Hedonism and heritage collide at Eltham Palace.
McQueen’s Spring Summer 2026 pre collection unfolds at Eltham Palace in a youthful escape. Under creative director Seán McGirr, the pre collection campaign reads as a retreat from the city, into a world where heritage loosens into hedonism and McQueen’s signature codes have a new place to live.
The collection feels very old school and modern at the same time, with washed denim in contrast to narrow tailoring, setting the tone for a collection shaped by variation and contrasts. Waxed cotton jackets, gabardine car coats and sculpted black leather pieces are cinched, cut and deconstructed to create silhouettes that reclaim a classic British outerwear feel for an urban setting. At the same time, archival McQueen tartan and airy florals are deconstructed and rebuilt toward a modern, free flowing look. Layers are loosened, fabrics drift and the Manta bag, first seen in Spring Summer 2010, returns with a new structure, accessorised with bag charms.
The campaign spirit draws from the photographs of Dafydd Jones, particularly his evocation of “The Last Hurrah”, a fusion of rebellion and romance. A duality that runs through the clothes in the form of shattered chandelier embroideries scattered across black silk, suits that are cut snug and close to the body, and footwear that splits between razor sharp Skull pumps with a metal skull charm at the heel and equestrian Countryside boots detailed with zips and buckles.
PHOTO CREDIT: McQueen.
