Ester Manas Is Putting the "Fun" Back in Functional Dressing for SS27
Where sexy doesn’t have to be separated from practical.
What happens when lingerie stops being something to hide, or even something to make a statement about and simply becomes part of getting dressed? For Spring/Summer 2027, Ester Manas and Balthazar Delepierre returned to the roots of lingerie, building a wardrobe around its craftsmanship, sensuality and everyday versatility.
Titled “Somehow I Manage,” the collection marked the duo’s twelfth season and takes its name from the fictional book by The Office character Michael Scott. There’s a sense of humor running through the collection, but also a newfound ease. After parenthood shifted their perspective, the designers turned their attention to clothes that celebrate the body without asking it to represent anything beyond itself.
The starting point was Primadonna’s archive, dating back to 1865 in the Belgian countryside. Vintage lingerie colors are reimagined for today, with ancestral yellow becoming beige and raw blue transforming into ocean blue. And of course, as we’ve seen across this season’s runways, there was plenty of purple popping up throughout.
Lingerie became the foundation for everything. Taffeta, traditionally reserved for princess dresses, was transformed into technical jackets and everyday skirts, while tulle and lace peeked out from beneath trenches. A highlight of the collection was one hand-knitted skirt covered in 22,000 bows sourced from Primadonna’s dormant stock.
The result is a wardrobe where the sexy doesn’t have to be separated from the practical. Instead, Manas and Delepierre let the two coexist, proving that everyday dressing can still have a little drama.
Check out some of the looks above and head to the brand’s website for more.
For more from Paris Fashion Week, take a look inside Matières Fécales’ SS27 public showcase.
