Runway

Main Character Energy: SANTA Manifesto in Lace and Feathers

This season, SANTA looked to embody “main character energy” with a vampy, cold collection, overflowing with unbridled sensuality.

By Sarah Powless

Updated 05:16 pm EDT, Sep 12, 2026

Published 01:15 am EDT, Sep 13, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Ukrainian Fashion Week
Runway Photographer: Volodymyr Bosak
Backstage Photographer: Serhiy Khandusenko
Special Thanks: Yelyzaveta Ushcheka

Runway

Main Character Energy: SANTA Manifesto in Lace and Feathers

This season, SANTA looked to embody “main character energy” with a vampy, cold collection, overflowing with unbridled sensuality.

By Sarah Powless

Updated 05:16 pm EDT, September 12, 2026

Published 01:15 am EDT, September 13, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Ukrainian Fashion Week
Runway Photographer: Volodymyr Bosak
Backstage Photographer: Serhiy Khandusenko
Special Thanks: Yelyzaveta Ushcheka

This season, SANTA looked to embody “main character energy” with a vampy, cold collection, overflowing with unbridled sensuality.

Updated 05:16 pm EDT, September 12, 2026

Published 01:15 am EDT, September 13, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Ukrainian Fashion Week
Runway Photographer: Volodymyr Bosak
Backstage Photographer: Serhiy Khandusenko
Special Thanks: Yelyzaveta Ushcheka

Over the past couple of years, the phrase “main character energy” has become a staple of the popular social media lexicon. Simply put, the expression prompts people to be confident, be bold, and take the reins of their own lives as the protagonist would in a novel.

For their Fall/Winter 2026/2027 presentation, Ukrainian label SANTA sought to translate this phrase onto the runway. Founded in 2019 by Yana Stanislavska, SANTA is a brand rooted in statement-making styles and committed to empowering its clientele through its designs. With an affinity for the vibrant, daring silhouettes of the early 2000’s, it’s no wonder that they’ve attracted the admiration of pop stars and prominent industry players, including Lady Gaga, Madonna, Leonie Hanne, and Anna Dello Russo, to name a few.

Lace Over Lace

This showcase further proved the extent of their fearlessness, as it consisted of a series of sexy, powerful looks, constructed in four bold colors: white, red, black, and purple. The first section of the show featured the white garments, with each featuring a lace or feather element. One standout look saw a sheer white lace turtleneck gown topped with a black rhinestone pillbox hat and an ostentatious white feather boa. The result was a mix of sleek and voluminous structures that was simple, yet intriguing.

From there, the suite of crimson red looks emerged. In a fun use of layering, a sheer red asymmetric kaftan with a feathered hem was placed over what appeared to be a red lace body stocking. In the subsequent black section, similar techniques were used. For instance, a sheer black lace pencil skirt was layered over a tight bodysuit of the same material, seemingly playing with the fabric’s transparency in a sexy, yet cheeky way.

Daring Meets Wearable

In between the lace looks were two rhinestone and feather gowns, one in black and the other in silver. More specifically, glimmering mini dresses saw feather skirts emerging from under their hems, reaching down to the floor. Undeniable statement pieces, these dresses perfectly embodied the brand’s commitment to a daring, yet elegant aesthetic.

The show concluded with four looks, all in a deep, royal purple hue. One of these was slightly more casual (if one can even call lace and feathers casual), as it saw a relatively simple bandeau top paired with a pair of sheer lace capris. A different silhouette than the previous gowns and bodysuits, it was a nice touch to highlight the brand’s ability to design for different occasions.

The Closing Statement

The final look, however, returned the show to its voluminous glory. With a long-sleeve, feather-coated crop top and two-tier drop-waist ballgown skirt (featuring even more feathers), it was definitely a showstopper.

Although many of us may be inspired to live our lives according to “main character energy,” SANTA’s latest collection reminded us that it’s very difficult to do so without the proper wardrobe. Namely, it was a potent reminder that to feel our best and lead with our best foot forward, clothing can have a profound impact on how we accomplish those things. And what better materials are there to help us along than lace, feathers, and rhinestones?

Sarah Powless

Fashion Editor

Sarah Powless is a freelance writer currently based in New York. Previously, she has written for a variety of fashion and culture names, including CR Fashion Book, Daily Front Row, Worth Magazine and Wearing Magazine. Her work covers a broad range of subjects including, style, history, pop-culture, sustainability, and lifestyle.

Tags: Ukrainian Fashion Week, Ukrainian Fashion Week SS27

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