Grace Wales Bonner’s latest collection, showcased in Paris on a sweltering Wednesday evening, marked a new chapter for her eponymous brand, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Known for her refined and intellectual approach to fashion, Wales Bonner’s show was a mix of conceptual design and wearable elegance, drawing inspiration from writers like James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni. Titled Jewel, the collection was centered around the idea of reinventing classic clothing archetypes, giving them a fresh, contemporary twist.
The lineup featured a new generation of models, including Gene Gallagher (son of Liam Gallagher), Wolf Gillespie (son of Bobby Gillespie), and Myles Lewis-Skelly, an up-and-coming Arsenal footballer. This shift towards younger faces on the catwalk highlighted Wales Bonner’s ability to blend generational legacy with modern style. The show was set in a room filled with bookshelves, echoing the intellectual inspiration behind the collection.
Signature pieces from the collection included a hunting jacket tailored to accentuate the waist, a sharp black suit with brown lapels, and melange-knit jumpers paired with shorts. There was also a nod to more luxurious takes on glamour, like a sequin chiffon shirt worn with low-slung jeans, and a simple silk shirt and trousers combination that evoked understated elegance. In many ways, the collection was about exploring how fashion can blend old-world refinement with modern, casual sensibilities.
Backstage, Wales Bonner explained that she was inspired by the idea of wardrobes belonging to those who carefully curate their clothing, mixing heritage sportswear with fine tailoring and preppy casuals. She also drew on her experience working with Lewis Hamilton and the Met Gala’s exhibition on Black style and dandyism, incorporating that spirit into the collection with pieces that feel both stylish and grounded in history.
In addition to her signature designs, Wales Bonner introduced a collaboration with Y-3, the high-fashion sportswear label by Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto. This partnership featured track tops, shorts, and football-inspired sneakers, which are set to become as iconic as her collaboration with Adidas’s Samba shoes, which have taken the fashion world by storm.
As Wales Bonner reflects on her decade in fashion, the designer expressed a newfound confidence in her identity and direction. Her brand has seen tremendous growth, with a reported 81% increase in revenue compared to the previous year. This collection feels like a perfect intersection of Wales Bonner’s past influences, present innovations, and her vision for the future.
