Mood board: Designer Alessandro Dell’Acqua is a master of magic and modernity. Season after season, the whimsical and embellished details of his silhouettes evoke a relaxed contemporaneity, a pared-back pizzazz. S/S 2019 was a lesson in such mastery. To the soundtrack of Michelle Gurevich’s ‘Party Girl,’ Dell’Acqua presented a collection of party looks, lavished with Swarovski crystals, ostrich feathers and high shine fabrics, in a colour scheme of black and nude, with zesty hints of lime green and pink. Frothy dresses and crystal capes, pencil skirts and cobwebby knits, paired with twinkling stilettos and a good splash of sex appeal.
Scene setting: Dell’Acqua presented his latest offering inside No 21’s breathtaking headquarters. Designed by Hannes Peer, the architect behind some of the brand’s retail outposts, the space opened in the summer of 2017. It’s huge concrete showspace bought a wonderful contrast to the fluffy textures, crystal embellishments on display.
Finishing touches: Despite their dramatic details Dell’Acqua’s pieces never feel too pretty or proper. There’s an off-kilter allure to his silhouettes. For S/S 2019 this was reflected in 1920s beaded dresses and tops layered over ribbed vests and silk babydoll dresses with visible nude bra straps beneath. Sensational shapes styled with a real sense of reality.§
