Envelope1976 - SS26

In a minimal space in central Oslo, against the dreamy live vocals of Norwegian electro pop artist ARY (and to a front row crammed with Norwegian influencers, editors and the artist Bjarne Melgaard) Envelope1976 returned to its roots. “I am always inspired by the past,” says designer Celine Aagaard. “And for this collection, we’re going back to where we started.” The latest collection embodies everything that comes to mind when one thinks of Envelope1976: timeless, thoughtful and endlessly wearable. Aagaard’s premise is simple. “I create clothes i like to wear myself – clothes that I feel are missed,” she says. “Clothes that are cool and can easily be worn, and also keep you warm.”

Bouncing between her cabin and her under-construction Oslo home, Aagaard revisited old moodboards, family albums and her own wardrobe archive whilst bringing this collection to life. “I have collected so many things just because of a detail – because of the colour or fit,” she says. She picked and mixed these details – the palette of deep brown and taupe, toggle closures and relaxed silhouettes – to bring together a collection that is, as Aagaard puts it, "rooted in tradition yet fiercely contemporary”.

Given that the brand is a response to its Norwegian environment, it’s no surprise that the standout is the outerwear. Take, for instance, the reversible shearling and leather Hawk jacket. Cropped and with a high neck to protect against sharp Scandinavian winds, it’s the sort of piece one will reach for winter after winter. Balancing out these forever garments are standout showpieces – a leopard wrap around skirt, for instance, worn over black trousers, and a delicious goat shearling jacket.

Throughout the collection, one finds the sort of tactile pieces that beg to be touched – hairy knits and fuzzy shearling, buttery leathers and oversized knits, all in that earthy palette of taupe, brown and ecru. No-nonsense relaxed tailoring adds a bit of toughness – these are clothes for the sort of woman (or man) who’s utterly prepared. The looks are finished by fuzzy shearling boots and slouchy pillbox hats – pieces that are at once covetable and function-forward - as well as a great furry scarf, cleverly styled under the epaulette of a classic trench coat.

Aagaard brings that sense of practicality not only to her clothes, but to her business. “You need to create clothes that you like yourself, that you can see others in now and in the future. And at the same time, you have to create clothes in materials that you can stand for and make a business out of it – that’s hard,” she says. “The clothing industry is tough, but I guess that’s why we still are here. Because we like it and we still like a challenge and a surprise.” Yes, Aagaard may be looking backwards, but Envelope1976 is certainly pointed towards the future.

See all the looks from Envelope1976's SS26 collection below.