British-American fashion designer Harris Reed kicked off London Fashion Week with his signature theatrical flare, including a special appearance from friend, Don’t Worry Darling actress Florence Pugh. On Thursday evening, Harris Reed debuted the Fall/Winter 2023 collection, dubbed “All the World’s a Stage,” at London’s Tate Modern and tapped Pugh to start the evening by reciting a speech written by the designer.
“Clothing has a transformative power, whether for an actor, or simply a performer on the stage of life,” Pugh said. “The art of dressing up allows us to express who we truly are, creating a safe space to inhabit in a sometimes judgmental world. Our costumes can change who we want to be seen as, and who we are destined to be. I invite you to embrace the lamé and sequins of life, because all the world’s a stage.”
Pugh shined in a silver-and-black sequin two-piece set, featuring a diamond-patterned floor-length skirt with a thigh-high slit and a black velvet corset with coordinating glittering caped sleeves. The Wonder actress also wore a gigantic circular halo headpiece and ethereal starburst Harris Reed x Missoma earrings to complete the dramatic ensemble.
The designer expressed his thanks to Pugh on Instagram writing, “There are truly no words to express my gratitude to you @florencepugh for opening a show and saying the words I have been shouting into the void ever since I can remember about how important dressing up and clothing can be in one’s journey.”
Pugh also reflected on the experience on social media. “@harris_reed asked me to speak his words. Only as I was learning them did I realize that my 13-year-old self was screaming the same thing,” she wrote. “You wear yourself. And what you want to be seen as. I’m so grateful to be involved in [the] @harris_reed show. It was an honor, and it was a privilege.” In another Instagram Story, Pugh wrote, “Fashion is such an expression of life and love to me. I feel so lucky to [be] a part of @harris_reed’s vision. Thank you till the end of time.”
Known for giving traditional design codes a gender-fluid twist, Reed’s “All the World’s a Stage” collection blended pageant elements with a Henry Moore sculptural prowess and Shakespearian cues. Reed repurposed upcycled theater drapes into gold lamé fabrications and sprinkled in harlequin-chic motifs for a quintessentially dramatic demi-couture assortment.
Honey Dijon, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lisa Rinna, Munroe Bergdorf, Richie Shazam, and more were among the star-studded guests.
(Photo by Dave Benett)
Last September, after winning the Reed’s Leader of Change Award at the the 2022 Fashion Awards, the fashion darling was named the new creative director of the 90-year-old Parisian fashion house Nina Ricci. The French brand announced in a statement that “Harris is the youngest creative mind to enter the brand,” at just 26 years old.
“I am honored to be joining the house of Nina Ricci, with its treasure chest full of glamor, history, and power ready to be explored,” the UK-based designer said in a statement. “I am truly excited to challenge the landscape of what femininity means across Fashion and Beauty in such an iconic house.”
Reed’s debut collection for Nina Ricci will debut in this month during Paris Fashion Week.
