Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2026: What To Wear Loves Women, Contradictions and All

Every woman is made up of many facets—some of which seem to contradict the others. She can appreciate the structure of certain pieces and still have an enormous appetite for ease. Because of this, womenswear labels must navigate a delicate balance: their clothes should be flexible enough to make room for these contradictions without allowing the lineup to lose its identity.

The problem with a wardrobe that’s too versatile is that it can easily flatten into anonymity, which is why certain styles are perceived as “basic.” Thankfully, Malaysian label What To Wear seems to be treading these waters just fine, as seen during its Next Chapter presentation at Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2026.

Did you know that it has been ten years since founder Melanie Kee opened What To Wear’s first boutique in Ipoh? A decade is no joke! Her milestone anniversary collection returns to the brand’s ready-to-wear staples, yes, though they look fittingly different from those in past lineups. Made for their fashion-week moment, the familiar pieces carry an off-kilter elegance, with many possessing an ideal amount of “wrongness” that makes them interesting to look at. Think asymmetrical hems, decorative diagonal buttons, and intentionally backward tops.

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Should they be called quirky? Not necessarily. Next Chapter still follows the restrained elegance of What To Wear. The tailoring appears more elevated, especially once denim makes an entrance. It’s more apt to describe the collection as playfully intriguing—like it’s smiling coyly at you without overtly flirting. Even better, the clothes can be separated and restyled.

It’s this core aspect that gives the collection’s message about confidence some substance. What To Wear’s affection for women is clearest in the trust it places in them. The Kuala Lumpur runway provides a styling guide, but once the clothes are hers, she gets the final word—regardless of whether her choices make sense to anyone else.

Photos courtesy of KUALA LUMPUR FASHION WEEK

Photographed by BIBO ASWAN

Anya Oxyn

Senior Fashion Writer

Formerly a stylist who immersed herself intimately within the Philippine fashion circuit for over three years, Anya has refined her transformative, hands-on experience into an insightful voice for MEGA Asia as a Senior Fashion Writer.

Her editorial pursuit possesses three facets: her time as an essayist during her education at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, her extensive experience in digital media and strategic storytelling, and her belief that fashion has a beating heart deeply intertwined with art, culture, society, and humanity itself that is worth uncovering.

Anya’s versatile pen spans a dynamic range of subjects, including emerging local designers, global luxury houses, beauty trends, film and television fashion analysis, cultural op-eds, major events, and beyond.

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