Mood board: Alessandro Dell’Acqua has flown off into the creative realm of complex cutting and layering in recent collections, but for A/W 2017 he fiercely reined in these trendy indulgences, returning to the soft, feminine silhouettes that made No 21 a cool girl mainstay in the first place. The show was more grown-up, and decisively less rooted in the street than seasons past but that shift had no bearing on its desirability.
Best in show: Dell’Acqua can cut pencil skirts and a rhinestone bedazzled cocktail dress like nobody’s business. But his real talent lies in taking all of the ladylike codes and mixing them breathlessly with something less sciura. Case in point: a camel knit sweater with a black mink fur pointed collar came in the shape and consistency of your little brother’s baseball sweatshirt. Even better were the oversized knitted crew neck sweaters featuring scenes of the slacker beach life in Los Angeles which Dell’Acqua mischievously paired with 1950s tweed circle skirts.
Finishing touches: Footwear is this designer’s speciality — surprisingly, he hoisted his models up and off their preferred flat (but wacky) footwear and instead wrapped them into pastel-hued stiletto sandals adorned with large crystals, wrapped up with satin ballerina ribbons around the ankle and worn with coloured socks. Butterfly buckle elastic belts and shiny rhinestone brooch pins completed the twisted vintage look.
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Herzog & de Meuron and Piet Oudolf unveil Calder Gardens in PhiladelphiaThe new cultural landmark presents Alexander Calder’s work in dialogue with nature and architecture, alongside the release of Jacques Herzog’s 'Sketches & Notes'. Ellie Stathaki interviews Herzog about the project.
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Beloved British screenwriter Dennis Potter inspires an exhibition with a difference at Studio VoltaireHilary Lloyd's multi-faceted exhibition at Studio Voltaire considers Dennis Potter's life and work, from much-loved TV classics to power inequalities
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Insert here: London Design Festival gets intimate with insertable designAt London Design Festival, Heirloom Studio showcases 36 objects – some life-saving, some pleasure-giving, all made to go inside the body
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With an ode to Italy, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake brings its brand of fashion magic to Florence’s Pitti UomoMarking the start of a new nomadic way of showing for the Japanese label, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake held its S/S 2026 show at Florence’s Villa Medicea della Petraia as part of Pitti Uomo last night (18 June) with a collection inspired by the colours and textures of Italy
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Milan Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2023: Fendi to PradaFrom Prada’s exploration of archetypal menswear garments to JW Anderson’s much-anticipated debut in the city, the best of Milan Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2023, as it happens
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Milan Fashion Week S/S 2022: ‘Fendace' to FerragamoFashion Week returns to form in the Italian home of style and design. Here is everything you need to know about Milan Fashion Week S/S 2022
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The filmic vision of Paris’ virtual men’s fashion weekTake an in-depth look at the trends of Paris' fashion week for Spring/Summer 2021, where brands turned to the moving image to express their collections virtually
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Giorgio Armani A/W 2020 Milan Fashion Week Women's -
Bottega Veneta A/W 2020 Milan Fashion Week Women's -
Ports 1961 A/W 2020 Milan Fashion Week Women's -
BOSS A/W 2020 Milan Fashion Week Women's
