For his No. 21 show, Alessandro Dell’Acqua stuck to his tried-and-tested formula of simple, practical clothes rendered exceptional through lavish embellishment.
This should not be read as a rebuke: The designer has perfected the Milanese art of twisting the mundane to nonchalantly stylish effect.
This time, he melded military and grunge elements with couturelike details. Cue a beige ribbed tank top and skirt set off by a pair of the extravagant duchesse satin mules that punctuated the display (with their oversize bows, they threatened at times to steal the show).
With finger-dried hair and lips smudged with a deep berry stain, models paraded in the designer’s signature combination of oversize shirts and midi-length skirts. A sheer rust-colored shirt that provided flashes of the model’s tattoos was belted and paired with a red lace skirt and turquoise satin mules.
Plaid patterns were a recurring element, appearing on everything from a blue organza pinafore dress with cabochon-embellished straps to the red-and-white crop top that Aymeline Valade wore to close the show. The concise lineup struck the perfect balance between elegance and ease.