Andrew Kwon Spring/Summer 2026 Haute Couture “Celestial” — A Journey Into the Future Guided by Fantasy

On September 16, New York–based designer Andrew Kwon unveiled his Spring/Summer 2026 haute couture collection Celestial, a presentation that embodied nothing short of an otherworldly vision. The stage was set at the Waldorf Astoria New York, which had just reopened this July after its first renovation in eight years. Within its newly reborn yet timelessly classic halls, 16 gowns appeared with the first light of dawn, inviting the audience on a mythical journey.

Inspiration: Aurora, the Goddess of Dawn

The starting point of the collection was 19th-century French painter Pierre-Narcisse Guérin’s work Aurora and Cephalus. Speaking to OSF after the show, Kwon explained his fascination with the goddess of dawn racing across the sky.

“There was something truly special about the mystical figures floating in the sky. I’ve always loved creation myths. The colors of the sky, the way the darkness is pierced in the painting—it all felt incredibly magical to me,” Kwon said.

With this inspiration, Kwon reimagined mythological motifs in a contemporary language, translating them into couture forms. As the show notes stated, “To me, fantasy has always been more than escape — it’s about dreaming forward.” The collection unfolded as a narrative that bridged ancient mythology with the designer’s own identity.

Craftsmanship Meets Artistry

The show opened with a gown featuring a corset top intricately embroidered with beads to reproduce Guérin’s Aurora and Cephalus. Thousands of shimmering beads captured the light, as if the goddess herself were tearing through the night sky to usher in dawn, bringing the painting to life on fabric.

Despite its simple silhouette, the gown’s painterly embellishment commanded overwhelming presence, drawing every gaze. It served as a “declaration piece,” signaling the artistic and technical direction of the entire collection.

Subsequent looks featured gowns in mirrored silver and black, evoking the liquidity of metal cascading in motion. The narrative then shifted seamlessly into airy chiffons in pale tones, drifting down the runway with the lightness of dawn. Evening gowns adorned with floral embellishments—like petals glistening with dew—added further layers to the collection’s multi-dimensional storytelling.

One standout was a corset dress crafted from sheer tulle and lustrous satin, decorated with three-dimensional floral appliqués at the bodice and hipline. The interplay of its structural corset lines with cloud-like curves created tension between strength and softness— couture at its most exacting.

Equally striking was a pleated gown in soft blue-gray, architectural yet fluid. The pleats crossed over the body as if to capture beams of light breaking through clouds. Delicate pearl beading at the neckline shimmered like morning dew, amplifying the gown’s ethereal fragility.

The finale gown was nothing short of “the pinnacle of fantasy.” A sweeping black skirt with flowing pleats paired with a sculptural organza top, shaped like floating petals, was topped by a matching architectural headpiece. The look embodied the vision of a goddess descending from the heavens, encapsulating the collection’s theme and closing the show in a hush of awe.

“What makes this collection so special is the tremendous effort my team and I poured into it,” Kwon reflected. “We worked long nights, experimenting with new techniques. Each gown carries that dedication in its details.”

Among these, an organza gown with liquid-like pleating stood out as a technical triumph. Its creation spanned more than two weeks, blending artisanal craftsmanship with experimental textile development.

Kwon’s material choices also demonstrated his relentless pursuit of the new. “I’m always searching for things I’ve never seen before,” he said. “We collaborate with mills to develop new silk colors and fabrics, and we also create our own pleating techniques and textiles.”

Born in Denver, Colorado, the Korean American designer studied at Parsons The New School for Design before launching his eponymous label in 2020. With a background in architecture and interior design, Kwon quickly drew attention for merging structural perspectives with evening and bridal wear.

In just a few years, his collections have appeared on the official New York Fashion Week schedule, with designs gracing red carpets and international celebrities, solidifying his reputation as one of couture’s rising forces. In 2024, he was named to Forbes’ inaugural 30 Under 30 North America Class of 2025.

Kwon’s philosophy is clear: couture is not about escape but about progress through dreaming. With Celestial, he transformed fantasy into fuel for the future—an elegant and powerful step forward into the next era.

Explore all the looks from Andrew Kwon’s 2026 Haute Couture Collection in the gallery below.

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