London Fashion Week 2026: Simone Rocha, Chet Lo, Erdem – and Tolu Coker, with King Charles in the front row
King Charles’ appearance at the fall/winter 2026 show of British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker dominated headlines at London Fashion Week. While this is not the first time a royal has shown up at a London Fashion Week event, King Charles attended Coker’s show hours after the arrest of his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former Prince Andrew was detained on Thursday and questioned over allegations that he sent confidential government information to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier and child sex offender.
Epstein’s royal, fashion and celebrity connections – the businessman was also close to figures such as British top model Naomi Campbell, according to recently released documents detailing his activities – were the talk of the town in London on the weekend.
Britain’s King Charles at the show of British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker during London Fashion Week. Photo: AP
The repercussions of the Epstein scandal, however, didn’t completely overshadow the shows. With its global outlook and support of young talent, London Fashion Week is where established brands such as Erdem and Simone Rocha vie for attention with up-and-coming designers who are not afraid to experiment on the runway.
At a breakfast gathering, Laura Weir, CEO of the British Fashion Council, called London Fashion Week not just “a schedule of shows but a cultural platform, an IP we’re proud to build and steward, a global broadcast of British creativity”. She also added that participation has been growing, with a 21 per cent increase in showcases on the main schedule from February 2025 to February 2026.
Here are some highlights from a busy weekend of shows and presentations.
Textured knitwear at Erdem fall/winter 2026. Photo: Handout
Erdem Moralıoğlu is one of London’s success stories. The Canadian-born designer behind Erdem has built a loyal following among women who are not single-mindedly devoted to fashion and just want to look beautiful and chic. His romantic vision, tinged with historicism and a dash of glamour, has managed to stay relevant season after season.
The brand’s fall/winter 2026 show, held at Tate Britain – London’s museum focusing on British art – marked the label’s 20th anniversary.
On each seat was a scrapbook of images of previous show inspirations, ranging from Maria Callas’ Medea to Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess Deborah Devonshire.
A bodice paired with jeans was an unexpected touch from Erdem. Photo: Handout
