At 16Arlington, guests sat on pristine white cubes, each with a card placed atop with the words of David Lynch’s surreal 1997 neo-noir Lost Highway etched in black ink. Titled There is no such thing as a bad coincidence, Marco Capaldo turned to fate and its endless possibilities, as the winding runway unfolded and models delicately navigated every turn, it became clear we were being taken on a trip. A midnight drive along the highway, to be exact, adrenaline running in an effort to keep sunrise at bay and exist in the liminal world of coincidence and uncertainty. Forming a story of serendipity, models met like strangers in the night as 16Arlington’s feminine and masculine codes orbited one another. 

Dresses appeared in varying silhouettes, some bloomed at the waist, some clung to the body and others were draped in asymmetric forms – all of which sparked chemistry with each other. Sequinned skirts were paired with oversized knitwear in casual contradiction, outerwear was exaggerated at the shoulders and fabrics were sheer enough to reveal glimpses of skin.

Shown on a cast who embody 16Arlington’s core codes, the likes of Paloma Elesser and Adwoa Aboah walked in shimmering creations that reflected the world back at you. Walking in harmony, 16Arlington’s menswear saw Capaldo’s craft shine through impeccable tailoring. Suit trousers and blazers were cut to perfection, jackets were crafted in buttery leather and fine wool was fashioned into polo tops with super pointy 70s collars and flowing wide-leg trousers. 

A cult classic since Capaldo’s first foray into accessories, the brand’s iconic Kikka bag was given a makeover, supersized for men and shrouded in cascading sequins for women, and footwear was designed with graphic cut-outs Capaldo borrowed from a Japanese book filled with Lynch’s Lost Highway references.

À la Lynch, Capaldo played with our sense of reality and meaning: the familiar signatures for which the designer is best known – sequins, feathers and sparkles – were a facade this season. Sequins were cut from feather-light latex or polished metal, nylon was artfully fashioned to crease like paper and feathers were sheathed in sleek latex. But we haven’t been deceived, we’ve just been given a glimpse into a new perspective – one found behind the wheel cruising along the highway, just as the sun begins to rise.