Fforme's Fall 2026 collection, 'Bygone Savage', is a tribute to the brand's New York roots. Designer Frances Howie invites us to explore the city's rich fashion history, drawing inspiration from the 1990 film 'Metropolitan'. This collection is a unique blend of nostalgia and modern elegance, with a focus on specialized craftsmanship in the garment district.
Howie's designs are a nod to the bygone era of Seventh Avenue ateliers, where skilled artisans create exquisite pieces. Shearlings, for instance, are crafted with a raw, instinctive edge, featuring dangling scarves, hats, and shoulder wraps that add a touch of savage charm to the cocooned silhouettes. These pieces are deliberately frayed at the edges, exuding an elegant yet slightly untamed spirit.
The collection showcases hand-tailored suiting in mélange wool faille, deconstructed and made modular with vests as separate pieces. A sleek collarless coat is paired with a tailored sleeveless dress, while a dramatic A-line gown in gray mélange ottoman is wrapped in gauze-like wool jersey, creating a trompe l'oeil effect. The use of metallic-hued velvet dresses in French velvet adds a touch of luxury and sophistication, emphasizing the hourglass silhouettes with panniers in gold and burnt amber.
Other looks, such as outerwear, feature hair calf, a tactile material that continues to be a signature of Howie's work at Fforme. She emphasizes the importance of supporting specialized ateliers, as they are at risk of disappearing if not valued and sustained. The collection also incorporates natural elements immortalized through electroplating, with real flowers and leaves coated by a close collaborator, Barcelona-based jewelry designer Alba Navarro of ANH Studio.
The 'Bygone Savage' collection embodies a unique blend of 90s Helmut Lang soul and modern elegance. Ribboned tuxedo trousers and sheer knit tops deconstructed with cross-stitched ribbons add a subtle edge to the collection. Howie's Fforme delivers a sense of edge without indulgence, offering a fresh take on the preppy sportswear aesthetic that is synonymous with New York style.
