Indra Aziz
London-based footwear brand Lili Curia has unveiled its highly anticipated High Summer 2026 collection, a bold and transgressive reimagining of classic vintage and Victorian shoe designs. The collection, showcased through a compelling campaign by Sammy King titled "Everyday Scenes," playfully blends historical aesthetics with contemporary summer sensibilities. Each meticulously conceptualized design is infused with the brand’s signature mischievous spirit, a unique alchemy of overt femininity and a subtle, hard-edged witchiness. This season, Lili Curia continues to cement its status as a coveted label within London’s most discerning style circles, with its creations regularly gracing the feet of prominent creatives and artists including chart-topping musician Little Simz, acclaimed actress Keira Knightley, and CLASH cover star Suki Waterhouse.
The Genesis of Lili Curia: A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Character
Founded less than a year ago, Lili Curia has rapidly ascended the ranks of the fashion industry, driven by a philosophy that prioritizes curated design and expert craftsmanship. The brand’s founder, Chili Palmer, a third-generation shoemaker, imbues each collection with a deep understanding of heritage and a forward-thinking approach to modern wearability. Palmer’s vision extends beyond mere aesthetics; she aims to create footwear that empowers the wearer, allowing them to embody different facets of their personality.
"There isn’t just one Lili Curia girl," Palmer explains, articulating the brand’s inclusive and multifaceted identity. "She changes depending on the day… she can be theatrical, witchy, rebellious." This sentiment underscores the brand’s core ethos: that footwear can be a powerful tool for self-expression, capable of transforming one’s demeanor and presence. The concept of the "Lili Curia girl" is not a singular archetype but a fluid constellation of moods and alter egos, each shoe designed to facilitate a particular performance of the self.
The brand’s foundational principle, as stated by Palmer during its launch, is that "Every design starts with something found – an object, a reference, a detail." This commitment to tactile inspiration and historical grounding is evident in the High Summer 2026 collection, which draws heavily from vintage dance shoes, 1970s clogs, and ornate Victorian pieces. These disparate influences are masterfully distilled into a collection that speaks to the modern performance of self in everyday life.
"Everyday Scenes": A Campaign of Disruption and Transformation
The High Summer 2026 campaign, masterminded by photographer and director Sammy King, serves as a visual narrative for the collection’s thematic explorations. Titled "Everyday Scenes," the campaign posits that ordinary moments can be transformed into stages for personal expression. King strategically places three seemingly mundane scenarios – a baby shower, a library, and a poolside setting – as backdrops for the collection’s protagonists. The narrative unfolds foot-first, with each woman entering these environments in a manner that is subtly disruptive, capturing attention and altering the prevailing atmosphere.
"She stands out, shifts the atmosphere, steals the scene," Palmer elaborates on the impact of the Lili Curia wearer within these everyday contexts. This concept is further amplified by a cinematic photo series, also lensed by King, which features the Lili Curia women positioned on a stage before a rich blue velvet curtain. Here, bathed in a spotlight that accentuates their bold designs, they embody different alter egos with an unapologetic and playful freedom, a testament to the transformative power of the footwear.
The choice of these particular settings—a baby shower, a library, and a poolside—is deliberate. These are environments often associated with polite social conventions and quietude. The Lili Curia woman, by her very entrance and the distinctive nature of her footwear, injects an element of unexpected drama and individuality. This intentional contrast highlights the brand’s ability to imbue even the most understated settings with a sense of theatricality and personal flair. The campaign effectively communicates that these shoes are not merely accessories but catalysts for a more expressive way of navigating the world.
The High Summer Collection: Characters in Footwear
The High Summer 2026 collection is characterized by its distinct shoe designs, each conceptualized with a unique character in mind, echoing the narrative of the campaign.
- The Dita: Described as ultra-feminine and ultra-sexy, the Dita ankle-tie heeled sandal is distinguished by its high heel and delicate ankle strap, embodying a sophisticated allure.
- The Astrid: This kitten heel mule exudes a witchy and powerful aura, characterized by its sharp pointed toe and a slanted kitten heel that adds a touch of feline grace and an undercurrent of mystique.
- The Petra: A bold and cinematic statement piece, the Petra wooden platform sandal commands attention with its structural platform base, offering a grounded yet impactful silhouette.
These shoes, while distinct, share a common thread of theatricality and character. Palmer’s inspirations extend to the iconic women portrayed in Pedro Almodóvar’s films, noting their "very strong, very emotional, very expressive" qualities. This cinematic influence is palpable in the collection’s ability to evoke strong personalities and narrative arcs through design. The "Astrid" with its sharp, almost spellbinding silhouette, and the "Petra" with its architectural presence, are particularly highlighted as embodying this theatrical spirit, capable of altering a wearer’s posture and presence.
A Dialogue with Design: Chili Palmer on Craft and Creativity
In a recent discussion with CLASH, Chili Palmer offered deeper insights into the creative process behind Lili Curia’s High Summer collection and the brand’s overarching philosophy. Her perspective sheds light on the meticulous approach to design, the significance of craftsmanship, and the enduring appeal of vintage influences.
CLASH: Who is the Lili Curia girl?
Chili Palmer: There isn’t just one Lili Curia girl. She changes depending on the day – different moods, different versions of herself. She treats everyday life like a stage. She can be theatrical, witchy, rebellious.
CLASH: What do you want people to feel when they wear a Lili Curia shoe?
Chili Palmer: Like a slightly more expressive version of themselves, like they’ve stepped into a character or a mood. I like the idea that a shoe can change how you walk into a room, how you stand, how you move – that even everyday moments can feel a bit more like a scene.
CLASH: You’ve worked with Sammy King a few times now, what’s that working relationship like?
Chili Palmer: I always wanted to work with a photographer who was also a director, and Sammy brought our first campaign to life when we launched AW25. She feels very much like a Lili Curia girl herself – she’s a real character with an amazing wardrobe and has lent clothes and props from her own home for shoots, so she really gets involved in the creative process. For the first campaign she helped us build a whole world and introduce people to the brand. For SS26 we approached things in a more stripped back way. We wanted to introduce the shoes more like a cast of characters and really focus in on them, but still with her same cinematic touch.
CLASH: What’s the meaning behind the three settings: poolside, a baby shower, and the library?
Chili Palmer: They’re all very everyday, quite polite environments. We liked the idea that when the Lili Curia woman enters these spaces, she slightly disrupts them. She stands out, shifts the atmosphere, steals the scene a little bit just by being there. The campaign is really about the theatre of everyday life, turning familiar places into small stages.
CLASH: You once said every design starts with something found – what were some inspirations behind this collection?
Chili Palmer: The references started quite traditionally – Victorian shoes, old dance shoes, 70s clogs, classic boat shoes, and then we distilled those ideas into a summer wardrobe of shoes for different occasions. I’m always interested in taking something quite classic and giving it a bit more personality, so it feels familiar but still very much its own character.
CLASH: Are there any fictional characters who embody Lili Curia High Summer?
Chili Palmer: I always think of the shoes as a cast of characters. Different moods, different alter egos, different occasions. I love the women in Almodóvar films – very strong, very emotional, very expressive – and I think there’s a bit of that spirit in Lili Curia.
CLASH: What does your creative process look like?
Chili Palmer: It usually starts with collecting – images, objects, fabrics, vintage shoes – and then we think quite practically about what a woman’s wardrobe needs for a season. Then it becomes a balance between something playful and something practical. We want the shoes to have personality, but also to be shoes you can really live in.
CLASH: Craft is central to Lili Curia and present aesthetically in every design – can you tell us a bit about your perspective on craft and slower design processes?
Chili Palmer: I’m the third generation of shoemakers in my family, so craft has always been part of how I think about shoes. We work very closely with our factories and take our time with development because the materials and construction really matter. We spend a lot of time on fit and proportion, because those small details make a big difference. For us, how a shoe fits and feels is just as important as how it looks.
CLASH: Which High Summer shoe is the most theatrical to you?
Chili Palmer: Probably the Astrid or the Petra. The Astrid has that pointed toe and kitten heel that feels quite witchy and powerful, and the Petra wooden platform is so sculptural – it changes how you move, how you enter a room, how you hold yourself.
The Enduring Appeal of Heritage and Innovation
Lili Curia’s High Summer 2026 collection represents a sophisticated synthesis of historical reverence and contemporary design. The brand’s commitment to meticulous craftsmanship, evident in its third-generation shoemaking heritage, ensures that each piece is not only aesthetically striking but also built for enduring wearability. The deliberate choice of vintage inspirations, from the delicate lines of Victorian shoes to the robust forms of 70s clogs, speaks to a desire to reconnect with the craftsmanship and character of bygone eras.
The brand’s success in attracting a clientele of influential creatives and artists like Little Simz and Keira Knightley is a testament to its ability to resonate with individuals who value individuality and artistic expression. The "Everyday Scenes" campaign, through its clever staging and thematic focus, effectively communicates that Lili Curia footwear is designed for those who embrace life as a performance, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for personal statement.
In a fashion landscape often dominated by fleeting trends, Lili Curia’s dedication to slower design processes, careful curation, and expert construction offers a compelling counterpoint. The brand’s ability to imbue each shoe with a distinct personality, inspired by a rich tapestry of historical references and contemporary muses, solidifies its position as a noteworthy innovator in the realm of luxury footwear. As Lili Curia continues to evolve, its focus on character, craft, and the theatricality of everyday life promises to keep it at the forefront of the fashion conversation.
Visit lilicuria.com to explore the full High Summer 2026 collection.
