At Bacchanalia, inside the mythical Apollo’s Muse Room surrounded by monumental sculptures, we

unveil “Medusa’s Lover”

, the AW26 collection for DI PETSA — a meditation on power, eroticism, and

rebirth.

This season draws from the myth of Medusa — a woman turned into a monster, who transformed her

curse into power. I was captivated by Medusa’s hair, the serpent as symbol, and the strength of a woman

whose gaze could crystallize the world she gazed upon. I imagined the sculptures inhabiting Apollo's

Muse being Medusa’s past lovers: figures she could not resist looking at, now frozen forever in stone. The

show unfolds as if Medusa awakens from a dream, surrounded by her own memories.

AW26 marks a renewal - I wanted the women to feel dangerous, a modern femme fatale negotiating her

own power, like the possibility of change lures you in, our desire to reach a higher self is seductive but we

resist it. Our self actualization is an erotic process, a snake slowly slipping out of its old skin.

THE COLLECTION

At its core, the “Medusa’s Lover” collection explores the transformative force of eroticism which takes on

mythical dimensions.

At the atelier we explored new draping techniques that resemble snake skin on the verge of shedding —

fabric caught mid-transformation. The signature Wetlook evolved with prints that shift from serpent scales

into nude illusion, revealing a half-woman, half-snake hybrid body. The finale look is a new leather

wetlook dress with decorative gussets — this design detail is reimagined as an ornament throughout the

collection. Silver and Gold gussets are used with sea inspired pendants to decorate the body.

There is a pronounced focus on bodysuits this season designing whole silhouettes rather than separates.

The tension of concealing and revealing the body is explored in Cut-out patterns that carve across

garments like ritual markings. There is a lot of focus around the hips being a centre of sacral, divine

transformation and becoming the anatomical anchor of the collection.

MENSWEAR

DI PTETSA menswear continues to evolve with each season embodying the Modern Ancient Male

Figure, rooted in a design language that highlights the male form. Utilising the house’s iconic drapery and

wetlook aesthetic, the collection reimagines masculinity as fluid, sculptural, and powerful. This season's

offerings draw on modern antiquity, featuring body soaked wetlook tank tops that carve out the torso

paired with Black Wetlook trousers. Couture-inflected silhouettes are explored including a draped torso

that ties at the back like a corset for men.

BEAUTY

The vision of the AW26 woman was further shaped through conversations with stylist Emily Evans about

the future of DI PETSA. Together, we envisioned this woman as a modern mythical creature.

Beauty this season created by Make-up Artist Bea Sweet is deliberately “lived-in”

. Skin appears luminous

in fresh sweat. Body shine is amplified using organic lube brand Ples’Jour, lending the body a wet,

serpentine gloss. Models/ Performers appear with freshly inked tattoos — marks of permanence against

flesh — symbolizing fresh new beginnings. Headpieces using raw crystals obscure their eyes or they

shield their gaze with their hands, negotiating the danger and seduction of Medusa’s stare.Medusa blinks slowly, her eyelids ripple, her gaze dark and endless. The future says it’s time to shed its

skin, it slithers around her feet.

STYLING

The Medusa Goddess collection from AWE Inspired Fine jewellery is styled throughout the collection,

elevating looks to a mythic stature, decorating the body with modern relics of gold and silver. Medusa

signet rings and snake rings that wrap around the finger decorate the hand alongside layered and stacked

chain necklaces with the Goddess Medallion. Mens pendant chain necklaces are adorned with Black and

Green onyx crystals with a serpent wrapped around.

Mule Heels by Western Affair this season are given a sharp edge with gold and silver spikes, in patent

leather black, red and white with a high-gloss finish.

DI PETSA would like to thank Chateau Denmark for hosting the brand across London Fashion Week,

providing the styling apartment for the pre-show preparations, casting, talent fittings, that lends itself to

the Medusa show theme, through its baroque and gothic decor.

With special thanks to The British Fashion Council & Sarah Mower.

Show Team Credits:

Creative Director: Dimitra Petsa

Lead Stylist: Emily Evans @The only Agency

Lead Hair Artist: Efi Davies @Toni & Guy

Lead Make-up Artist: Bea Sweet @The Wall Group

Lead Nail Artist: Tyler Phoenix using The Gel Bottle

Casting and Brand Management: Sophie Rix

Styling Assistant: Katie Somavia

Jewellery Partner: AWE Inspired

Shoes partner’s Western Affair & Gina Shoes

Body and Beauty Partner: Ples’Jour

Runway Photographer: Jason Lloyd Evans

Runway Videographer: Petros Ioannisis

Backstage Photographer: Charlie Pike

Show Venue: Bacchanalia, Apollo Muse

London Fashion Week Host: Chateau Denmark

Sample requests for loan please contact PURPLE PR