Mood board: Today’s frenetic catwalk line up at global fashion weeks, with designers regularly disappearing from show schedules and brands booming in and out of popularity, makes the half century success of a label more powerful than ever. When Margaret Howell launched her brand fifty years ago, it began as a shirting business, before becoming a global go-to for impeccably crafted, utilitarian clothing. For A/W 2020 she celebrated her brand’s anniversary milestone in typically laid back style, showcasing a collection of signature men’s and women’s favourites, from practical waxed jackets to drop waist dresses, oversized pinstripe tailoring to schoolgirl kilts.
Best in show: Howell’s design aesthetic is as relevant today as it was fifty years ago. She delivers timeless wardrobe pieces, from suiting to knitwear that will stand the test of time (and trends). The show’s opening looks emphasised this longevity, with single items styled on bare legged and booted female models, including an oversized white shirt, a duffle coat and a belted workman’s jacket.
Finishing touches: Howell is notably absent at the end of a fashion show, failing to take a bow at the end of her catwalk. Her decision to avoid the show space starlight is emblematic of her brand, which is renowned for its unfussy and subtly enduring appeal. True to form, as the show finished, Howell did not take a turn at the head of the runway. Sometimes the most pared-back milestone celebrations are the most impactful.
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In need of validation in a narcissistic world? Reflect on the power of mirrorsHave you ever spoken to your reflection and told it that you love it? Look into your eyes, and give it a go - here are a few mirrors to help
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A striking new cinema glows inside Madrid’s Reina Sofia MuseumBarcelona-based studio Bach reimagines a historic auditorium as a crimson-and-blue dreamscape
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How an Austin home went from 'Texan Tuscan' to a lush, layered escape inspired by the AlhambraThe intellectually curious owners of this Texas home commissioned an eclectic interior – a true ‘cabinet of curiosities’ layered with trinkets and curios
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‘Dirty Looks’ at the Barbican explores how fashion designers have found beauty in dirt and decayFrom garments buried in River Thames mud to those torn, creased and stained, ‘Dirty Looks’ is a testament to how ‘creativity and new artistic practices can come out of decay’, its curators tell Dal Chodha
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Tyler Mitchell’s London show explores the figure of the Black Dandy, ‘imagining what else masculinity could look like’Originally part of a visual essay to accompany the Met’s ‘Superfine’ 2025 Costume Institute exhibition, ‘Portrait of the Modern Dandy’ goes on display at Gagosian Burlington Arcade in London this week
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Inside Louis Vuitton’s Murakami London pop-up, a colourful cartoon wonderland with one-of-a-kind caféWallpaper* takes a tour of the Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up in London’s Soho, which celebrates the launch of a new ‘re-edition’ accessories collection spanning the greatest hits from the Japanese artist’s long-running collaboration with the house
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Get to know Issey Miyake’s innovative A-POC ABLE line as it arrives in the UKAs A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake launches in London this week, designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae gives Wallpaper* the lowdown on the experimental Issey Miyake offshoot
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New short film takes you behind the scenes at Margaret HowellA Working Space provides a behind-the-scenes look at 34 Wigmore Street, Margaret Howell’s London headquarters, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year
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Annemarieke van Drimmelen’s photographs capture the spirit of Margaret HowellDutch photographer Annemarieke van Drimmelen has captured Margaret Howell’s A/W 2022 collection in an evocative series of black and white images. Here, Van Drimmelen and Howell tell Wallpaper* how the project came together
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Margaret Howell London Fashion Week Women's S/S 2019 -
London Fashion Week S/S 2023: Ahluwalia to Martine RoseThough slimmed-down, London Fashion Week nonetheless provided the moments of creative expression the city is known for – from Ahluwalia’s ode to Africa to Martine Rose’s much-anticipated runway return
