Not everyone knows that famed French writer and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry touched down in Alghero, Sardinia, in the final months of his life. But of course Antonio Marras did.
Every season the designer’s creative roads all lead to his beloved homeland, fueling the rich storytelling that’s become his brand’s trademark and which offers a smart framework to display the evolution of his signature blend of masculine and feminine tropes, military and bucolic inspirations and overall knack for patchworking fabrics and styles.
For resort 2026, more than the real story of de Saint-Exupéry’s Sardinian trip with his friend and photojournalist John Phillips, Marras’ narrative centered on fantasizing about the writer’s wife and artist Consuelo surprising and joining “The Little Prince” author on the island.
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What would her wardrobe look like? In Marras’ fervent imagination and skilled hands, the Salvadoran artist’s independent and eclectic personality — which throughout her life drew a circle that included the likes of Diego Rivera, André Breton, Marcel Duchamp, Marx Ernst and Picasso — would be expressed in just as a bold and multifaceted way.
The lineup swung from the mannish appeal of aviator jackets and parkas turned into a charming affair via floral patchworks to a burgundy series with botanical jacquards and ‘50s-inspired feminine dresses in a delicate baby blue shade.
In between came plenty of versatile options with a twist. Sartorial pieces stood out for elevating pinstripe or checkered fabrications with little embroideries, lace inserts or corsetry-like details, as well as for playing with volumes, ranging from the fitted jackets and bodices to roomy pants.
Leather and denim were also a nice addition to Marras’ language. The former came under many guises, from coats juxtaposing sturdy and textured leather with smooth ones to pencil skirts cut from an extra supple variant of the material. The latter informed roomy, high-waisted pants and oversized jackets, here treated in a brownish, washed-out effect in a loose nod to the natural colors seen when landing in Sardinia, said Marras.
Other easy-to-approach pieces included striped poplin separates overprinted with gold flowers or those covered in Marras’ own sketches of Alghero, making for lively postcards to wear.