A Love Letter to New York
Claudia Li’s return to the New Zealand Fashion Week schedule for 2026 was always going to be one to watch. Presented off-site within the elegant, historic surrounds of Auckland’s Northern Club, A Love Letter to New York delivered the assured, imaginative fashion we have come to associate with the designer. For Together Journal, it was unquestionably one of the highlights of the week, and we were particularly delighted by the number of elevated pieces that lent themselves so beautifully to the worlds of bridal and occasion dressing.
The intimate salon format felt particularly fitting. With guests experiencing the collection at close proximity, the movement, construction and craftsmanship of each garment could be fully appreciated, while the traditional interiors of The Northern Club provided a striking counterpoint to Claudia’s contemporary design language.
The presentation marked the debut of Claudia Li’s new made-to-order collection, spanning luxury event wear, bridal and occasion dressing. Created for individual clients and the significant moments in their lives, it establishes a new private-client offering alongside the brand’s seasonal collections.
At its heart, A Love Letter to New York is exactly that: a tribute to the city where Claudia built her career and met her husband. Drawing on New York’s unexpected romance, effortless style and inherent sense of theatre, the collection moves between drama and restraint, boldness and timeless ease. It follows the moments that might surround a celebration in the city: a City Hall ceremony, an intimate dinner, a late-night gathering and the walk home afterwards.
Claudia Li’s design language has a wonderful confidence. Proportions are pushed, colour is embraced and familiar ideas are continually reconsidered. Here, her signature sculptural silhouettes, architectural tailoring and unexpected use of volume were reinterpreted through the lens of occasion dressing. There was also a beautiful femininity running throughout. Flowing capes moved effortlessly behind the models, while exaggerated bows brought drama and softness in equal measure. Bows are a familiar Claudia Li signature, but here they felt evolved and pushed further, playing with scale and proportion in a way that made them feel fresh again.
The sleeves were another standout. Generous proportions and intricate detailing transformed them into features in their own right, bringing volume and movement to the silhouettes. There is an art to working at this scale without allowing a garment to overwhelm the person wearing it, and Li navigates that balance with remarkable ease.
Fabrication played an important role in achieving these forms. Silk duchess satin, fil coupé, taffeta, silk shantung and jacquards were selected for their structure, movement and texture, allowing each silhouette to hold its shape while retaining an ease of wear. Hand-applied crystal embroidery and a fully beaded gown introduced further texture, intricacy and luminosity.
Colour, too, was exceptional. Ivory and black provided the foundation, complemented by lavender, cherry blossom pink, duck egg, cream, butter yellow and antique gold. Romantic without becoming overly sweet, the palette moved between softness and strength, and against the traditional interiors of The Northern Club, Claudia’s expressive use of colour and sculptural form felt even more pronounced.
For Together Journal, much of A Love Letter to New York spoke directly to the modern bridal and occasion wardrobe. The flowing capes, statement sleeves, crystal embellishments, sculptural silhouettes and more elevated pieces could translate beautifully into a wedding setting, particularly for a bride who wants fashion to lead rather than convention. Beyond the ceremony, we could easily imagine these pieces becoming part of the wider wedding wardrobe, from welcome celebrations and rehearsal dinners through to receptions and after-parties. Equally, the collection offered compelling possibilities for bridesmaids, wedding guests and anyone dressing for a significant occasion, with pieces that felt sophisticated, distinctive and refreshingly far from predictable.
What we perhaps loved most was the sense that these were not pieces designed simply for a moment. There is a collectability to Claudia Li’s work. These are garments you can imagine investing in, keeping and returning to over many years. The strength of the silhouettes, quality of the fabrication and individuality of the detailing give them a life beyond a single season or occasion, the kind of special pieces that become part of the story of a wardrobe.
Major Partner Partridge was a natural pairing for the presentation, sharing an appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship, design and the creation of future heirlooms. Models wore Partridge jewellery throughout the salon show, with each piece personally curated by Claudia to accompany the collection.
This is where Li continues to excel. Her work can be bold without losing refinement, feminine without becoming overly delicate, and dramatic while remaining beautifully considered. Volume, colour, embellishment and movement coexist within a design language that is unmistakably her own.
A Love Letter to New York extends that vision into an exciting new chapter, bringing Claudia Li’s sculptural forms, emotional storytelling, refined fabrications and distinctive approach to modern occasion dressing into a more personal, made-to-order realm.
For the Together Journal team, this was a favourite presentation of NZFW 2026: sophisticated, expressive and filled with pieces we would happily treasure in our wardrobes for years to come. Claudia Li has built an international reputation through precisely this kind of singular approach to fashion, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have such a celebrated international designer back home in New Zealand, continuing to evolve and share her distinctive creative vision.
Beauty Direction
CLAUDIA LI – HAIR DIRECTION
The hair reflects the woman at the centre of Claudia Li’s collection: self-assured, romantic and unconventional. She feels recognisably herself, simply elevated.
Across both looks there is a balance of polish and imperfection. Nothing feels overly controlled or too perfect – natural texture, separation and irregularity are intentionally retained, giving the hair a modern, cinematic ease that reflects the romance and energy of New York.
LOOK 1 – BRUSHED-BACK LENGTHS
Hair is swept away from the face with a confident shape through the hairline and crown before falling into soft, natural lengths.
There is something incredibly chic about the simplicity of this look. It feels considered without looking overly styled – natural separation and movement give it an effortless imperfection.
It has the feeling of a woman moving through New York – hair pushed back from her face, confident and uncomplicated, becoming more beautiful as the evening unfolds.
Key feeling: Chic · Confident · Effortless · Lived-in
Key L’Oréal Professionnel Products
Tecni.Art Full Volume Extra Mousse – for lift, body and shape while keeping the hair light and movable.
Metal Detox Concentrated Oil – for softness and a refined, healthy-looking shine through the lengths.
LOOK 2 – FIGURE 8 TWIST
A sculptural figure 8 twist inspired by the infinity symbol – a subtle expression of enduring love and the idea of forever.
An imperfect, natural centre parting keeps the front understated and effortless, contrasting with the more considered sculptural shape behind. The figure 8 is deliberately not perfectly symmetrical – irregularity, texture and exposed ends keep it feeling human rather than overly constructed.
The infinity shape connects back to the romance at the heart of Claudia’s collection – love remembered, celebrated and carried forward – while the imperfection keeps it modern and unconventional.
Key feeling: Sculptural · Romantic · Imperfect · Enduring
Key L’Oréal Professionnel Products
Tecni.Art Volume Refresh – for workable texture and airy body that supports the imperfect finish.
Elnett Hairspray – for flexible hold that keeps the sculptural shape in place without making it feel rigid.
All above backstage and runway phots by @hope__patterson
In partnership with @partridgejewellers
@lexus_newzealand @lorealpro @raesoskin @whitestudiosnz
Collection assisted by: William Fitzgerald, Luke Stonehouse, Billy Blamaires, Aylin SavgatÂ
Casting: Apela BellÂ
Lead Hair: Kelly Manu assisted by: Blaire Wishart, Bryan Eshan, Claudia Reader, Eva Jones, Josh Scott, Kane Maddocks, Kisha Lim, Laura Stables, Newton Cook, Robyn Munro, Tana Lee, Tenielle Gillies, Wilhemina Matthews, Zoe ZhengÂ
Lead Makeup Artist: Liz Hyun, assisted by: Angela Stewart, Abbie Ahmed, Aylin, Chanelle Aldridge, G M, Josie Wignall, Justin Konakova, Kath Gould, Sarika Patel. Public Relations: Someday StudiosÂ
Producer: Jonathan Thai, Visual Format, assisted by Sarah CooperÂ
Music: Claudia LiÂ
Show Direction: Milly Hewat-Wall and Claudia LiÂ
Lighting Design: Apela Bell & White Studios
Photography: Apela BellÂ
Runway & Backstage Photography: Hope Paterson
Model Agencies: 62, Unique, Super Management, Kirsty Bunny, Vanity Walk, Scouted, Chic
Models: Aileen Chen, Alex Carter, Amanda Bransgrove, Anke Van Tonder, Anysha Rees-Webbe, Carrie Berkey, Claudia Swinley, Danielle Quintos, Eyalla Tupulotu, Harper Sergent, Holly Rose Emery, Isa Aalderink, Izzy Cowdell, Kahu Skudder, Kelvin Konoplysova, Leah Smith, Millie Gibbard, Naledi Maholwana, Natua Kaa-Morgan, Nevaeh Mataira, Ngahuia Williams, Ruby Topp, Scarlet Crosby, Sky Fagan, Sophie Song, Sylva Falloon, Tekjouk Pal, Zara SykesÂ
Front of House Assistants: Henry Hewat, Olivia Peterson
Discover more by visiting claudia-li.com and @claudialiofficial.
