Among great Italian names, Alberta Ferretti offers garments sawn under the breast line, tied onto the shoulders and pleated, Gianfranco Ferrè infinite overlapping and fluctuating layers of gathered voile, and Laura Biagiotti her unmistakeable netted knits, bubble-effect lace, degradè holes in long silken robes.

A romatic inspiration runs through Mariella Burani’s creations, reinvented with creativity, matching thin crepe de chine with taffetas, flowered shot silk petticoats with lace, net or georgette. The same goes for Gai Mattiolo, mixing aggressive dark with ruches, laces entre-deux and fluttering and light miniskirts. Roberto Cavalli makes his "sexy woman" more gentle with petticoats, fluctuating white laced micro-skirts and ethereal chiffon surfaces, whereas Rocco Barocco draws tulle shirts moved by tender frills, with mischievous microtops with insets of net and lace, and Coccapani draws full handed flowers on organza, georgettes and gauzes, on undulating ruches as well as on soft hems.

For eternal romatics, Vanessa del Sole spreads all over her matelassè tulle fairytales, wide and fluid skirts, overlapping of lace and love knots, while La Perla pret-a-porter is a triumph of impalpable patterns, soft and precious embroideries, cloud-fabrics in soft colours like powder rose, very light grey and silvery lilac.

Also the garments for every day occasions are declined in a more dreamy and romantic version: Patrizia Pepe creates jackets in lace and patchwork patterns, tulle shirts with embroideries of ethnic inspiration, Carla Carini offers in all her lines the refinery of perfect cuts in her jackets and suits in crepe or georgette silk fabric with light drawings, Privilegio dresses a woman who moves and works always at ease in her emery silks, in her unusual lead grey sets, white and nature.

Finally, effect details that create style: gauze and cotton sarongs painted and embroidered by Mali Parmi’s hands, ruches tan tops, strategic neckline knitwear, Glenfield little tulle jackets of rétro taste, foulard-cockades, modern flower of feminine touch in very short and fluctuating skirts of the new Promod collection.

(photo: Gianfranco Ferrè)

May.2002

Gianfranco Ferrè
Laura Biagiotti
Mariella Burani
Roberto Cavalli