This London Fashion Week brings to mind politics, with the country getting caught up in a buzzy election earlier this year, leading to a victory for the Labour party. Canadian-British designer Edeline Lee, who founded her label in 2014, has become a favorite of political figures including Victoria Starmer, wife of U.K. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who has been spotted wearing Lee’s creations at major public events. Known for her bold use of color, modernist approach and clean, structured silhouettes, Lee’s designs have gained widespread attention from influential women in the art world and politics alike. This year, Lee is expanding her brand in exciting ways. Alongside her vibrant new runway collection, she is introducing her first-ever footwear line and a childrenswear range, the latter of which will launch exclusively at Harrods.  Known for her specialist retail approach, Lee places a strong emphasis on exclusivity and craftsmanship, using trunk shows and bespoke retail experiences to connect with her loyal customer base. Her designs have become increasingly popular in the United States, where she has cultivated a strong following through curated events and personal shopping experiences. In this London Fashion Week episode of the Glossy Podcast, Lee delves into her journey from dressing the art world to showing on the runway, her expansion into new product categories and her secrets to captivating a global audience, particularly in the U.S.

NYC-based luxury womenswear brand Lafayette 148 has earned a loyal, influential customer base in its 28-year history — many members of which turned out for the brand’s spring 2025 collection presentation in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood on Monday. Among recognizable attendees viewing the elegant, art-inspired designs were actresses Beanie Feldstein, Rachel Brosnahan and Karen Pittman, among others. A designer at the company for 22 years, starting as a design assistant, Emily Smith is now Lafayette 148’s creative director. As such, her work is largely fueling the brand’s fandom. “It’s women dressing women,” Smith said on the latest Glossy Podcast. “We know the fuss of getting dressed in the morning and what you do and don’t want to deal with. … And we want to dress our customer seven days a week.”  Also on the podcast, Smith discussed the importance of fashion week in today’s fashion ecosystem, the secrets to navigating the “up and down” luxury market, and the perks of working for a “completely vertical” company.