On September 16th, Molly Goddard presented her Spring/Summer 2018 collection. She's a womenswear designer hailed as one of London's brightest new talents. Just three years after launching her brand in 2014 while studying at Central Saint Martins, she's been nominated for the Fashion Awards' British Emerging Talent category, a prestigious awards laurel wreath for young designers, for the second time in a row, winning the award twice, and was also named a finalist for this year's LVMH Prize. Her signature collection features fairy-tale dresses, often made with tulle and taffeta, that seem to have come straight out of a fairytale. "Even pink, frilly clothes can be powerful and cool. I'm experimenting with whether I can subvert the existing concept of 'cute,'" she said of her brand. Her looks, styled with jeans, hoodies, and sneakers, exude a strangely balanced, decadent beauty. Almost all of her pieces are handcrafted, a testament to her high level of craftsmanship. This season's collection, however, is more relaxed and reassuring. The collection notes offer a single line of context: "My doctor told me to 'be careful' about my drinking. I'm drinking in front of the mirror right now." The first look features a woman in a pure white dress, strutting her feet with a hint of intoxication, holding a whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other. With Japanese artist Towa Tei's "Technova" playing in the background, the audience was instantly drawn into her world. A girlish dress with a large puffed waist contrasted with baggy, vintage-inspired boots, yet they also complemented each other. There were fewer flowy tulle dresses than in previous collections, and instead, she showcased skillful silhouettes crafted from new fabrics like gathered cotton, organza, and sequins.

After the show, she was seen backstage wearing her own clothes and celebrating with champagne. Her relaxed appearance was the very image of the woman featured in the collection. If the brand is a reflection of her, it will be exciting to see the brand grow as the inner changes of this young 27-year-old woman take place.