Catherine Holstein so profoundly understands the Khaite woman that it doesn’t really matter what her collections mean – the main point here is that they’re so successful when they hit shelves. For the record, the designer said that F for Fake, the Orson Welles documentary from 1973, was her main inspiration, as it’s about “forgeries and fakers… how we value art and authenticity; who are the arbiters of taste”.
For the many women who hang on Holstein’s every design, it is she who is such an arbiter, and there’s no doubt that will remain for autumn/winter 2026. From lace slip dresses contrasted with long leather opera gloves to sheer blouses worn with velvet trousers and matching bow ties, there were dramatic evening skirts, sheer fabrics and a healthy offering of perfectly-fitting leather trousers. In short, this was a collection made of many different aspects, which came together to create the image of a singular, stylish woman; she is multi-faceted, and Holstein understands that more than most. – Hannah Banks-Walker