AW25 poses a timeless question: what is beauty? For founder Vanissa Antonious, the answer lies in reimagining the styles and shapes once dismissed as unappealing, transforming them into icons of femininity. Drawing from her teenage years and the wistful aesthetics of the nineties and noughties, Antonious brings new life to silhouettes such as kitten heels and peep toes, seeking out unexpected forms of allure.
The collection carries with it the soft-focus intimacy of Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides and the everyday poetry of Italian photographer Alessandra Spranzi, whose images elevate ordinary objects into symbols of hidden beauty. There is also the playful sensuality of Ellen von Unwerth’s portraits, echoed in AW25’s sepia-tinged take on femininity. The lace-up frontage of the ZIRR mule, the transparent mesh of the DANUS, and the pantyhose-like leather toe-thong all embody this exploration of desire and nostalgia.
Among the standout pieces is the CULUMBA, crafted from a single piece of leather folded over to reveal an elegant peep toe, while the BERENICES EAST WEST handbag combines practicality with refinement. These designs interpret beauty as both functional and emotional, a dialogue between craftsmanship and modern womanhood.
Other highlights include the bold ballerina silhouette of the HOMAM, the structured elegance of the ATIK pump, and the vintage-inspired charm of the LEO handbag. Each style reflects a conscious choice, embodying not only aesthetic appeal but also personal meaning. The textures and hues—abrasivato burgundy, red nappa, cream crepe de chine, and lasercut fabrications—add depth and richness to the collection while preserving a sense of playfulness and sensuality.
AW25 positions beauty as a layered concept, never fixed but always evolving. Spranzi’s influence is evident in the collection’s spirit of transformation, where the overlooked and the ordinary are recast as captivating and desirable. Just as a crumpled napkin or a shrouded daybed can be imbued with arcane beauty, so too can the details of footwear and accessories take on new resonance when viewed through a different lens.
At its core, AW25 suggests that beauty lies in contradiction: in what is hidden and revealed, in the balance between elegance and imperfection, in the ways we reinterpret the past to define the present. It is a collection that not only celebrates beauty but also dares to question it, reminding us that the answer can never be absolute.
Available in the Middle East through select stockists including Ounass, Al Othman, Rubaiyat, Level Shoes, ABC SAL, and Omarieden, AW25 continues Vanissa Antonious’s pursuit of design that both honors heritage and challenges convention.
