Summer is not about a destination; it’s about a spirit. On a voyage to the Cyclades, Vanessa Bruno brought back a Mediterranean palette of vivid blues, creamy whites, bright yellows and ochre. But that’s where the geographic accuracy ends, as the designer sourced fabrics from Belgium, Japan or Morocco, using them with equal gusto – she’s not met a fabric with an artisanal hand she didn’t like – for roomy vests, boxy blousons and maxidresses.
Summer souvenirs to grab included a sleeveless vest that hit a middle note between kimono and caftan, striped tailored shorts, and a pretty cotton voile dress edged with geometric designs and a belt of hand-knotted pom-poms. There was something of the Seventies world traveler, folklore pared down but with arts and crafts in clear focus.
Of course, her designs don’t stop when the summer does, so her clothes translate well into a post-break wardrobe. Imagine unpacking those peasant blouses with hand smocking and pairing them with workwear-inspired trousers, or offsetting the crispness of a striped blue man’s shirt with roped wedges. A wrap dress in weighty tan canvas would work anywhere. A buttercup blouse tucked into shorts said it all: If anyone has bottled unfussy bohemia, it’s Bruno.