This season, Wild Rose & Sparrow unveiled ‘Ex Libris’, the Spring/Summer 2026 prêt-à-porter collection.
Conceived as a triptych, the collection unfolds in three chapters, each inspired by the maison’s most treasured literary leitmotifs. Co-designers Ariana and Liana Dancu draw upon the interplay of literature and art, weaving cultural references into silhouettes that blur the boundaries between narrative and attire.
Chapter I:
Coven The opening chapter pays homage to gothic literature. Dark silhouettes evoke reinterpreted Victorian detailing through black novelty lace, sheer tulle and diaphanous silks. Sirenesque gowns skim the body with lace paneling, miniskirts gain volume from Victorian inspired bustles, and diaphanous silk chiffon mimics the translucent quality of peering at a figure underwater. A floor-length lace gown draped with a tulle caplet nods to Gustav Klimt’s Mermaids. Taken together, this chapter conjures the portrait of a coven, radiant with equal parts sisterhood and fortitude.
Chapter II:
Chevalière The second chapter is inspired by medieval heroines and heraldic imagery. Scarlet silhouettes part from the preceding darkness: structured jackets in stiffened cotton, heavily embroidered textiles evoking medieval tapestries, and beaded motifs glinting beneath knife-pleated skirts like chainmail. Antique chatelaines, keys and chainmail purses are styled as bijoux, while fleur-de-lys ribbons that reference the designers’ Montréal home embellish the waistlines of corseted and structured silhouettes. Shades of vermillion and kermes red echo medieval illuminures. The closing look is inspired by J.W. Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott: a seraphic gown in gossamer silk chiffon, its bodice and sleeves swathed in hand-sculpted gold thread.
Chapter III:
Sonnets The final chapter is an ode to sonnets and poetry. Here, Edwardian elements are reimagined in ethereal cottons and airy lace, evoking the tenderness of sonnets and their ephemeral beauty. Guipure appliqués and broderie anglaise adorn gowns in white and cream, while Edwardian collars part from their canonical styling and are placed on hips and around waistlines. Sheer paneling plays against embroidered cotton, while bloomers, chemisettes and delicate cotton pieces capture the intimate essence of sonnets. The collection closes with a floor-length tiered gown in white cotton, its open back and windowpane bodice embodying Wild Rose & Sparrow’s romantic soul and devotion to craft.
Ex Libris is, ultimately, a collection of stories rendered in fabric. Three chapters, one vision: a world unapologetically romantic, steeped in history and literature, translated into prêt-à-porter with both poetic sensibility and meticulous craftsmanship.
Wild Rose & Sparrow
www.wildroseandsparrow.com | @wildroseandsparrow
Founded on a passion for classic style and sustainable practices, Wild Rose & Sparrow curates collections that celebrate femininity and individuality. Each piece is crafted with care, blending heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design. Since its launch in 2019, the direct-to-consumer brand has seen tremendous growth, amassing a loyal community of fans who frequently share their admiration for the brand across social media platforms with their audience. The company is based in Montreal, Canada.
CREDITS:
Photographer: Piero Biasion
Hair & MUA: Paula Grace Graffin @paulagraffin & James Mac @jmac_mua
Makeup supplier: La Beauté Fatale Cosmetics™ @labeautefataleofficial founded by Nevena Tomic @nev_tomic
SPECIAL THANKS:
Press & Media: MAXIMILIAN LINZ @maximilianlinz
Venue: Bibliothèque Mazarine | Paris @labibliothequemazarine
All images courtesy of Wild Rose & Sparrow. Used by permission.
Tags: Ariana Dancu, art, artisanal, Bibliothèque Mazarine, chiffon, craftsmanship, cultural, designer spotlight, draped dresses, draped tops, Ex Libris, fashion designer, fashion show, fleur-de-lis, gothic, gothic literature, gowns, Gustav Klimt, James Mac, La Beauté Fatale Cosmetics, lace, Liana Dancu, literature, MAXIMILIAN LINZ, mermaids, Nevena Tomic, Paula Grace Graffin, Piero Biasion, Prêt-à-Porter, romantic, silk, Sirenesque, Top, Victorian, Wild Rose & Sparrow


































