A season where secondhand chic meets couture maximalism—and the front row was just as loud.

London Fashion Week has officially entered its Spring/Summer 2026 era, and if the opening days are anything to go by, this season is all about contrasts. One minute, we’re in eBay and Vinted’s world of resale runway; the next, Richard Quinn is drowning us in bows, bridal gowns, and diamanté drama.

So far, we’ve seen everything from blockbuster celebrity moments to avant-garde experiments with sustainability—and yes, Naomi Campbell is still setting the tone like it’s 1999. Here’s the breakdown of who’s making headlines (and who’s making history).

Harris Reed’s Sculptural Fantasia

Harris Reed gave us a reminder that fashion can be pure theatre. The collection leaned heavily on Reed’s signature sculptural silhouettes—more costume drama than ready-to-wear, and that’s exactly the point.

Secondhand Goes High Fashion

Kicking off with a twist, resale platforms eBay and Vinted staged runway shows that celebrated secondhand fashion as the new status symbol. Think archival finds, reworked treasures, and an echo of TikTok’s “de-influencing” era—except this time, the message was: thrift is chic.

Karina Bond’s 3D-Printed Future

If you thought AI was the future, Karina Bond disagrees. Her SS26 collection, The Midnight Sun, was made using a 3D pen, each biodegradable garment drawn into existence. The showstopper: a golden gown composed of 5,000 discs, six weeks in the making, weighing 5kg. Bond envisions a retail model where you’re 3D-scanned and printed into the perfect fit—no stock, no waste, just futuristic couture.

H&M’s Blockbuster Spectacle

Not a brand to whisper when they can scream, H&M turned their LFW moment into part runway, part rock concert, part glossy magazine spread. Romeo Beckham, Paloma Elsesser, Amelia Gray, and Lila Moss walked, while Lola Young sang to a guest list that included Central Cee, Little Simz, Emily Ratajkowski, flowerovlove, and viral darling Bus Auntie, Bemi Orojuogun.

The Studio line opened, followed by FW25 with Britpop swagger, and closed on A/W25, which Ann-Sofie Johansson dubbed “a tribute to self-expression and personal style.” Very London.

Leo Prothmann Channels Gaia

Rick Owens-approved designer Leo Prothmann staged a moody, Gaia-inspired showcase at The Mandrake Hotel. Think leather-heavy silhouettes, bomber jackets reimagined as armour, and “women of the night” aesthetic sharpened by an artisanal Converse collaboration. With Brooke Candy among the models, this was more than a runway—it was myth-making.

Richard Quinn’s Couture Extravaganza

Naomi Campbell opened what can only be described as an operatic spectacle. Richard Quinn’s 52-look collection featured 1950s-inspired silhouettes dripping with velvet bows, diamantés, camellias, and bridal gowns galore. Subtlety? Never heard of her.

Priya Ahluwalia’s Romantic Return

After sitting out last season, Ahluwalia returned with Affinity, a collection rooted in lightness and love. Staged at Covent Garden’s NoMad Hotel, the show was a soft reset: tailoring, denim, knitwear, and separates designed for both men and women, all reimagined with a fresher, freer energy. “It feels chic,” she said backstage. We agree.

What’s Still to Come

Names like Mains, Simone Rocha, and Dilara Findikoglu are yet to take their turns on the runway, with Burberry set to close the season in a finale only London could deliver. If SS26 is already this bold, the best may still be waiting in the wings.