February 22, 2026 |
It was great to see Karoline Vitto on the catwalk again for her first show since 2024. There’s been a noticeable lack of plus size models on our catwalks in recent seasons. Casting has seemingly shrunken to a 2000s-level skinniness across the industry. Vitto, whose design handwriting is dedicated to making curvy girls feel sexy and powerful, is determined to not let this narrative dominate the headlines. While the “weight of body diversity should not rest on a handful of designers”, explains the designer, she points out that because she and some of her contemporaries – fellow Londoner Sinéad O’Dwyer, for instance, or Ester Manas in Paris – haven’t showed on the catwalk over the last few seasons, it’s as if “curve model casting had all but frozen over”.
Vitto cleverly built her collection around the idea that her girl gang were coming out of hibernation. Models’ hair were wetted and accented with resin flowers that looked like icicles, as if they were still melting out of their icy cocoon. The troupe came clad in woollen body-con dresses wish sensual cut outs at waist and shoulders. There were slinky tops and form-hugging skirts ruched high up the thigh. Look 8 was a standout with its halterneck top that scooped past the navel, paired with an asymmetrical miniskirt cut from jersey. These were clothes that would look good for the club but also for the everyday. Like denim twinsets and techy trouser suits in muted hues. No matter what it was that Vitto’s girls were wearing, they each looked superb. These were clothes made with feel-good factor.
Photography by Cris Fragkou.
