Simon Miller Fall, Winter 2025/2026 - Los Angeles
Are we all yearning for a counterculture to arrive? Has society flattened out so much, that it feels like a crash, but hasn't crashed? A cold war that is not a cold war, and we have a proto-fascist President 2.0, rewriting the American constitution. And unfortunately, it is still all about stability over change, so no real-time revolutionary aesthetics just as yet. But, in the meantime can we enjoy Chelsea Hansford's redefining of the glorious hedonism of the 1970s? Even though it might evoke a wanton nostalgia, if is one so inclined to study their transgenerational timeline, why not pay homage.
And of course Hansford does just that, after taking over the Simon Miller brand from its creators Daniel Corrigan and Jake Sargent in 2016, relocating to Los Angeles in 2018, from New York, and settling down with her husband within the L.A. urban sprawl, whilst being inspired by the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s aesthetic, has been a work in progress. Essentially fusing those three decades of rebellious tinged attire, despite it being a commercial venture has been no easy task, considering the residual pandering of bygone eras, we can blame Gen X for this, in our oddball simulacrum digitalized world.
Hansford's Fall/Winter 2025/2026 collection was themed around social interactions in a relaxed atmosphere, yes, akin to the pre-digital age, i.e., no smart phones, just sitting talking, in her own words, "reading a book", "dancing" and best of all, "sharing Martinis" which are indeed one my favourite cocktails, 2nd of course to The Manhattan. And the collection does play out within its relaxed template, with an overlay of the carnal ever present. From glittering one piece cocktail dresses, oversized boxy jumpers, pleated ankle length skirts (very 1980s esque), modernism prints, mini dresses and, as mentioned, a subtle eros, of a possible tryst after reading a chapter of Anaïs Nin's "Delta of Venus", and sharing a Martini with your lover.
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(A.Glass 2025)
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