This morning, Max Mara delivered a collection that may be anticipating a hard winter, coziness being the priority through pieces made from fuzzy, swathing, and thick knits. 

Titled “Modernist Magic,” Griffiths reached the oeuvre of Sophie Taeuber-Arp, a Swiss artist who “invested even the most everyday objects with a sense of magic and mystery.” A modernist who was one of the leading figures of the Dada movement during the 1920s and 30s, Taeuber-Arp’s influence on the Fall 2022 collection has allowed Max Mara to play within the realm of fantasy. 

The collection is a tactile experience, teddy coats being reconstructed into new silhouettes of skirts, shorts, and rompers. Through this reconstruction, Griffith plays with length, consistently switching between the mini and the maxi, pairing teddy shorts with near-floor length wool coats. Max Mara’s familiar neutral palette strays through the interruptions of warm red, orange, and yellows. The most obvious Dada-Esque influence is reflected in the graphics on Mohair sweaters, but the articulation of how Taeuber-Arp’s work (such as her Marionette King Stag) and its play on proportions stand out the most. Wide-leg trousers under thin hoodies, wadded knits, and dresses made from ‘puffas,’ as seen on Gigi Hadid, display the up-cycling nature that Taeuber-Arp used to elevate her own work. 

Like the marionettes by Sophie Taeuber-Arp, the shapes seen throughout the collection are playful, ranging from angular and skinny to oversized and rotund. Accessories were essential to the play between the magical and ordinary balaclavas and crepe-toed knee-high boots. Waist bags are given the teddy bear fabric treatment, too, unexpected placements of pockets and zippers turning the bag into a muff. 

Max Mara remains classy, not straying away from providing wear for the ski-goers and remaining true to the quality of their outerwear. However, as said in the show notes,” …with a dash of Cabaret Voltaire’s whirlwind creativity and a sprinkle of magic dust,” unexpected playfulness is always cherished.

See below to explore the collection: