Life is a cabaret, and Dodiee’s Fall 2026 presentation proved that a fashion presentation can be just as theatrical as a variety performance. Inside the confines of infamous downtown haunt The Box, the label brought the new season collection’s emotional narrative—shaped by memory, movement, and identity—to life through an intimate cabaret-style performance.
Founder and creative director Elisa Dahan told Vogue that the collection was inspired by a recent trip to Paris, where she attended her very first cabaret show. Immediately, the seed was sown: why not showcase her latest collection in this format? Using moody, atmospheric storytelling and sensual performance as a starting point, Dahan drew from the cinematic glamour and expressive femininity of bygone-era style icons, filtered through a deeply personal lens rooted in her family history. In particular, the enduring influence of her late mother’s natural elegance and quiet strength.
To begin, OG ‘70s supermodel Pat Cleveland took to the stage in a sparkling set, with tinsel wrapped around her elbows, singing the lyrics, “Who wants to swing with Josephine tonight?”—an original number written for her in an ode to Josephine Baker. After the opening number, a troupe of eight dancers modeled the new pieces, styled by British Vogue alum Dena Giannini. Seamlessly in sync performances were set to techno versions of everything from a Whitney Houston ballad to a tango by Dalida; all personal favorites of Dahan’s mom. The Fosse-inspired choreography—which the dancers learned in just a few days before Monday’s show—encapsulated the brand’s philosophy: clothing as a vessel for emotion, memory, and lived experience.
The collection itself centered on contrast, balancing softness and structure through the pairing of sheer fabrics, lace, and fluid fringe with supple leather, curly shearling, and graphic polka dots. A moody, sophisticated palette of dark teal, plum, noir, and subtle metallics heightened the sense of drama, with textures designed to shift and respond to the body as dancers ‘vogued’ to the music.
Between performances, guests including Martha Hunt, Candace Bushnell, Charlotte Groeneveld, and Jacquelyn Jablonski, sipped custom cocktails such as the Teal Muse (tequila blanco with blue curacao, lime juice, and agave) and the Berry Obsession (vodka with chambord and lemon juice). By the night’s end, Dodiee had transformed a fashion presentation into a fully immersive experience—one that blurred the line between performance art and wearable art.