Julie Kegels' Fall 2026 collection, titled 'AuraMaxxing', is a thought-provoking exploration of image control in the hyper-visible age. The collection, staged against discordant violin plucks, challenges the obsession with social media moments by focusing on the construction of the clothes. It's a cerebral approach to wearable art, drawing inspiration from Andy Warhol's 'aura', the long-exposure portraits of Kyungwoo Chun, and the existentialist philosophy of Martin Heidegger. The result is a reflection on shadow versus authenticity. The collection features unique silhouettes, such as capes streaming from shoulders and attaching discreetly at the ankles, jackets reimagined as dresses, and pajama tops inflated to gown proportions. Kegels' use of 'forced tailoring' moves the body into a more assertive stance, with sleeves cut to push the arms forward and shrunken pullovers sliced open at the back of the shoulders. The exposed seams and unfinished edges highlight the idea of contrast, while other pieces have jagged, childlike references, such as cozy baby blankets that double as wrap skirts. As Warhol said, our 'aura' may disappear as soon as we open our mouths, but in Kegels' adept hands, the right outfit can hold up that image a little longer.
