February 26, 2026 |
Max Mara’s Ian Griffiths took inspiration from a trip to Sutton Hoo, the Anglo Saxon burial site near his home in Suffolk. “I was struck by the beauty of artefacts made in the so called Dark Ages,” he said backstage in front of a moodboard pinned with images of 7th Century metalwork, carvings and warrior’s helmets. “I was thinking about objects and artefacts that get more beautiful with time, the more they are used. Which, of course, led me to Max Mara coats, because they are life companions, which also bear the signs of wear and hopefully, grow old with grace.”
Also in his mind? Matilda of Canossa, the most powerful female ruler of the Middle Ages, who coincidentally had roots near Max Mara’s headquarters in Reggio Emilia. “She was supposed to have been, as wise as a serpent, and as graceful as a dove. Of course, that is Max Mara all over, isn’t it?” said the designer who parlayed her spirit into graceful, powerful clothes aimed at strident modern women.
Hooded, cape-like coats came in soft tactile textures and were worn with thigh high flat boots. Courtly medieval knights might have crossed his mind but Griffiths wanted to render the look, “with complete modernity.” The designer paired those pancake flat boots with almost every look and created three-piece looks in earthy, tone-on-tone suede.
Texture was high on the agenda with blanket-like coats and jackets in plush alpaca, double-face cashmere and mohair, which were cut to swathe and drape on the body. “These are materials that are made to last, and you wouldn’t want to make anything disposable out of them,” said Griffiths.
There is nothing throw away about the built-for-life, Max Mara wardrobe. Soft suede vests and T-shirts were paired with knit maxi skits the myriad of coat styles included everything from softly tailored wrap styles to double breasted maxis and lapel-less suede jackets. There was even a leather biker jacket meets coat-dress. For evening, he offered sinuous bias cut silk skirts waist defining knots and as well as cosy knitted gowns.
“I think you can be equally elegant and warm at the same time, in the winter,” said the designer. You can if you wear Max Mara.
Photography courtesy of Max Mara.
