February 21, 2026 |
It might be a bit miserable weather wise here in London, but the second full day of shows in the city got off to a bright start courtesy of Patrick McDowell. This season, the designer was guided by the work of American photographer George Platt Lynes, whose beautiful portraits – a lot of which are of ballet dancers – paint his subjects in such tender light. A chiselled model gracing a rock in the middle of the catwalk, in just a pair of tights, reflected the mood.
The photographer’s work led McDowell to hone in on fluid fabrics and elegant proportions. Shirt dresses, for instant, came cinched-in at the waist before jutting out past the hips, while one pearl-white silk dress danced along the natural contours of the body with ease and sophistication. McDowell continued to broaden his scope in term of products. There were woollen jumpsuits and sculpted overcoats in a gentle purple hue, while head gear courtesy of Philip Treacy complimented voluminous tulle skirts and form-hugging tailored jackets with rose-shaped buttons. Ace stuff all round.
Photography courtesy of Patrick McDowell.
