Emilia Wickstead’s pre-fall 2026 collection is yet another example of the New Zealand-born designer’s cinematic obsession, and her expertise in translating big screen style and emotions into contemporary fashion.
Drawing deeply from the 1958 film “Bonjour Tristesse,” set in the French Reviera, Wickstead loved the different feelings and emotions of the women of different ages in the film, especially the enigmatic 17-year-old protagonist Cécile, played by Jean Seberg.
“Some are highly sexualized, others more refined. Then there was this young, very frivolous girl, who doesn’t really know who she is as a person, and is finding herself, making lots of mistakes, but is also very outgoing in her fashion sense,” Wickstead said.
For example, the baby-doll dresses in pastel hues were meant to suggest Cécile’s innocence and discovery, while the more structured evening silhouettes reflected the more elegant side of the ’50s codes of fashion.
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Wickstead gave the film’s iconic bow dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy a modern update with a dropped-waist design and “youthful color palette,” meaning two versions, one in pastel blue and the other in warm stripes.
While the brand stayed true to its core occasional dress category, with key looks that also included evening numbers in crinkled organza, an off-the-shoulder golden jacquard gown, and a pink dress with stamped floral motifs and lace overlays, Wickstead also offered tactile knits, cropped jackets, nautical denim skirts and resort-ready silk twill dresses.
Looking down, one wouldn’t miss the new footwear collaboration with Manolo Blahnik featuring quirky bows and sculptural heels.
