September 20, 2026 |
There is a severity to the KNWLS woman. Her femininity is ferocious, never passive. Her wardrobe is sharp and razor focused, almost armour-like for tackling the everyday. This season we saw a shift in focus from designers Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, who peeled back the layers to unleash a new side to their muse. At a glance, it looked like their models were in a state of undress, as if vests, bras and negligees were falling off their bodies. The design duo threaded their garments with invisible wires and hidden fastenings so the motion of undressing was frozen in time, kept in total control.
The work of Bettina Rheims, who photographed women peeling out of their underwear, was a key inspiration for the pair, who strived to inject a more playful tone to their design lexicon. Gaberdine trenches were sliced in half to make mini skirts, lace camisoles were given external bra details and leather jackets were slightly warped in their construction. There are many sides to the KNWLS woman. How much she chooses to unveil is totally up to her.
Photography courtesy of KNWLS.
