Fredrick Anderson’s last collection was, he said a few days before his spring 2026 runway show, a reflection of the dark mood he and so many had found themselves in, given the tumult of the current political and social landscape. In contrast, “this season I broke to another level and started thinking about lifting us up and finding a joyous experience,” he said. The most joyous experience in Anderson’s world and among the well-heeled women he dresses? Travel. “I created this escape for everyone,” he said. “With all the intensity around, I wanted us to take a second and find a happy place—not just in destination, but in our minds.”
The designer called a bright yellow design with blurred blotches of taupe and orange his “Ibiza print,” which he used for airy batwing blouses and a pair of wide-leg trousers that tie at the waist with a sash. “I call this my St. Tropez tweed,” he said of a green and blue weave, cut for a maxi tunic dress and cropped jacket with matching shorts. The French Louis period inspired an assortment of dresses and separates in sherbet orange and turquoise. Some, like a tiered maxi skirt, were in ruffled chiffon; others, such as a bell-sleeve mini dress, were in delicate lace. They were all nearly weightless. “My collection is getting lighter and lighter,” Anderson said. “I’m finding that people are wanting less clutter, so I’m taking out some structure.”
Prominently featured this season was Anderson’s embrace of technology. After sketching a floral pattern, he used an AI tool to remix it, then laser cut it into vegan leather for a pair of trousers and a short sleeve dress that hit just below the knee. “Everyone is wondering how AI helps us—it helps us to make things cleaner,” Anderson said. “When you look at the precision of the cut, it doesn’t get better.”
With so many frills, pops of color and textures throughout the collection—including a mesmerizing hand-embroidery reminiscent of Arabic tiles—the runway looks could have done without the heavy layers of jewelry they were styled with. A tented maxi dress in polka-dotted taffeta would be lovely on its own, and perfect for the type of wanderlusters Anderson designs for. “It’s not the vacation travel of the old days, where they put on their jeans and are tourist travelers,” he said. “They want to have a great dinner; they’re partying and going out to lounges at night. Therefore, it’s very dressed up.”
