Creative Mind: Harris Reed
The iconoclastic designer imagines dazzling demi-couture that is as much sculpture as it is apparel
Editor’s note: After this story went to press, Harris Reed stepped down as Creative Director of Nina Ricci to focus on his namesake brand.
Iconoclastic designer Harris Reed imagines dazzling demi-couture that is as much sculpture as it is apparel. Gowns are set apart by their dramatic corsetry, structured peplums, and swooping lapels, which often come in the shape of petals, ripples, folds, and loops. Transcending gender norms with an aesthetic he describes as “romanticism gone nonbinary,” the British American talent has crafted one-of-a-kind pieces for trend provocateurs, including Harry Styles and Beyoncé. In 2024, he stole the red carpet at the Met Gala with spectacular looks for Demi Moore and himself, using a painterly archival wall covering by Fromental and completing the ensembles with a halo of arrows.
“Everything I create is about fluidity and maximalism,” says Reed, who runs his namesake line as well as serving as the creative director of Nina Ricci. “I think that the work that I do is really about personifying people’s characters and making them feel a bit more flamboyant, a little bit more luxurious.”
Strong foundation: “What makes something a Harris Reed piece is silhouette; there’s always a sense of larger-than-life architecture. I love that a Harris Reed piece can usually sit up on its own. We’re not clothes that go on a hanger.”
Up next: Reed is introducing a collection of wall coverings with Fromental that honor the embroidery, hand-painted embellishment, and artistry that are hallmarks of both brands. “After creating my own apartment in London, the home category was a space in which I felt so much similarity. Building a room is much like building an outfit.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Spring Issue in the section “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.