February 24, 2023 |
Roses are red, violets are blue, Alberta Ferretti clothes are carnal and this season arrive in nocturnal bloom. Printed on silk voile and magnified on velvet, the perennial flora carry the AW23 collection through fresh categories experimenting with daywear, casual apparel and new outerwear, flourishing in the night. Duly dubbed After Dark Blooms, languid little slips emerged perched upon sculptural heels, long and liquidy in their silhouette. These were followed closely by seductive leather blousons and trench coats topped with mysterious wide-brimmed hats that cast a shadow on the wearer, concealing their stony expressions. A handful of seductive lace negligees in hematite tones welcomed guests into the Ferretti boudoir, a romantic room dripping with red roses.
Back in the boardroom, the strapless gown that opened the show, turning heads as it slinked past, was constructed in a marled suiting fabric usually reserved for tailors and suffused with Ferretti’s signature corset boning. It was an unexpected juxtaposition of delicacy and strength in the opus of Alberta Ferretti, who, for the better part of 40 years, has garnered a reputation for her dainty party dresses. Equally feminine, but moodier than ever, After Dark Blooms was compelling. Dark romance at its most mature.
Photography courtesy of Alberta Ferretti.
