Max Mara Invites Us To An Italian Fairytale

Resort 2022 Collection

Straight out of the pages of Truman Capote’s book, “Local Color”, Griffith invited us to his interpretation of a Max Mara fairytale.  

“Local Color” is the name given by Creative Director Ian Griffiths to Max Mara’s Resort 2022 Collection. Truman Capote, famous American novelist, was the muse for this collection. The title speaks for itself.

Capote’s 1950 book “Local Color,” was the source of inspiration including Ischia, one of the many places Capote has visited and kept travel journal-style essays on. The resort collection was held at the precise location that Capote wrote about and it was the first time a fashion show was ever held there. 

On the island of Ischia, Italy, at the Hotel Mezzatorre overlooking the Gulf of Naples, models walked below a preserved 16th-century watchtower, surrounded by immense amounts of geraniums in hues ranging from pink to fuchsia and red. Which were the only pops of color chosen by Griffiths to contrast with the muted palette of the collection, which ranges from white to camel and black. 

“This was born from a dream, I was dreaming of traveling,” said Griffiths, who traveled to Ischia for the first time last February, after months of lockdown. “I was thinking about writers who wrote about traveling when we could not travel and I turned to Truman Capote — I really admire him, he is one of the greatest.” 

Griffiths wanted to showcase youthful silhouettes grabbing inspiration from the overused decades of the ‘50s and ‘60s for this collection, but avoided using any cliches. Working on new proportions and shapes for Max Mara, he achieved that goal with “almost minimal, couture-like designs and linear purity.” By modernizing those constructions he presented leather shorts worn under a blouse with voluminous, bell-shaped, exuberant sleeves, and paired with an espadrille-sandal.

The Creative Director’s intention with this collection was to rejuvenate the brand’s image by showing leggings under short skirts and hooded tops. Each model carried large leather or rafia travel bags, bringing it back to the main inspiration of the collection.

Staying in touch with the classics, Griffiths redesigned the 01801 coat in a technical yet luxurious jersey, “with a Neoprene quality,”  which allows the piece to be lighter and easily bundled up in a suitcase without wrinkling, “bouncing back,” he explained. The Teddy Coat was also given an upgrade, turning it into a bomber with knitted trims. 

In a sea of cream, monochromatic floral prints mimicking the island’s geraniums and a pattern “inspired by maps before Google existed,” said the designer, brought the runway to life just as the geraniums breathe life into the island.

Tap below to view the full collection:

   \ 

 

Discover More