Unveiled at the majestic Palazzo Archinto during Milan Fashion Week, Blumarine‘s fall/winter 2017-18 collection brought not only a ready-to-wear touch to MFW, but also marked creative director Anna Molinari’s one of biggest accomplishments, namely that of remaining faithful to her own style, always revisiting and modernizing it, for a grand total of 40 years.
The Blumarine fall 2017 collection also represented a way for Molinari to celebrate her 40 long years in the industry, which are no small feat for sure when it comes to fashion. Anna Molinari’s celebration party will then go on all day long, with the designer presenting her upcoming book, about to be available for purchase in a few days, published by Rizzoli.
Simply dubbed as “Blumarine: Anna Molinari’, according to the Italian book publisher, the book tells us the story of “Anna Molinari’s beloved and successful fashion house, as told through a kaleidoscope of stunning images by famed photographers.’ There will also be lavish illustrations “accompanied by an introduction about the work of Molinari and texts that explore some of Blumarine’s iconic elements: the rose; the Bluvi, a cashmere sweater with mink neckline; and animalier. At the center of the book is a fairy tale written by Elena Loewenthal, a writer and friend of Mrs. Anna Molinari.’
As a comparison, we could regard this specific runway show as a sort of book, in which the proposals serve as glamorous illustrations and texts, with the collection’s different parts representing one of Blumarine’s many souls.
There was, for example, the one dedicated to Blumarine’s most urban-chic woman, with intricate embroideries, imposing silhouettes and luxurious materials getting interrupted and lightened up in their opulent patterns by more jocose pops of yellow. There was then Blumarine’s party-girl, here filtered through an apologetically cool lens, with the relaxed lines and metallic patterns of the dresses giving the entire collection a much-appreciated otherworldly touch.
At the very end of this Blumarine fall 2017 runway show, Anna Molinari decided to mix all of these different souls together, treating us to a dream array of proposals that will basically satisfy any taste. Toward the very end, instead of showcasing conventionally glamorous evening dresses, Anna Molinari transposed her very own casual-chic soul to a few ultra-wearable (and covetable) proposals, which solely consisted of a pair of shredded jeans and solid-colored sweaters with a Nineties-inspired “Blumarine’ logo emblazoned on the front.
All in all, the collection was an all-round one indeed, as it filled us with inspirations aplenty both in terms of eveningwear and more casual, day-to-day fashions, with uber-feminine long dresses and furry coats being interrupted by more wearable proposals. One of the Blumarine fall 2017 collection’s most astounding parts was, however, the footwear line, as Molinari alternated ankle boots with utterly adorable Mary Jane shoes available in different shades, and which we bet will fly off the shelves the soonest.
The Blugirl fall/winter 2017-2018 ready-to-wear collection was showcased during Milan Fashion Week, and proved that edgy and adorable can, in fact, go hand in hand. Though the collection did provide a wide range of options, nothing in the collection was more special than the other. Throughout the entire show, it was obvious that the aesthetic was firmly planted between being edgy and cute.
Dresses were the bulk of the collection, many featuring lace bibs, high collars, ruffles and other similar Victorian details in a more more modern way. Velvet was as prominent in the collection as the sheer options were, definitely a fall detail and nearly every look featured a belt with a rectangular buckle. One of the most appreciable aspects of the Blugirl fall 2017 collection was the variance in the sheer pieces ” none of them were exactly the same top to bottom or a sheer shirt over a differently printed under piece done six ways.
The designer, Anna Molinari chose her inspiration based on location that very obviously included Victorian London and Italy, the open and close of the show. In the middle, however, the aesthetics ” in relation to their inspiring locations at least ” were off. Were it not for the hats, I would not have put my finger on Saint Petersburg, Russia and what I will loosely term ‘African inspired’ section of the show left a lot to be desired based on some of the prints and silhouettes and the green velvet.
Some of the pieces in this section of the show just felt severely out of place with the rest of the collection, but not so much so that it would ruin the overall appeal. As an example, a leopard coat over a fun printed short dress with a mock turtleneck was cute, but would be better shown separately; together it was too much along with a green version of the belt that was shown throughout the collection. Anna Molinari took risks here certainly, and it will be interesting to see what buyers do with the options once they have them to filter though with their own aesthetics and wardrobes.
With the abundance of sheer styling options over the last few seasons, the Blugirl fall/winter 2017 collection could not be seen as risqué or an outlier, but thankfully many of the looks were very cute and right on par with the short velvet dresses. The looks were different enough that though we have seen many of these cute styled dresses before, we have not seen them exactly like this.
The concept of travel throughout the collection was also an interesting one, giving pause to which look featured the best interpretation of the area, though I personally feel her London inspired section rang the truest.
Anna Molinari, the creative director of Blumarine, created very soft and luxurious designs for the brand’s Resort 2018 collection. Her designs were made to make you feel like a real life Cinderella.
Molinari got inspired by the London-based artist Rebecca Louise Law. She is known for her unique large contemporary installations. All of them are based on a variety of flowers that remind of a fairytale land. Some of Anna’s designs are based on the same concept and you can also see the idyllic blooms incorporated in several dresses.
“I love Impressionist paintings. Roses and violets, embroidered on the finest lace so delicately they look as if they’re actually dewy.’- Anna explains the inspiration behind her latest collection.
The Resort 2018 Collection carries a very feminine and romantic vibe. The collection features pastel colors and soft designs. Bright yellow, soft violet, and baby pink are the colors that dominate in most of the pieces. There is a little hint of dark blue, to keep the balance. As for the fabrics, Anna also went with the most romantic ones. Nice and loving lace in several different types such as chiffon, organza, tulle, and chambray. There are also several sequined pieces representing the edgier part of the collection.
The collection is very versatile. Most of the pieces are elegant but also very wearable at the same time. Anna’s love for dresses is obvious because she included a lot of them in the Resort 2018 Collection for the brand. The dresses perfectly fit the fragile story that the collection brings, and look like they just came out of a fairytale.
Besides the dresses, there are also a few separates such as skirts, blouses, and pants. One of the most eye-catching and distinctive outfits in the collection is the pleated mini-skirt paired with a biker jacket. Both of them carry a very fun colorful print that looks like multiple tiny purple flowers placed one next to another. Additionally, a very striking look is the one that features the asymmetric frilled denim skirt. The skirt is combined with a dark blue sequined sweater and accessorized with a belt in the same color.
Molinari made sure that she created a very contemporary collection, with designs that anyone would love to own.
These past fall 2017 Fashion Weeks really gave their best in terms of fashions, street style inspirations and philosophical patterns, encouraging us to dare with fashion and embrace activism through it, too. Since the important moments from the recent Fashion Weeks were so many, we decided to sum up all the things one needs to know about the fall 2017 Fashion Weeks, from New York to London to Milan to Paris, so that their best and most scandalous moments could give us something to ponder on before the next ready-to-wear season shows up.
Fall 2017 Fashion Politics
The fact that the fall 2017 Fashion Weeks would have had a lot to do with politics was already palpable with the spring 2017, pre-fall 2017 and even men’s wear fall 2017 runway shows and collections. Since during October last year Trump was not the US president yet, the runway shows’ politics-influenced moments were subtler and less prominent.
With the fall 2017 Fashion Weeks, however, many designers weren’t afraid to speak up and demonstrate against prejudices on the catwalks, with collections such as those of Moschino, Prabal Gurung, Tommy Hilfiger, and Christian Siriano making powerful statements through emblazoned t-shirts, too.
During Milan Fashion Week, then, designer Angela Missoni summed up the fashion industry’s political agenda imploring the audience to “show the world the fashion community is united and fearless.’
The Best of Empowerment and Feminism
Some of these Fashion Weeks’ best moments were linked to politics through feminism, which saw its transposition to fashion both through some emblazoned t-shirts and powerful collections designed by female creative directors. Creative directors such as Maria Grazia Chiuri, Stella McCartney, Tory Burch, Phoebe Philo, Miuccia Prada, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, and Victoria Beckham are all challenging and changing the future of the industry, becoming empowering examples for any young girl who aspires to become a fashion designer.
More and more models were also embracing an extremely inspiring intersectional feminism, with model Halima Aden, who walked Alberta Ferretti and Max Mara‘s runway shows flawlessly donning her hijab being one of its best examples.
Weeks Full of Accomplishments
The past fall 2017 Fashion Weeks marked many goals for various creative directors and designers, which brought their accomplishments directly on stage. Belgian designer Dries Von Noten, for example, celebrated his 100th runway show at Paris Fashion Week, while Italian Anna Molinari celebrated the 40th anniversary of the brand with a dancing runway show.
The London College of Fashion graduate and acclaimed emerging designer Ryan Lo celebrated his 5th anniversary during London Fashion Week too, unveiling one of his most imposing collections and surely encouraging those who hope to showcase their future creations during LFW, too. Vogue, one of the industry’s historical and most representative magazines, also celebrated its 125th anniversary, this month!
Fall 2017 Fashion Weeks’ Most Talked-About Moments
Fashions on the catwalks aside, some of the most talked-about styles have to do more with the front rows rather than the catwalks. Singer Nicki Minaj, for example, dressed her own way at Paris Fashion Week wearing an extremely revealing asymmetrical top, which made her look unapologetically fierce (regardless of the fact that one may not fancy the actual top, in terms of personal tastes).
Cara Delevingne, on the other hand, became the ultimate it-girl wearing garments from the Supreme x Louis Vuitton capsule collection during PFW, with her pictures quickly jumping from one social media platform to the other as soon as she sat front row.
Marni‘s very first runway show under Francesco Risso’s creative direction has been finally unveiled at Milan Fashion Week, with his fall/winter 2017-18 ready-to-wear fashions being all about mix-and-matched styles, patterns and references.
The Marni fall/winter 2017-18 rtw collection comes after former creative director Consuelo Castiglioni’s departure from the Italian fashion house in October last year, a choice that caused many heartaches and mixed emotions over the future of Marni and its new creative director as well. Francesco Risso, who graduated from Central St. Martins in London and has a resume that is made in Italy indeed (prior to Marni he worked at Anna Molinari and Prada), had and will have big shoes to fill.
Designing for Marni is not for the faint of heart for sure, as the fashion house is the place to go for some of the most elegantly eclectic, if not even eccentric pieces, with innovation and boundary-pushing fashions being at the core of the house itself. Marni was founded by Castiglioni herself, meaning that many still associate the brand with the talented woman.
So, what was Risso’s first approach to the upcoming fall/winter 2017-18 rtw season? First of all, Risso’s care for the Marni-approved offbeat visions appeared instantly clear. For this Marni fall/winter 2017 collection, Risso focused on unconventional patterns, such as intimate wear worn as outerwear, with both Sixties-inspired vibes and Seventies-inspired dancing queen motifs dominating the scene.
Risso’s vintage visions on Marni also took a step into the Nineties fashions, which subtly infused the entire collection with pencil cuts, oversized figures and layered silhouettes. The main motif that ran through each one of the staples was that of the color-themed proposals, with all of the items being presented in blocks of four shades. Francesco Risso played with chromatic motifs unveiling looks in gray-green, pink, blue or yellow, interrupting the line with few rusty reds, blues and color-blocking patterns, such as red and purple.
The Marni fall 2017 ready-to-wear collection featured brown shades too, which were used for the furry embellishments and appliqués of the staples (Marni will probably never stop proposing fur for its seasonal collections).
Innerwear aside, the Marni fall/winter 2017-18 rtw collection was also a place, wherein winter-approved garments were easily to be found, such as raincoats, warm hats and fur jackets.
Last but not least, Francesco Risso’s debut with Marni will be vividly remembered for the shoe line, as the Italian fashion designer completed most of the looks with intricately adorned sandals that featured Art Deco-inspired heels and, most of the times, geometrically elongated soles.
While many designers for spring 2017 opted to leave models’ heads bare, and to just play with different kinds of hairstyles, others decided that the spring/ summer 2017 hats were exactly what they needed to add an extra touch of magic, refinement, or edge to their collection. Hats are an important staple for the summer season, since they help to shield us from the sun, but they also make for an excellent addition to any outfit.
This season we really saw anything, from fascinators perfect for special occasions to different kinds of sunhats for that Caribbean vacation, and ball caps for those weekends out playing sports in style. No matter how you plan on spending the warm seasons, the spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends have you covered!
#1. Ride the Bull with Cowboy Hats
This is the least pretentious of the spring 2017 headwear trends ” unless you are wearing it ironically… in which case, maybe it’s extra pretentious? Doesn’t matter! Whether designers were inspired by deplorables in baskets, or the incredible first season of HBO’s Westworld, we’re taking a walk on the wild side with cowboy hats this spring.
At Anna Sui, we saw a really colorful take on the cowboy hat, complete with cats on the bottom of the rim, dancing topless figures, and a massive pink shell in the center. The Blugirl collection was all about honorable white hats, for the lawful lady who’s fighting bandits. At Sonia Rykiel, we saw a two-tone cowboy-style hat, but made of straw instead of the traditional leather.
#2. Always Ready for the Pool with Caps
Another of the summer 2017 headwear trends is all about channeling the pool, whether you’re in or out of it, with tight caps. What we learned is that there are a lot of different ways to play with this unique hat style ” it can be adorned one way for a retro effect, or another for a sci-fi one.
At Dolce & Gabbana, we saw a gorgeous bejeweled cap, covered in many differently colored gems, which really reminded us of antique jewelry.
On the Maison Margiela runway, the caps had a much more futuristic effect. They appeared to have been cut out of felt, in pale shades. Their edges had been cut sharply, especially along the forehead and over the ears, and had been paired with headsets in some cases, adding to the sci-fi feel.
On the Miu Miu runway, caps attached by a strap under the models’ chins reminded us of retro swim caps ” large and covering everything. These caps were covered in plastic flowers, emphasizing the beachy, ’50s vibe.
#3. All About the Berets
I think this is the season when we finally admit that the French are not really into berets anymore ” so we’re putting an end to the stereotypes, and will simply start accepting berets for what they are: a unique and classy part of this list of trendy spring/ summer 2017 hats.
The berets in the Desigual collection were full on guerrillero glam, covered in gorgeous floral designs and a bit of jewels. They were exactly the kind of hat I would want if I were fighting in lush, fantastical jungles, against a mythical fascistic despot. At Undercover, we saw massive berets printed with piano keys.
#4. No Need to Look Beyond the Veils
Whether you are attending a sad spring time funeral, or just a great alternative party, you’ll be happy to know that veils made it to our list of the spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends.
On the Dolce & Gabbana runway, it was a full-on gothic showing, of a dark fascinator and black net attached to it, paired with sufficiently burgundy lipstick. On the Michael Costello runway, veils were also utilized for their dark, film noir vibe. A beaded black net was attached to an extravagant headband, and draped over the model’s face.
To really help the Dries Van Noten collection stand out, a long and thick piece of netted veil was wrapped around the models’ faces, and tied off at the back in a big bow. While this might not be fully practical, the idea of a net tying one’s hair back sounds quite lovely.
#5. Batter Up with Baseball Caps
This season’s baseball cap trend showed that high fashion can indeed meet activewear to create something that is just idiosyncratic enough to work.
At Chanel, pastel baseball caps were worn sideways, in a nod to the ’80s. At Moschino, the baseball caps were also on the urban side. They were made of puffy, patchwork leather in shades of black, red, and pink, and were worn both facing forward and backwards.
At Desigual, as usual, fascinating designs were all so important, including on some lovely fabric caps. The effect, thanks to the bohemian design, really reminded us of the ’70s.
At Elie Saab, many of the models strutted down the runway in ball caps covered in sequins. It was a wonderfully flamboyant take on a sporty look.
At Off-White, the ball caps were actually a stark white, emblazoned with the word “woman.’ We also saw baseball caps, both extravagant in gold and a little more plain, on the Philipp Plein runway. Lastly, we saw edgy caps at Versus Versace, inscribed with the brand name.
#6. Uniform Chic Hats
A few designers took inspiration from various uniform-requiring professions. All types of soldiers were featured in the spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends.
On the Yohji Yamamoto runway, models sported a variety of military and office-style caps, complete with tough brims, in unforgiving shades of black and dark gray. The effect was especially striking and authoritarian because it was paired with pale pastel lipsticks, and spiky black locks.
On the Vivetta runway, on the other hand, the hats worn were reminiscent of a sailor’s caps ” much like that iconic picture of the sailor kissing a surprised woman, right after the end of World War II. The effect was cute and quirky.
Lastly, at Moncler Gamme Rouge, it was the military marching bands that were represented, with white and black hats with solid rims, and tall crowns.
#7. All You Need is Brim
Visors are like the fanny packs of hats ” utilitarian, and a little dorky. However, much like fanny packs are making a serious comeback, so too are the visors, which made it to our list of summer 2017 headwear trends. Normally, visors remind us of the old women who collect old beer cans like it’s a sport, but in the hands of a talented designer they can become the height of casual chicness.
The most unusual of the visors we saw this season were on the Nicholas K runway, where they had been made of suede, and had a very thick rims wrapped around the model’s hair.
At Max Mara, the visors were a cheeky nod to summer vacations, since their brims had been covered with exotic floral designs.
#8. Wrap Up the Season with Scarves and Headwraps
There is something elegant yet casual about scarves and headwraps ” maybe it’s the way they were totally appropriate eveningwear in the ’20s, and then became a symbol of the housewife in the ’50s. Whatever it is, we love them in all their iterations, and are so happy to see them as part of the spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends.
On the Daks runway, we saw long keffiyeh-style scarves tied into beautiful headwraps that added a lot of volume, and exuded an old-timey, rural confidence. On the Miu Miu runway, some of the models sported bright, graphically printed scarves, tied over their hair in headwraps that had more of a ’50s feel.
At Giorgio Armani, the head wraps were all about the ’20s chic. The multi-colored scarves were kept smaller and tied tighter around the models’ heads. We saw earth toned headwraps at Pascal Millet.
Lastly, at Gucci, in addition to some extremely creative hats, we also saw luxurious satin headwraps and scarves wrapped around the models’ heads, and in many cases tied off in bows or buns right at the front of the models’ heads, rather than at the back.
#9. Golden Straw Sun Hats
Is there a better way to usher in the summer than with a golden straw hat? It immediately conjures memories of vacations to hot, exotic places, where the sun shines bright and hot.
Straw hats, on top of being forever effortlessly chic, are also extremely useful, to protect us from the harmful UV rays that become so much stronger in the winter time. The spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends are rife with excellent straw hat choices, to keep you stylish and protected during the hot summer months.
At the Agnes B. show, we saw some lovely straw hats, in the panama style that, rather than looking like your stereotypical farmer’s hat, actually had shorter brims, which made for a very stylish casual hat.
At Blumarine, designer Anna Molinari decided that big was it, with massive straw hats that functioned like portable patio umbrellas, and would make sure that anyone who wears them this summer will not be missed. Not one to be outshone, Christian Siriano‘s models also graced the runway in hats with sizeable straw rims, and a fabric crown.
Daniela Gregis decided to play with unusual shapes in the straw hats she created. While we did see some traditional large-brimmed hats, a long bucket hat really stood out for its uniqueness.
We also saw large, golden straw sun hats at Jacquemus, Tome, and Liselore Frowijn.
#10. A Darker Shade of Straw
Some of the idiosyncratic spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends have a humorous effect, but the black straw hat trend somehow manages to be mysterious ” think Addams Family Vacation. We saw a lot of perfect straw hats for the lady with a dark heart and ivory pale skin.
At Erdem, even the eyes were covered by the low, ruffled skirt-style brim of a shiny dark hat. At Emporio Armani, we saw a really dapper take on the hat, which was shaped like an especially large bowler, with a magenta bow.
Lastly, at Emilio Pucci, the effect was fully-protective, seeing as instead of having a proper brim, many pieces of straw jutted out from the crown, and totally obscured the models’ face.
#11. The Fiercest Fisherwoman’s Hats
This is another trendy take on an otherwise kind of dumpy hat. Designers really glammed up fisherman hats for the spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends.
On the Aalto runway, the models wore really unique fisherman’s hats, made of both fabric and leather, with a pearl chain to keep them from flying away. At Etro, the fisherman hat design was taken to a luxurious place, thanks to slightly longer brims, gorgeous prints, and a satin-y fabric.
Lastly, at Paul & Joe, we likely saw the most traditional take on this style of hat, in a pastel shade.
#12. Fancy and Fascinating Miniature Hats
Fascinators are not just for gothic Lolitas. These adorable and unusual miniature attachments have made it to our list of spring/ summer 2017 hats, so channel your inner diva and give ’em a try.
The Christopher Kane collection had an overall retro vibe that was only increased by solidly colored quirky fascinators bent into swirly shapes.
On the Anna Sui runway, brightly colored fascinators with a lot of lace contributed to the models’ already sizably styled hair, and added a touch of mystique to the rest of the styling, which was a bit more twee.
#13. Shield The Eyes
By covering the eyes, designers immediately evoke a really unique, almost ominous vibe. Models cease to appear as individuals, and instead stand out as futuristic ” perhaps as some sort of space-age soldiers. The designs we saw, where the models’ eyes were covered, were certainly futuristic.
At Anrealage, a black and white multi-part helmet made sure the models were ready for battle. At Dior, a silvery white visor, with a three-part brim, sat low on the model’s forehead, obscuring her eyes.
On the Wanda Nylon runway, the models’ eyes were obscured by blinged-out bucket hats, including one that was totally covered in tiny silver chains.
#14. Channeling the Creative Spirit
We can’t make a list of spring/ summer 2017 hats, without paying attention to those designers who crafted masterpieces that just happened to sit atop the heads of models on the runway.
First is the brilliant disco ball dog head we saw on the Thom Browne runway. At Undercover, in addition to the previously mention beret, we also saw brimmed fabric hats that looked like upside down vases.
At Shenzhen, models sported dark gray Gatsby caps covered in red, white, and baby blue fuzzy balls ” like a really stylish, retro clown. At Sportmax, we saw a woven hat made of a shiny black material that reminded us of a unique witch’s hat.
Lastly, at Gucci, there were so many fascinating, unique, and creative hats in different styles. We saw a few massive fabric hats that reminded us of pirates, and solid caps with large flowery attachments.
Do you prefer the crazy and quirky spring/ summer 2017 headwear trends, or are you more of the practical type who prefers sun hats and ball caps? Let us know in the comments!
Well-known Italian fashion house Marni has been run by its founder, Consuelo Castiglioni since the beginning back in 1994 with her husband. Even once Marni was acquired by OTB (Only the Brave) back in 2012, Consuelo Castiglioni maintained her position as the creative director. She has grown the brand from one that provided ideal options to wear with fur to strong patterned ready-to-wear clothing that is easily noticeable as a Marni piece.
The fashion line has managed several successful collaborations and even launched the menswear line in 2007. The silhouettes have a very ‘newly designed’ vintage feel that has garnered a dedicated following for the fashion line in sixteen different countries, where they have licensed stores and many more thanks to their online sales.
According to the Marni press release, Consuelo Castiglioni’s decision to step down as the creative director of Marni was of a personal nature. The new creative director successor for Marni has been named though: 33-year-old Francesco Risso.
Francesco Risso has a strong, established background in fashion, from his education in Italy at Polimoda Fashion School, then transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Finally, he graduated from Central St. Martins in London, following the impressive footsteps of John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.
As an Italian Fashion House, Marni was more than happy to put up Italian Francesco Risso into the creative director position. His resume also includes working for Anna Molinari, Malo and Prada.
OTB is very excited by the change as well with the president Renzo Rosso stating: “The world pays tribute to the original vision of Consuelo, and to a unique brand which we are proud to have in our group. I wish her the very best.’
He further added: “I am happy to welcome Francesco, whose talent will contribute to writing a new chapter in the history of this house which is Italian at heart and global in spirit. I am confident that the creative team and the management of Marni, which have contributed to this success, will continue to make this brand reach exciting new goals.’
Consuelo Castiglioni released the heartfelt statement: “These were hectic and exciting years which absorbed all of my energies to create a project I am proud of. Thanks also to the constant support of my family who allowed me to stay true to my idea, I built a brand with a precise and recognizable identity. The time has now come to dedicate myself to my private life. I thank all the people who believed in this project and who, with loyal dedication, have helped me along this fantastic journey.’
There has also been word that Consuelo Castiglioni’s children Giovanni and Carolina will be stepping down from their roles in operations, special projects, children’s wear and communications. Francesco Risso is set to take over immediately, with the first full effects of his leadership showing up in Milan in 2017.
Both fairytale-like and summer-ready, this line-up offered us extremely polished, feminine and sensual pieces that could easily transition from day to night, as well as from an exclusive party at the beach to a more informal one with friends. Perfectly refined in each detail utilized, Anna Molinari’s latest Blumarine collection is unapologetically romantic too, as the designer made ample usage of flared lines, airy sleeves and crisply contoured hems.
Inspired by 20th-century Italian photographer Tina Modotti’s Mexican shots, the Blumarine spring/summer 2017 collection did keep, however, a more modern-day appeal thanks to a few, yet very distinctive proposals. The key to this buzz is to be found in the more youthful and urban-chic array of looks, such as golden shorts and tops, revisited sports bras and leggings, and even off-the-shoulder crop-tops.
Paired with the collection’s most delicate pieces, such as pastel pink gowns and frilly, lightweight palazzo pants, such staples balanced the looks with more functional, eased-up and overall wearable looks, while at the same time treating us to standout designs we could mix and match with garments we already own.
As for the pastel pink colors, Anna Molinari seemed to confirm that pink is going to be, once again, the leading color of the upcoming summer, as she translated this feminine color to both its creamiest and most shocking, bubble-pink hue.
Patches of different pinks often met each other throughout the show, creating a girly, dynamic appeal we yet had to see. Pink, along with a similar soft-toned lilac, was at the core of Anna Molinari’s rediscovered checkered patterns too, which curiously found their blue-toned counterpart in the recently unveiled Antonio Marras spring/summer 2017 collection.
Apron-inspired dresses in checkered patterns welcomed one of the collection’s most distinctive, yet subtle motifs: the Nineties. Crop tops, layered floor-length dresses, as well as see-through mini dresses quickly found their way through the collection, mesmerizing us and then quickly leaving us speechless as soon as the evening dresses came out.
For her most sophisticated red carpet-ready proposals, Anna Molinari combined innovative Nineties-inspired ombre patterns, created with starry dark-toned crystals, with floral lace appliqués and dreamy layered figures, capturing a sense of magic and timeless high fashion we instantly fell in love with.
Towards the end of the runway show, a bright pink furry loungewear-inspired coat made an appearance, making us realize that, although being extremely princess-like and glamorously refined, the collection had a little, whimsical touch that couldn’t really go unnoticed.
Anna Molinari complemented almost all of her Blumarine spring/summer 2017 outfits with pointy-toe, flat furry shoes, which will surely become one of next spring’s hottest must-haves.
Blugirl‘s creative director Anna Molinari just overwhelmed us with strong summery vibes unveiling her newest Blugirl spring/summer 2017 collection at Milan Fashion Week. Full of life like her previous Blugirl pre-spring 2017 line-up, yet slightly more mature and at times even sultrier than it, this collection seems to be suggesting us traveling the world, as all of its proposals celebrate those who have a globetrotter heart and a free-spirited soul.
This 42-piece collection is, in fact, extremely well variegated, with garments varying both in lines and colors. All of the pieces share, however, common themes. Besides the travelling motif, which also varies according to different destinations, this Blugirl spring 2017 collection also features Anna Molinari’s omnipresent floral patterns (many often refer to her as the “Queen of Roses’), strong ethnic-inspired patterns and a sense of verticality, which inevitably elongates all of the collection’s silhouettes.
As for the color palette, the collection is equally diverse, with Anna Molinari employing an abounding amount of different shades and often mixing them all together. She managed to skillfully combine soft pastel hues with richer, bolder colors, such as red, brown and mustard yellow, framing everything with a bright white hue that fancifully helps highlight all of the darker proposals.
While the white designs still remind us of most of the Blumarine pre-spring 2017 proposals, this time around Molinari opted for a few total black ensembles too, evolving her Blugirl twenty-something girl into a more mature, cosmopolitan kind of woman.
The Blugirl spring/summer 2017 ready-to-wear collection may be thus divided into four sections. The first one quickly introduces us to Molinari’s vertical lines, the black and white patterns of which catapult us to an unexpectedly warm summer in Northern Europe. Long parkas, leggings worn underneath boho-chic-inspired, off-the-shoulder dresses, cozy culottes and laced shirts with puffed-up shoulders seem to be made for all of the girls are in love with Berlin or Copenhagen, or for those who are planning to travel to these cities next summer.
The second part of the collection, on the other hand, favors horizontal over vertical stripes, the multicolored shades of which create an appealing contrast with the loads of black sheer fabrics Molinari utilized to enhance the figures. The designer still has the northern European capitals in mind here, while at the same time focusing on their multicultural backgrounds.
Ethnic-inspired motifs and stripes find instead their way to shine and happily coexist through the collection’s third part, where preppy frilly looks, layered cuts and shorter hems catapult us in southern Europe, whether we are dreaming about Provence in France, or about Anna Molinari’s beloved Capri in Italy. Here fresher looks meet Blugirl’s older sister Blumarine’s elegance, with long, tasseled necklaces and plunging V-necklines balancing the long, floor-length gowns.
The Blugirl spring/summer 2017 collection’s forth part is, instead, all about eclectic designs and jocose colors, the outcomes of which make us think about the sunny and wild shores of the Caribbean and South America. Here Anna Molinari is definitely not afraid to dare with quirky color-block motifs, ultra bright floral patterns and ethereally voluminous fabrics, which indeed were rays of sunshine on this rainy, dreary Milanese day.
Minimalistic and ethereal, the newest Blumarine fall 2016 ad campaign goes back to the label’s signature style, which is that of a modern-day elegant woman, who is captured in-between a material world and a more romantic, fairytale-like one.
Not for nothing, designer Anna Molinari’s fall 2016 collection for Blumarine was inspired by German fashion photographer Helmut Newton’s advertising campaigns in the early Nineties, which often showed some of the world’s most renowned models sporting Blumarine’s most iconic staples. Like both the collection’s and Newton’s photographic touch, the Blumarine fall 2016 ad campaign exudes elegant and almost na‚Äö√†√∂‚àö√≤ve erotic vibes, which were a mainstream of Vogue and other fashion magazines’ publications back in the Nineties as well.
To better embody such a spirit, Molinari asked Swedish model Julia Hafstrom to star in the campaign, as her ethereal, heroin-chic kind of beauty perfectly recalls the essence of Blumarine’s It-girls from the Nineties. Captured by photography duo Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Hafstrom is pictured in a series of cold, mystical shots, surrounded by nothing but what appears to be an empty room (the James A. Farley Post Office in New York was the perfect location for the photoshoot). She poses in a large, velvet blue chair, which enhances both the collection’s staples and her curly red locks.
As for the looks Hafstrom showcases, stylist David Vandewal tried to celebrate the Blumarine fall 2016 collection’s most acclaimed staples, namely a large mink coat inspired by Molinari’s own mother, a curve-hugging flared sheer dress with mink trimmings on the hems, and a pleated silver maxi skirt that truly showcases what it means to intertwine haute couture motifs with ready-to-wear fashion.
To reinforce the whole mink theme, Vandewal featured Blumarine’s mink sandals in the pictures too as a way to remind us that the furry-sandal trend is not going anywhere whether we like it or not.
Aside from a total black outfit with light and dark grey colored patterns and an elegant black trench coat, the campaign is all about pastel colors and floral embellishments, which make us wonder whether Hafstrom was meant to be a sort of modern-day little mermaid in this shoot.
The whole sea-meets-earth vibe could be seen both in the airy marine green frocks, and in the denim cropped pants paired with a billowy fur jacket. Both the settings and Hafstrom’s poses draw our attention to the little details, such as Blumarine’s pointy-toe flats and mini, geometric handbags.
“I wanted to show an eclectic, proud woman with a strong personality,’ Molinari said backstage during Blumarine’s fall 2016 runway show, and this latest campaign of hers perfectly translates such words into pictures.
