Maria McManus is a designer who feels things deeply. Disappointed with the current state of the world, he found solace and inspiration in a short poem by Emily Dickinson, which says: “In this little life that lasts but an hour / How little is within our power.” McManus had not studied the American poet in school (“Virtually every writer and poet we studied with was a man,” she recalled of her studies in Ireland), so she immersed herself in Dickinson’s world, And finally saw a white dress which belonged to the poet. “This is the only garment they found that was hers and it’s really beautiful,” she said, showing a photo on an iPad. “All this lace and embroidery detail, the pockets were really beautiful – everything was very thoughtfully put together. So that was the inspiration for the collection.
However, there was no trace of Victoriana in the racks installed in her Tribeca apartment. Rather, he took it as his starting point as a way to continue the exploration of craft that began with the Spring 2025 collection. Lace obviously played a major role, but she grounded delicate fabrics in practical silhouettes; An easy pencil skirt with a drawstring waist and delicate lingerie-like tailoring details, a ¾ length sleeve blouse with a delicate cocoon inset in the back that creates a geometric contrast through the fabric overlays. Lace was also used in the busts of a series of very simple and extremely attractive dresses inspired by vintage gowns, which were once again modernized through the use of the fabric. These featured a body made from McManus’s favorite Naya Renew twill fabric (made from 60% recyclable materials), which has a glossy finish and a weighty drape that gently drapes over the body without revealing the way vintage silk often does. Can do this. She also created a groovy abstract print from the negative space of lace, which she used on a shirtdress over modern pajama-like pants.
The lightning was provided by a bold shade of fuchsia that stunned its surroundings, and McManus seemed to be enjoying it. A short structured innings had a modern feel; McManus cleverly paired it with his khaki trousers to great effect. Designers often talk about introducing “elevated basics,” but this season they’ve done really well with the cotton T-shirt: It’s fitted and has flowy sleeves that aren’t elbow-long, and it’s cotton and Made from a mixture of Naya. Upgrade. Easy enough, except that when you touch it, the fabric has a soft velvety feel to it. That’s the thing about McManus, she makes great clothes for a living, but her appeal lies in the more intangible things; Such as the time and effort required to find the right content. Even something as simple as a white t-shirt.
