In recognition of her Mediterranean summers, Spanish designer Alejandra Alonso Roja presented her Spring/Summer 2023 collection during New York Fashion Week. Sounds of waves opened the show, with Roja’s inspiration this season coming from the captivating landscapes of Menorca and the French Riviera. Artists during the period in which the collection illuminates, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, influenced her design choices.

The colors of the exuberant water and landscapes are mirrored in the collection’s selection of hues for the fabrics, with tones of blue, red, pink, green, and gold completing the color palette. Roja’s signature dip-dyed silks are redone with bold fish prints motivated by Menorcan painter David Monrós, whom Alejandra met when she was a child. His work reminded her of the time she spent on the island throughout her childhood. Monrós painted using real fish imprints on canvas. To create a similar effect, Alejandra hand-painted the prints using the same technique with red snapper, squid, and octopus on silk and cotton fabrics.

The ’30s beachwear came out to play in the form of crocheted dresses and cotton-linen suits while contrasting modern styles including current silk slip dresses and retro sunglasses contributed to ’90s minimalism. This season, a prominent part of the collection was the embellishments, bringing out a more experimental side for Rojas. Shells, beads, and pearls were finely embroidered onto several of her looks. Accessories appear in strappy beach-ready sandals and chic woven straw berets.

Alejandra Alonso Rojas created the perfect ode to summer in this spirited collection, presenting an energized interpretation of vacation wear that can stand the test of time.