2 March 2026 |
London Fashion Week has always been defined by its breadth of talent. From debut collections by former florists and fledgling independent labels, to those who have come to epitomise British style such as Simone Rocha and Erdem; the city prides itself on showcasing an exciting mix of voices and boundary-pushing collections.
And even though the rain was – as usual for the time of year – almost constant, spirits could not be dampened, when the promise of a stellar line up of A-list guests, a royal cameo by King Charles and the anticipation of the new season’s offering, kept attendees’ spirits high.
Here are 10 moments we loved from fashion’s leading creative capital…
The King Attends Tolu Coker’s Show
King Charles III kicking off London Fashion Week was not on our bingo card this season. The British Monarch was a surprise guest at designer Tolu Coker’s show, kicking off London Fashion Week in style. Coker’s show was a celebration of her childhood, transporting showgoers back to 90s Britain, the collection was full of reference from a lived-in wardrobe, switching sartorial codes to reflect how she grew up. Plaid mini dresses with matching ties met tailored jackets and flounced skirts playing on the idea of raided wardrobes, borrowing your dads jacket or a sister’s skirt. Elsewhere, vibrant shirts with elongated sleeves serve as an ode to the hand-me-downs of childhood. Through a lens of reformative luxury, the collection showed young women exactly what they can aspire to become.
Erdem Celebrates 20 Years in Fashion
Celebrating his 20th anniversary Erdem Moriaglu’s latest collection was a mash up of an imaginary dialogue with everyone who ever inspired him. Held within the sprawling halls of the Tate Britain museum, friends of the brand such as Keira Knightly, Helen Mirren and Glenn Close were in attendance at the show. The collection was filled with a decadent array of brocades, satin, ribbons, laces and feathers, drawing inspiration from Queen Elizabeth II’s 1950s ball gowns and late great British socialite Debo, Duchess of Devonshire. Inside out floral quilted barbour jackets, leather coats with floral motifs, ruffled high neck shirts and cream lace nightgowns reimagined with crinoline hoops, creating a dramatic accentuated volume. Close friends of the brand such as Keira Knightly, Helen Mirren and Glenn Close were in attendance at the show, sporting the new collection.
Simone Rocha Teams Up With Adidas
This season Simone Rocha joined forces with adidas Originals on a surprise collaboration in her Fall/Winter 2026 collection, focusing on the Irish myth Tír na nÓg, a land of eternal youth. Sportswear met romantic fantasy in this latest offering, tracksuits with pearl encrusted zippers were paired with tulle skirts, while training shorts were transformed into silk hot pants. Rocha kept the romance she’s renowned for emulating throughout the collection by adorning wispy lace dresses with ribbons and ;layered ruffles on the front of classic adidas tracksuit bottoms. Elsewhere, the mythical and the modern were combined, as juxtaposed utilitarian bombers and sharply tailored suits with intricate trims and crystals went down the runway one after the other. The collection achieved a breathtaking balance between athleisure, adolescence and fantasy.
LABRUM Reminds Us that Clothing Connects Us
LABRUM continues its ‘Threads of Osmosis’ trilogy this season. For FW26, Foday Dumbuya’s focus was on textiles and how our clothes record migration and history through fabric construction, motifs and cuts. Guests were greeted in a Monolithic hall by weavers operating hand looms, creating a bolt of striped cotton. The show opened with a sober palette of taupe, navy, and fawn, featuring slim, long-lined coats, hefty poplin shirts, and military-pocket jackets. The standout? A cream duffel overcoat anchored by stark black appliqué. Elsewhere, silhouettes were elevated by delicate, pen-drawn embroidery from Indian artisans. Dumbuya’s signature passport graphics were reimagined on denim and jacquard, while headpieces also made a statement on the runway. Luxuriously tied glistening headgear, reminiscent of traditional West African headscarves, an oversized baker boy hat and a cowrie shell face covering, told many different stories, something which LABRUM is renowned for.
Mithridate Blooms in Full Force
Staged at the Tate Britain under a sprawling wisteria installation, Daniel Fletcher’s latest offering for Mithridate was a masterful fusion of British heritage and Chinese craftsmanship. The runway unfolded as a narrative of arrival, characters you might stumble into along the Thames emerged, clad in broad-shouldered tweed coats, Aran knits, and maritime pea coats sauntered down the runway. Fletcher injected a rakish edge into the heritage codes, featuring broken-down mini dresses paired with duffel coats, hand-beaded evening wear, and refined diamante “number” brooches, quickly becoming a signature for the brand under his creative eye. Ultimately, the collection stood as an attestation to the brand’s new roots in London, striking a perfect balance between polished structure and undone glamour.
JW Anderson’s Grand Opening on Pimlico Road
Jonathan Anderson was in London this week to fête the grand opening of his new Pimlico Road flagship during London Fashion Week, transforming the antique-heavy district into the ultimate design destination. The stores curation spans from British artist Kira Freije’s fragile, metalwork sconces, to a selection of ready-to-wear JW Anderson pieces, and cosy blankets from Melin Tregwynt, a cornerstone of Welsh weaving since the 1700s. A-listers including Lily James and Lesley Manville and friends of the brand packed the velvet-lined “cabinet of curiosities” to toast a new chapter for the brand, that blurs the line between fashion, functional art, and collectable homeware.
Burberry Takes Us to the City
Daniel Lee took Burberry back to the city this season, delivering a gritty, nocturnal love letter to London nightlife. Staged amidst a makeshift scaffolded Tower Bridge and rain-slicked resin puddles, the collection swapped festival fields for subterranean club glamour. The runway was dominated by reworked outerwear, with raw-edge shearling coats, leather bombers, and trenches dramatically reimagined with Victorian jabot ruffles. In a moody palette of plum, navy, and inky black, Lee infused house heritage with a rebellious, high-gloss energy that felt both functional and unmistakably cool. A solid turnout of celebrities including Kate and Lila Moss, Iris Law, Simone Ashley, Jodie Turner Smith, Daisy Edgar Jones and Olivia Dean packed into the Old Billingsgate building as Lee unveiled his love letter to London.
Natasha Zinko is All About Family
Natasha Zinko brought her signature brand of absurdism to London Fashion Week with a collection titled “Family Bizness,” a deeply personal exploration of her post-Soviet childhood in Odesa, Ukraine. The collection was a focus on upcycling, featuring trompe l’oeil activewear constructed from fleece zip-ups, skirts fashioned from tablecloths, and handbags made from shipping boxes. Zinko delivered DIY looks with a couture work ethic, crafting structured silhouettes out of seemingly improvised materials. The energetic show culminated with a surprise appearance by Spice Girl, Mel B, who wore the closing look – a plaid robe repurposed into a stunning bubble-hemmed mini dress, solidifying Zinko’s message: resourcefulness is the ultimate form of creativity.
Bora Aksu’s Gothic Galore
Bora Aksu transformed St Paul’s Church into a hauntingly beautiful stage for Fall/Winter 2026, channelling the folklore of an 18th-century ghost into a deeply romantic narrative. The collection expertly bridged the gap between life and the afterlife, pairing structured, historical workwear — fitted bodices and apron details — with ethereal, ghostly layers of tulle and sheer organza in a muted palette of chalk, ivory, and faded white. While delicate crochet florals added an unsettling beauty, the true artistry lay in Aksu’s ability to turn vulnerability into power, culminating in a lineup of defiant, veiled figures that left a lingering, melancholic impression.
Thevxlley Makes a Triumphant Debut
Daniel del Valle turned Thevxlley FW26 runway into a literal museum exhibition, smashing expectations with wearable art that balanced structured tailoring against chaotic romance. Drawing on his past as a florist and artist, the show featured dramatic porcelain vase bodices, petals trailing from models’ heels, and intricate pen-drawn embroidery created with Indian artisans. It was a breathless, high-concept debut that cemented the LVMH Prize semi-finalist as a major talent to watch.
Text Bethany Berkeley
