Day 1 of London Fashion Week came in with a roar with the latest showing for KNWLS S/S 23 season. Design duo Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault dubbed the new season “Glimmer,” crafting a girly-meets-gutter world with feminine codes of cascading ruffles in hues of salmon pink and blue damask printed viscose, sometimes studded with Swarovski. Held at The Mills Fabrica near King’s Cross, the pair built upon their signature cutouts and crossed straps with moto jackets made of worn leather and pierced with hoops, low-slung denim, and boned corsetry that was enveloped in a softer suede weight. In fact, most of the corseted looks were created in a softer heft, creating a more effortless, free-flowing silhouette with fabrics sourced from Nona Source, a luxury fabric resale initiative supported by LVMH. WWD reports that the KNWLS duo is rumored to be the next designers to collaborate with Jean Paul Gaultier on a coming couture collection.
Accessories were aided by UGG-sponsored footwear that resembled KNWLS’ signature, Hellz boots. Fashion East founder Lulu Kennedy and head of projects Raphaelle Moore launched the XLNC Programme initiative (pronounced like excellency) in partnership with Ugg, and KNWLS, the inaugural recipient of the £20,000 grant, used production resources to rework the recognizable boot into something sleeker. In addition, the glimmer was certainly brought with heavily glittered, middle-parted hair courtesy of Eugene Souleiman, frosted lids from Isamaya Ffrench, and manicurist Sylvie Macmillan’s spearhead nail daggers. The Anita Bitton casted model lineup included opener Aoi, Alva Claire, Sara Grace Wallerstedt, Jan Baiboon, Iman Kaumann, Maryel Uchida, Steph Shiu, Adhel Bol, and closed by Michelle Laff
