February 24, 2026 |
Conner Ives brought a jolt of pure joy to London Fashion Week. For AW26, he called the collection Eldorado, after the mythical city of gold, but rather than leaning into fantasy, he used it to explore glamour as resistance – dressing up when the world feels unstable, and refusing to tone it down.
Opened by goth girl-cum-beauty editor Tish Weinstock, the show set a tone that was equal parts decadent and defiant. The casting amplified that energy: Osman Ahmed, Jill Leflour (who featured in our profile on 10 trans men inside 10 Men Issue 62) and a troupe of dolls walked with attitude and ease. When Ives’ own husband appeared carrying their dog, the room broke into cheers – a reminder that community sits at the heart of what he does.
The collection moved fluidly between elevated and everyday. Embroidered satin travelled from structured bustiers into slouchier trousers and wrap skirts, eventually culminating in a yellow floral dress that felt deliberately optimistic. Rugby-style polos and crisp denim grounded the more ornate moments, while flashes of gold, silk scarf-cum-cummerbunds and feather trims kept things theatrical. Floral Jimmy Choo boots and hints of leather – belts, crops, hardware – added a bit of bite without overwhelming the looks.
Closing the show, Pose’s Dominique Jackson emerged in a sweeping, faux-fur trimmed winter wedding gown. It was celebratory, yes – but also knowingly political, proof that sometimes showing up in full glamour is the statement.
Photography by Christina Fragkou.
