ALLINA LIU’S FW25 REIMAGINES IDENTITY IN THE PLIGHT OF HOME
ALLINA LIU FW25 COLLECTION ★ WORDS BY LOUIS LE
SPECIAL THANKS TO LINDSEY SOLOMON OF LINDSEY MEDIA
Tension courses throughout Allina Liu’s Fall 2025 collection like a Hammond Organ’s slurred drone. American Gothic at its best, Liu’s collection is an excavation of identity from the entanglement of insecurities, fears, and traumas that bloom in troubled homes. This fall line was conceived from a short story written by Allina herself. It begins with Mira jolting awake to the sight of her sister, Ren, lying across from her. Their pinkies still intertwined from their nightly ritual for a better tomorrow that would never come. Their parents made Hell pale in comparison to home, so in the end, all they had were each other.
Whether it’s bubble skirts, peplum blouses, halter tops, or romantic dresses reminiscent of the Gilded Age; puffs are a defining embellishment utilized precisely as narrative devices throughout the line. In the narrative shoot for the Fall 2025 Collection, Mira is depicted gifting her sister a dress. Its exaggerated shoulders, dusty pink color, and a well-placed bow come together to make a romantic silhouette that calls back to 19th-century [Western] ideals of childhood and innocence. Cut-outs on the flank, however, signify that Ren has outgrown the innocence that binds her; so much so that it rips at the seams! Yet, it remains draped perfectly across her body, though consequence never trails far. The day marches on and Ren seems to fall deeper and deeper into a trance-like state. Mira seems to be oblivious to what she’s reinforced. Perhaps her sister wasn’t the only one being enabled. In a moment of solitude, a mysterious hand offers Ren a gingham dress. The next morning, she gifts Mira the garment of unknown origin. Though weary, she accepts the gift from her sister. They interlock pinkies once more as they await their doomed fates.
The narrative crafted by Liu warned of the consequences Mira and Ren would face if they never grew beyond their coping mechanisms. Their escape became their prisons, but the Lookbook depicts an alternate reality where the two sisters manage to find deeper senses of self. While nonlinear, progress is reflected in the change of color, length, cut and structure of the garments. Every shifting shoulder symbolizes the sisters’ distance from the all-consuming infantilization symbolized in the first dress. For example, one piece might show that Mira’s identity, while developed, might not quite be fully realized by reducing the shoulder puffs and giving them structure. Cut-outs function similarly, signifying literal tears in the fabric of their stifling self-images. They highlight the girls’ willingness to break free of their past selves to find a truer vulnerability.
Regardless of narratives, theories, and interpretations, what truly shines through in Allina Liu’s Fall 2025 collection is pristine craftsmanship. Along with gorgeous shoulders, the dynamic cut-outs reminiscent of the Art Nouveau style show an expert use of negative space. They create unique visual lines through the decisive utilization of bare skin, which could ultimately be the collection’s crowning achievement. Confidence oozes from every design. A sea of knowledge and media touchpoints builds the foundation for Liu’s artistry. However, it’s truly the handiwork and focused concept that makes Fall 2025 a transcendental meditation on identity’s persistence in the inimical shadows of trauma.
