha of her spring–summer 2026 collection. This season, the London-based designer marks 15 years of independent business, one deeply rooted in a women-centered vision.

Being “on display” carries many meanings for a contemporary fashion designer – especially a female one – and Rocha channeled that tension with a line-up that was at once vulnerable and resilient. Crinolined dresses swayed with a wonky gait; panniered skirts slouched loose and undone; draped tops tucked with flowers exuded an arty chaos. A black menswear suit, its jacket fitted with a built-in bouquet sash, struck a particularly cool note, amplified by the model’s crossed hands.

And the pillow clutches? Rocha’s eternal girl may drift through a dreamscape, but she is no Princess and the Pea.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Energy. Talia Byre SS26

September 21, 2025 | Design & Culture by Ed

I’ll be frank – I haven’t really paid much attention to the past few days of London Fashion Week. So far, everything has felt a little out of place. That is, until today’s Talia Byre show, which I genuinely loved.

Talia Lipkin-Connor, the designer behind the brand, reminds me of Phoebe Philo – not in terms of aesthetics, but in energy. Like Philo, Talia creates no-nonsense clothes that endure, exude effortless cool, and resonate with women who aren’t necessarily invested in fashion.

Her spring–summer 2026 line-up featured utilitarian yet chic overalls, brilliantly cut trousers, and bold graphic stripes that gave the collection a striking sense of potency and urgency. The Talia Byre woman enjoys indulging in dressier touches – like a beautifully beaded V-neck sweater – but ultimately, she remains grounded (especially in those shearling-trimmed boots). It’s a matter of time till more clients buy into this brand.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Part Of Me. JW Anderson Resort 2026

August 1, 2025 | Design & Culture by Ed

Come September, an utterly new iteration of JW Anderson will materialize. With a thoroughly-considered decision of stopping runway shows and fully rebrand brick-and-mortar shops (and open new ones across Milan, New York and London), Jonathan Anderson is about to revolutionize the way we think about fashion brands. “It’s going to be about: this is how I live. This is my world, what I collect, that’s part of me.” The designer – who’s now leading Dior – has created, as he likes to call it, a “blunt” environment where his own clothes – and others that are locally sourced – will sit alongside a plethora of things such as traditional Irish tea-towels, a Welsh blanket, hand-crafted stick chairs, a tiny still life by Gwen John, a set of restored vintage garden tools (instant must-have!), and even a selection of crotcheted, very British bird keyring charms. The stores will be restocked according to demand, and will of course offer all-time JW Anderson classics: argyle knits, cargo pants, witty denim, cheeky accessories. They are modeled in the latest lookbook by creatives the designer collaborates with and admires a lot: Luca Guadagnino, Bella Freud, Anthea Hamilton, Ben Wishaw and Pol Anglada, to name just a few. Anderson’s brave, bold, new IRL shop strategy will hopefully start a new wave of love and appreciation of brick-and-mortar experiences. Remember concept stores? They might be back very soon.

ED’s SELECTION:

JW Anderson Embellished Suede Loafers

JW Anderson Teacup Leather-trimmed Crocheted Bag Charm

JW Anderson Rugby Cotton-jersey Polo Shirt

JW Anderson Cotton-canvas Jacket

JW Anderson Pleated Printed Twill Mini Skirt

JW Anderson Victoria Sponge Resin Clutch

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Phoebe Philo Collection D

July 23, 2025 | Design & Culture by Ed

I was just about to (finally) start writing my Venice guide when I saw a new email in my inbox: Collection D. This could only mean one thing – Phoebe Philo had dropped the preview of her new collection on a random Tuesday, off-schedule, without warning. Sometimes, Mercury retrograde brings good things too.

Spontaneous things are the best things. Whether it’s travel, making art, or cooking, letting yourself act on an untamed impulse often delivers (and rewards with) the most satisfaction. It seems to me that Philo has relearned how to let herself go. Her latest collection marks a sharp departure from the strictness and control that defined her earlier namesake offerings. Even the lookbook’s warm lighting and the models’ relaxed poses signal a vibe shift, a mood swing into… joy. READ MY FULL REVIEW HERE.