Harris Reed’s tenth show for his namesake label was nothing short of a celebration a bold fusion of nostalgia, theatricality, and unapologetic playfulness. The British-American designer, known for his romantic approach to couture and a signature flair for camp, drew inspiration from 1970s London an era of contradictions, club culture, and fearless extravagance.
In his Spring 2026 collection, titled Animal Kingdom, Reed unleashed his wild side. Leopard and tiger prints roared across tailored trousers, slips of dresses, and towering platform shoes in a nod to Herman Munster, infusing the silhouettes with a raw, predatory energy. Reed thrives on maximalism, once again proving that for him, fashion is as much about spectacle and fun as it is about craftsmanship.
The presentation took place inside the Gothic Bar at the Autograph Collection Hotel, where Victorian interiors, brimming with ornate detail and decadent atmosphere, amplified the collection’s theatrical mood. “I just wanted this to feel like a night out at a club lighthearted, playful, but with a touch of glamour, because at the end of the day people still need to want to buy these dresses,” Reed remarked as he raised a glass to mark his tenth season showing at London Fashion Week.
As creative director of Nina Ricci and the visionary behind his own label, Reed has spent the last decade carefully constructing a universe where drama and artisanal excellence exist in tandem. This anniversary moment was an opportunity to step further into that world and to stage a show that distilled his vision of fashion as a constant dialogue between tradition and reinvention.
For The Aviary, which formed part of his anniversary celebrations, Reed chose London’s St. Pancras Hotel a monument of neo-Gothic architecture – as the setting. Against its soaring arches and richly decorated interiors, fourteen looks unfolded, each one unmistakably bearing the theatrical DNA of the designer. Wing like structures, cage like frameworks, and layers upon layers of fabric created a spectacle that could only be Reed.
He started with familiar archetypes and reshaped them into something extraordinary. Tailored suits with exaggerated flared trousers, fan like corsetry, jackets with strong, sculptural shoulders each look played with proportion, balancing structure and softness in a way that redefined the body. Reed doesn’t simply dress the figure; he transforms it, spinning new narratives of femininity, androgyny, and power.
Craftsmanship was at the heart of the collection. Reed deepened his collaboration with luxury wallpaper house Fromental, known for repurposing archival silks into painterly, hand finished artworks. Vintage Nottingham lace served as the foundation for modern reinterpretations that adorned corsets with the aura of royal relics. Alongside them came lilac and lime satins, hand painted tortoiseshell and tiger motifs, and brushed velvets with tactile depth. Each textile carried history, artistry, and soul.
For Reed, fashion is never just product it is art, curated with intent and layered with emotion. His pieces serve both as homage to timeless silhouettes and as experiments with new dimensions of craft. This duality is what cements him as a true visionary who values the hands behind the clothes as much as the spectacle they create.
Amid turbulent political and economic times, Reed insists on joy. His Spring 2026 collection was not only a lineup of garments but a declaration: that fashion can be a refuge, a celebration, and a riot of color when the world outside feels heavy. “It was meant to be a pleasant evening,” he said with a smile yet it became something far greater. A reminder that fashion, even in crisis, is more necessary than ever.
With his tenth show, Harris Reed demonstrated that his aesthetic continues to evolve without losing its essence. This was a story of extravagance, craft, and the relentless desire to create something larger than clothes.
Photos courtesy of Harris Reed
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