Adam Lippes Pre-Fall 2026: American Sportswear Automotive

Fun fact: Adam Lippes is a sports-car aficionado. “Not racing cars, just car details,” he said with a smile, noting his pre-fall inspiration. “The movement, texture, lacquer and crispness. It really started there,” he said, adding that the theme might seem unexpected from the designer.

Well, maybe, but details are in fact the designer’s pièce de résistance. His take on American sportswear includes couture-like details such as double-faced cotton twill jackets with satin interiors, covered buttons on dresses, and subtle design flourishes, which are the sartorial moments that make his work so luxurious.

For pre-fall he worked with a range of fabrications, including glossy Italian cotton on jackets, sun-bleached denim jeans and high-gloss lambskin — the same that is found on an Aston Martin — on a raglan sleeve bomber jacket. Highlights included a range of silk plissé dresses and evening pants, a billowing windbreaker in stripes and matching skirt, check details on knits, cape blouses that float behind the wearer, and micro miniskirts with oversized, car-seat–inspired buckles. His nods to the automobile were delicate, exacting and discreet.

He rounded out the collection with a section of hand-painted florals based on 18th century Swedish wallpaper with dresses and a range of new cotton shirtdresses, some with crinoline underneath, styled over a wide-leg pant.

Off the road he is still shifting into high gear with several new boutiques planned in 2026 in London and Japan, where his refined take on sportswear is sure to track.