LONDON — Patrick McDowell feted his fall 2026 pre-collection at the Dorchester Hotel’s China Tang restaurant on Thursday night. Guests, including model Isobel Richmond, ballet dancer Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Lady Amelia Windsor, showed up in full McDowell finery to support.
“China Tang serves some of the best Cantonese food in London, which happens to be one of my favorite cuisines,” McDowell said.
“I always want to give guests an incredible culinary experience at a brand dinner of food I also love to eat,” McDowell said. “The chefs certainly didn’t disappoint, finishing off with my favorite Charbonnel and Walker chocolates.”
Referencing American photographer George Platt Lynes, the pre-collection featured suiting with nipped-in waists and silk eveningwear.
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“[Platt’s] sensitive photography and the hidden duality of his work shooting both couture and the male nude is fascinating,” McDowell explained.
Delicate floral prints were a standout in the collection, and built on themes from McDowell’s spring 2026 runway.
His September collection, which featured rosey prints and handbags with jewel encrusted roses, took inspiration from the designer’s late grandmother.
His use of flora might be a wink to his 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, handed to him by Kate Middleton last May. The prize recognizes young designers who are making a difference through sustainable practices or community engagement.
At the dinner, McDowell also teased some information about his upcoming London Fashion Week show.
“Our upcoming collection is set to be another outing of special pieces that can be cherished for a lifetime. Set in an incredible venue that showcases the arts at their best, we’re thrilled to be bringing this latest vision to life,” he said.
