Elysian
It is such a pleasure to introduce our new AW26 Collection: Elysian.
Elysian: adj; Blissful, delightful.
Usually relating to a divine, peaceful, or heavenly creation, vision or experience.
How fitting for this season…
A collection shaped by the allure of the Elysian: a world of bliss, beauty, and divine escapism. AW26 unfolds as a sensual meditation on freedom, femininity, and self invention.
The artistic inspiration for Elysian, our AW26 collection is the 1920s Polish artist Tamara Lempicka, and the bold glamour of the Art Deco era in which she created.
Lempicka was named a ‘symbol of women’s liberation’ - she often painted for nine hours at a time, famously only taking breaks for a bath, massage or a well deserved glass of champagne.
Add the fact that she was bisexual, was both Jewish and Catholic, that she lied about her age to make herself younger, and had the self-willed determination to make it in a man’s world, and we have before us not the Queen of Art Deco, but a pioneering prototype of the modern woman: free to change, free to shape herself, free to be what she wants to be - not what anyone else demands. Consider us utterly inspired…
Her pioneering work (shamed at the time for its sapphic scenes but celebrated today for its representation of LGBTQ+ women of that era) made use of rich, deep colours and depicted women through the female gaze. Her women were never smiling, pivotal in her work as a female artist to ensure the raw emotion and sensuality of a woman as opposed to them performing for another, which was often the focus of male artists at the time. Themes of her work are centered around female sexuality, with women being at the core of her artwork.
Lempicka’s life and work embodied contradiction and control. She existed unapologetically; fluid in identity, fearless in ambition, and unwavering in her pursuit of creative and personal autonomy.
This deeply expressive spirit flows through the collection. Strong silhouettes meet fluid lines, rich, lacquered tones dissolve into soft laces and silk. Each piece reflects a duality - power and sensuality, precision and abandon, echoing Lempicka’s vision of women not as subjects, but as self-possessed forces.
Rooted in the female gaze, our AW26 collection explores intimacy without performance. Emotion is unguarded, desire is self defined, and beauty exists without obligation. Like Lempicka’s muses, these women do not smile for approval, they exist in their own world, shaping their own narrative.
Elysian is intended to be more than a collection, it is a statement of liberation, channeling a woman far ahead of her time. A celebration of women who define themselves, who evolve without permission, and who find power in their own image. Unapologetic, multifaceted, and entirely their own.
And so, without further ado, allow us to introduce our new designs…
RENATA
Renata, the first range of the season, is a bold celebration of divine desire, framed in rich ruby. Rooted in the origins of a classic floral lace, signature silhouettes are reimagined as a contrasting dialogue of strength and softness unfolds.
ARLETTA
The riches of female sensuality in wearable form. Bespoke botanical embroidery, evocative of the intricate details of Roman design, weaves over the body in a deep emerald hue, glistening touches heightening the experience. The tactile embroidery feels blissfully soft against the skin, in a range of cuts that delight and empower in equal measure. Romance has never been so verdant.
Coming Soon
ATHENA IN IVORY
Our beloved betrothal - Athena in Ivory brings iconic romance into the mix.
The tessellating ivory embroidery and fan-edged silhouettes meet the most emboldening styles - including some unforgettable new designs - with the ivory silk giving a sense of pure, sensual empowerment. Wedding nights will never be the same. An endless love awaits…
Coming Soon
TAMARA
A study in decadent glamour, Tamara is unapologetically opulent; rich with intensity, radiance, and desire.
Sapphire Leaver’s lace envelops the body with seductive refinement, illuminated by a subtle sheen that catches the skin like liquid light. Lustrous silk frames each silhouette as dramatic eyelash scallop leaves a lingering impression; sweeping, ornate and devastatingly romantic. A reflection of its namesake’s fearless femininity, Tamara is indulgence at its most intoxicating.
Coming Soon
FLAVIA
Deeply romantic and irresistibly glamorous, Flavia unfolds in a striking interplay of Onyx and Gold. Intricate floral embroidery blooms across the body in threads of rich golden lurex, casting depth and dimension against its dark backdrop. The delicate scallop edging follows the contours of the bespoke motif itself, defining the silhouettes with a sense of cinematic glamour. Embodying a mood of midnight elegance, Flavia symbolises the beauty of adornment.
Coming Soon
IRENA
A captivating expression of modern elegance, Irena is deeply commanding with its timeless essence and unashamed power.
Rich Onyx foiled bespoke embroidery has been crafted into gentle botanical motifs and paired with the softest black velvet trims to make Irena a tactile delight - deeply empowering and irresistibly sumptuous in equal measure.
Coming Soon
Behind the scenes on the shoot with Elisabeth Hoff
Behind the scenes on the shoot with Elisabeth Hoff
Designed in our London atelier, this is the first collection to be launched during our 25th celebrations, with the campaign photographed by the inimitable Elisabeth Hoff.
Elysian is a cornucopia of pleasure - Delightful in every way.
Renata is available online and in our Knightsbridge boutique now. The complete collection will launch throughout the season.
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