Norma Kamal’s SS26 collection opened this season with quiet authority. Her presentation was divided into distinct color palettes, each one carrying its own mood. At the front of the room, a massive screen cycled through the entire collection, giving life to the pieces. You’d see a gown shimmer on a mannequin, still, then again on an on-screen model, with movement. This presentation didn’t overwhelm. Rather, it asked you to slow down and take a closer look, to truly study the details and intention behind every cut, moment of shimmer and drape. 

Kamali meditated on a woman’s wardrobe essentials. Kept it simple, but how simple? She reminded spectators that the sweet spot of fashion is where practicality and glamour collide, no compromise needed. At a time when many designers are proving their relevance and timeliness with gimmicks and theatrics, her collection acted as a soft proclamation that fashion must endure life, listen to women’s bodies, routines and desires. It is beauty woven into the everyday. 

The color palette of the collection glowed gently, never demanding attention, just naturally holding it. Each sub-collection hosted its own section of the room, the greys stood alone, followed by the ballerina pinks, deep blacks and creamy whites. Within each subpart, fabrics shifted from cotton to metallic foils. Matte finishes sat aside shine and loose drapes placed against fitted silhouettes. While contrast populated the collection, it never felt abrupt, just gradually unfolding, as if these opposing elements were meant to exist all along.  

The collection was a study in the correlation of color and mood; each color family held a distinct energy. As the greys and silvers carried a quiet strength, blacks and creams brought a clean and architectural essence, while blush pinks softened the mood, diffusing the tension. 

The greys and silvers kicked off the presentation: A sweatshirt with molded shoulders was paired with a metallic mini skirt. The black and white interplay was clean and sharp with collars, crisp cuffs and the infamous little black dresses.   

The softest moment of the presentation were the pinks. Where the silvers and blacks inhaled structure and edge, this section exhaled. The mannequins stood in formation, draped in jersey gowns, A-line skirts and feather-trimmed shoulders that added texture against the smoothness of the satin. The restraint was clearly intentional and frankly, powerful. Nonetheless, its simplicity and softness acted as the glue of the collection, binding the contrasts of the greys, blacks and creams with a sense of cohesion and ease.

Among this collection, modesty played an integral role. Long-sleeved gowns, with their high necklines, skimmed the floor with intentional fluidity; a balance between structure and movement– Yet, another moment of contrast.

What Kamali does so well is take the everyday and reframe it. The woman at the center of this collection is ageless and timeless, her routine takes her from a soiree to the dance studio where she’s ready to move. Her elegance and comfort don’t compete. Instead, they give life to one another.