For all its exclusivity, fashion doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it reflects the culture, mood and real-world tensions of the moment, translating them into sartorial form. Throughout history, shifts in the wider cultural climate have found expression in what we wear: economic downturns have sparked trends rooted in restraint and practicality; darker periods have gone hand-in-hand with sombre palettes, while the ‘naked dressing’ boom has unfolded alongside a social media age defined by heightened visibility, performance and the relentless pursuit of perfection. There's even a so-called 'Hemline Index' theory, which suggests skirt lengths rise and fall directly in line with the economy...
Which is perhaps why, as I sat front row through the recent Autumn/Winter 2026 season of shows, I found myself increasingly struck by the number of padded, sculptural silhouettes emerging on the runway—at the very moment bodies in the real world appear to be moving in the opposite direction.
