Romantic decadence: like a Pre-Raphaelite painting for SS19
The elegant forms and faint colours of English artistry from the mid-nineteenth century come to life in garments of the season, graceful and weightless. Not only are they clothes to wear but they also tell a story, with a dreamy and nostalgic mood.
An imaginary world that we can also recreate using bows, longuette skirts and prints inspired by natural landscapes.
Blooming fields, rose gardens, young maidens that are reflected in streams transformed into extemporaneous dressing rooms where you can style your hair and exchange whispers. Also in magical woods where fairy creatures live and ancient myths take shape.
The world of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, those of John Waterhouse and Millais, with their dose of romanticism and mystery have always inspired designers and catwalks, as well as feeding the imagination of singers like Loreena McKennith and Florence Welch, who are fascinated by this dual soul: the light and the darkness typical of nature.
How then, can we resist the soft drapery of garments swayed by an imaginary wind? To the graceful fabrics that make themselves seen under braided hair with leaves? Sleeves get longer and wider, extravagant necklines and prints bloom with the arrivals of the first sun of March. The Gucci woman safely steps into the ‘garden’ of the brand with longuette dresses where red roses are born, or she chooses a blouse with a bow and a skirt strictly of the same pattern, while at the same time coexisting with her gothic side, made of velvet and dark colours already seen in the Cruise 2019. The sensual Dolce&Gabbana lady prefers longer dresses with which she can dance in the meadows and even her sheath dresses are covered in botanical drawings. The intellectual à la Valentino chooses micro-prints and blocks of soft colours, like lilac and white on smooth and sweet lines.
And the accessories? How can we complete a look so rich in references and visual context while remaining in character I hear you say? Choose mid heels and retro forms, slingbacks or pinkish silver sandals and micro bags in a shade of powder pink, such as those proposed by Valetex and Prada. With shapes that are never shouted, but always whispered, you too can enter the world that exists between art and reality, between the rays of the sun and shadows of the trees.
