Fashion thrives on the cyclical rhythm of revival and reinterpretation, yet few moments achieve the electrifying, instantaneous alchemy of the recent collaboration between 16Arlington and the legendary designer Antony Price. Staged in an intimate, off-schedule salon show within an East London studio, the event was less a runway presentation and more a dazzling séance, summoning the spirit of potent, unadulterated 1970s and 80s glamour. Creative Director Marco Capaldo, the torchbearer for London’s effervescent eveningwear, invited Price, the architect of seduction known for shaping the iconic aesthetics of Roxy Music and David Bowie, back to the catwalk after a 36-year hiatus. The resulting demi-couture collection, featuring sixteen breathtaking, body-sculpting looks modeled by a generational cast of It-girls and stars, proved that the most dramatic and enduring form of fashion is rooted in spectacle, sensuality, and an audacious, unapologetic femininity.
The Architects of Allure: A Generational Fusion
The 16Arlington x Antony Price partnership represents more than a simple collaboration; it is a profound act of reverence and a seamless convergence of two minds obsessed with the notion of allure. Marco Capaldo, who inherited the romantic, crystal-drenched DNA of 16Arlington, has continuously championed a contemporary vision of party-girl chic, built on movement, texture, and after-dark sophistication. By inviting Antony Price, arguably one of Britain’s most overlooked but deeply impactful designers, Capaldo performed a significant act of fashion altruism, ensuring a visionary received the spotlight he deserved.
Price’s legacy is immense. He is the original architect of glamour, a master of provocation whose signature construction defined an era. His work, which included costuming the visual identities of rock titans like Roxy Music and Duran Duran, elevated clothes to armor—a predatory, sexually charged shield of confidence. Capaldo’s gesture was born from a mutual admiration for fashion that is built for theatre and drama. This fusion of generational talent resulted in a collection that felt both deeply archival and fiercely immediate, connecting the raw, liberated spirit of the 70s with the sophisticated, confident sensuality of today’s London scene. It was a shared language of glamour, delivered with a powerful, singular voice.
The New Vixen: Decoding the Heavenly Body
The true genius of the collection lies in its uncompromising, sculptural silhouette—a direct revival and refinement of Price’s original construction techniques. The collection was dedicated to the concept of the “heavenly body,” Price’s term for a hyper-real, exaggerated vision of the female form. The clothes were not merely worn; they were built around the wearer, designed to reform the mortal flesh beneath into something divine.
This dramatic effect was achieved through a meticulous, demi-couture approach that demanded an almost architectural level of tailoring. Corseted bodices were cinched with an expert severity, whittling the waist to an impossible dimension, while hips and busts were exaggerated and boned to pneumatic perfection. Price famously spoke of “nailing” his clothes to the body, often utilizing Rigilene boning in unconventional ways to create structure that felt less like fabric and more like sculpted armor, as evidenced by the sharp, twisted, and pointed breasts on many of the gowns. Each of the sixteen looks was treated as a unique entity, crafted to be made-to-measure for every client, a process that requires a minimum of three fittings, ensuring that the legendary fit—taut, honed, and boned—is perfectly executed for the contemporary vixen.
Casting the Spell: Theatre, Texture, and Star Power
The setting and casting were crucial to translating the collection’s ethos of “glamour as enchantment.” Forgoing the impersonal vastness of a traditional Fashion Week venue, Capaldo opted for an intimate salon show in the 16Arlington East London studio. Guests, seated on individual white plinths, were immersed in a theatrical atmosphere of silvery spotlights, flashing halogen bulbs, and a sonorous club soundtrack. The entire presentation was designed to feel like a decadent, woozy salon show, encouraging the audience to get up close and personal with the garments’ astonishing detail.
The narrative was further amplified by a star-studded cast that blurred the lines between model and muse. The runway debut of Lily Allen was a clear highlight, strutting down the catwalk in a corseted, bombasted oil-slick of navy velvet, a dress aptly titled ‘Avenge,’ which was lined in a vivid kryptonite-green satin. She was joined by contemporary fashion forces like Lila Moss, who embodied predatory glamour in a chrome-sprayed feathered mini dress, and activists-turned-models Adwoa Aboah and Paloma Elsesser. This intentional casting of individuals known for their confidence and singular personalities reinforced the collection’s theme: that the clothes are a framework for the expression of the self, chosen to echo the personalities and lives of the extraordinary women who wear them.
The After-Dark Aesthetic: Materials and Mood
The material landscape of the collection was as rich and intense as the glamour it sought to embody. Price and Capaldo used texture as a powerful tool for seduction, moving away from simple fabrics toward those that catch and manipulate the light, demanding attention with every swish and rustle. The result was a stunning array of pieces crafted from deep midnight velvets, devilishly rich leathers, and glistening cascades of crystals and feathers.
The color palette was a nocturnal exploration of richness, featuring midnight black, icy navy, and striking accents of silver and emerald green. Looks included entire gowns smothered in shimmering silver sequins, and complex trompe l’oeil animalier prints rendered in rippling satin, providing a visual depth that shifts with movement. The collaboration also extended to the feet, with every look grounded by custom-made stilettoes designed exclusively in partnership with Manolo Blahnik, completing the head-to-toe vision of high-voltage elegance. Ultimately, the collection serves as a powerful declaration that true glamour is eternal, a language of seduction and spectacle that transcends generations, making this partnership one of the most significant and exhilarating moments in London fashion history.
