Return of the 'king of glamour'

JULIEN Macdonald made a high-shine return to London Fashion Week, staging his autumn/winter 2026 comeback on the interior rooftop of The Shard with a collection that reaffirmed his reputation as fashion's self-styled "king of glamour".

- LARA OWEN

Perched high above the capital, guests nursed martinis as the designer from Merthyr Tydfil sent out a procession of sequinned, sculpted silhouettes against the glittering night skyline.

Singers Katherine Jenkins and Ella Eyre was among those seated front row, watching as Macdonald delivered a show steeped in his signature high-octane energy.

It marked Macdonald's first London Fashion Week runway since restructuring his business in 2023, and the message was unmistakable: unapologetic, maximalist glamour is back.

Macdonald, 54, who launched his label in 1997 and has previously held high-profile roles at Chanel and Givenchy, has long been synonymous with red-carpet showstoppers. His return leaned fully into that legacy, delivering a collection of high-impact evening wear designed for drama rather than understatement.

The show opened with fluid, body skimming gowns in metallic tones, including a liquid gold halterneck dress that plunged dramatically at the front and twisted into a draped, thigh-split skirt.