London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2022 Brings Designer Debuts and More

At Halpern, the brand is focused on movement and vibrancy. To debut its latest collection, the Royal Ballet was brought in to show off the garments through dance. A short film was posted, in which rainbow-colored fringe dresses and oversized ruffled gowns could be seen shaking, swaying, and barreling through the air. "Movement on full display," was the tagline of the collection. These pieces are made to be lived in, and leaped in.

"Buy less, choose well, make it last," is the motto of Vivienne Westwood's latest, nautical collection. "Save Our Souls" received a digital presentation at London Fashion Week. With nods to both Queen Elizabeth I's England and impending climate disaster, Westwood's creation straddled the line between glamour and horror. Decapitated shark heads served as resting posts for models who donned classic Westwood corsetry and sky-high heels. The designs, though modern enough for any streetwear influencer, take plenty of retro inspiration to fit in with the current vintage Westwood revival.

Another favorite of stylist Harry Lambert, S.S.Daley debuted on the runway with a collection that explores burgeoning masculinity and British youth. The designer collaborated with the National Youth Theater, of which he himself is a graduate, to create a unique presentation for his Spring/Summer 2022 collection. The line was featured in a digital play that allowed students of both public and private schools to speak on their experiences growing up, falling in love, and even earning the title of "head boy." The clothes played on the form of rugby kits and school uniforms to create something both refined and youthful.

Nensi Dojaka was certainly the one to watch at this fashion week, as she debuted her first solo runway show after winning the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Designers. Her clothes, beloved by celebrities, are famous for blending the sensuality of lingerie with everyday, wearable items. For this collection, Dojaka expanded beyond her usual palette of sheer browns and blacks to include pops of red and pink. A pinwheel motif appeared throughout the collection, bringing together something exciting and cohesive for the young designer. 

Under the steeples of St. Bartholomew the Great church in London came the birth of Simone Rocha's dreamy and dark Spring/Summer 2022 collection. The garments of Rocha's most recent collection came together to tell a sensory story of tenderness and affection. "I wanted there to be a lot of texture because it's an in-person show, and everyone will be quite close to the garments for the first time," Rocha said of the details and layers of lace that line her pieces. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful realities of motherhood and the recent birth of her second daughter, Rocha says, " A lot of this obviously came from a very maternal place."

For her Spring/Summer 2022 collection, Molly Goddard wanted to diversify what we think of as everyday dress. Pulling inspiration from pregnancy and the birth of her baby, Frank, Goddard says being with child made her, "think about baby clothes." Shot within her studio, Goddard's most recent virtually displayed collection combines joyful colors with classic silhouettes for a funky yet tasteful twist on our daily dress. 

Creative Director Yasuko Furuta reimagined this year’s Spring/Summer runways with his collection of sleek and breathable silhouettes. Clean cuts and buildable pieces make the brand's newest collection of garments suitable for all seasons and all occasions. 

Richard Malone's Spring/Summer 2022 collection acts as a collection of artworks within the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Combining a bold blend of materials and Mulberry leather, Malone's most recent collection is inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem, "The Waste Land." The line, "The fragments that I have shored against my ruins" inspired Malone's newest collection to be one in telling his story, and in feeling an appreciation for his past. 

Jonathan William Anderson, creative director of JW Anderson, just released his Spring/Summer 2022 womenswear collection presented as a calendar. Full of eye-catching and edgy colors, the fashion was photographed by Jeurgen Teller—who also appears in the 2022 calendar. Contrasting grungy backdrops with Anderson's gorgeous geometric pieces, the collection feels modern and elevated. 

Off the heels of dressing Iman for the Met Gala, emerging designer Harris Reed went off-schedule to debut his first demi-couture collection. Reed only just graduated from Central Saint Martins, but has already made a name for himself by contributing over-the-top pieces to editorial shoots and dressing the likes of Harry Styles. His most recent collection titled Found, is a collaboration with Oxfam Great Britain, an initiative to help those who live in poverty. Made up of recycled wedding dresses and tuxedos, the collection blends womenswear and menswear to create pieces so fantastical, it is a wonder how anyone can even wear them. And yet, Styles has managed to perform entire concerts in the whimsical getups.

Richard Quinn's Spring/Summer 2021 collection was a garden of garments. Drawing inspiration from the flowers that bloom boldly in the warmer months, Quinn left no color untouched. Voluminous silhouettes and whimsical colors brought the garments together in harmony.