Christian Cowan’s Fall/Winter 2020 Collection
The British designer took guests on a luxury safari.
As glameratti flocked to their seats before Christian Cowan’s wildly luxurious Fall/Winter 2020 runway, an eery, jungle-reminiscent green light cast upon the studio in anticipation of the collection’s imminent unveiling. The emerald hue subtly welcomed a multitude of sartorial inspirations present throughout the English designer’s latest range. “I looked to three different realms full of different displays of power for inspiration,” Cowan told V. “One was the typical, luxury sports car vibe and people on Instagram showing off their wealth. The next was the ceremonial aspect of power, so fireworks, which came from China originally. The final realm is the natural world.” Melding a vibrant opulence with nature’s iridescence, the looming green light gave way to a collection much like a royal safari.
In the opening iteration, cheetah print landed atop a matching, oversized coat, and wide-legged dress pants, a primitive-yet-elegant ensemble elevated with an entirely crystal-embossed turtleneck. The same pattern received careful tailoring across a free-spirited evening gown and a dramatic blazer-turned-dress, all the while sparkling undergarments ignited each look with Cowan’s glittering touch. Flowering gold sleeves complemented an ultra-luxe, gold minidress in evident transition to the collection’s next phase of lavish extravagance. In stage two, each plush design twinkled distinctively brighter, sporting the designer’s first-ever custom, silk lurex, woven textiles. “These fabrics really shimmer and glitter in a more elevated way than we’ve ever done in the past,” Cowan expounded. Following in suit, bombastic fireworks adorned an all-black suit jacket and a flowing, long-sleeve dress in the range’s next rendition of ceremonial luxuries. Closing out the show, a marvelously enlarged bow, presumably toying with the idea of over-the-top gift-giving, bounced down the runway behind a mini dress in matching pink-grey fabric, leaving onlookers with the ultimate parting gift.
On his intentions with this latest collection, Cowan explained, “I want these women to feel like the most powerful and confident women, and I want that to come not only from within but also through the outfit.” The seasoned visionary’s new, dream-like constructions certainly exude a strong sense of tenacity, each empowering the female silhouette with complimentary cuts and extravagant detailing. Below, explore the entire Fall/Winter 2020 collection on the runway.