Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVI

B ot t e g a V e n e t a 1 6 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Bottega Veneta Autumn/Winter 2014 F or Autumn/Winter 2014/2015, Bottega Veneta presents a collection of subtle strength and confidence, reflecting perfectly the woman who wears these sumptuous clothes. The overall silhouette is streamlined and linear, yet the clothes are unrestrictive, allowing for freedom of movement. In other words – it’s the irresistible combination of ultimate glamour and extreme wearability. Pale tones dominate the season’s palette, including mist, light grey, sand and a beige pink. These light, powdery shades are occasionally offset by decisive touches of burned red, chartreuse, purple and emerald green. The pairing of a full skirt in chartreuse, for example, a hue most often seen in Spring lines, with a wonderful grey high-neck jumper is a refreshingly clean modern play on mixing textures and colours. Materials encompass a range of textures, finishes and weights, but are uniformly dense and opaque, without any transparency. On the upper part of the body the fabric is cut close, creating a strong line. And whilst the rest of the silhouette appears to be cut similarly close to the body, this actually turns out to be something of an illusion. Upon movement, a variety of unexpected pleats and slits suddenly reveal themselves, allowing the woman to walk with unrestricted ease. At times these unusual pleats and slits also bring new dimensions to the clothes by revealing hidden strokes of bold colour. Again, it’s this subtle interplay of dimensions and unexpected bursts of colour that add illusion and understated intrigue to these supremely refined garments. Given this motif of subtle illusion, it’s no surprise the range of sleeveless dresses call to mind Impressionist and Expressionist paintings. A swirling, ruched pattern evokes Monet; a series of fine lines of various widths and abrupt curves echoes a woodcut by Munch. The clean, elegant lines of the garment allow the trompe l’oeil patterns and luxurious fabrics to take centre stage, to endlessly fascinating effect. The Bottega Veneta bag of the season hits a similar note of contrast, and figures prominently with the overall look of the collection. Top-handle in style, the bags appear almost as if they were printed, but instead the patterns are created through the natural textures of exotic skins, and often rendered in striking patchwork colour and materials combinations. The shoe, meanwhile, is more subdued, designed expressly to finish the silhouette, with a heel that is narrow and high. Lending the feeling of a highly refined suede glove, at times the shoes finish with an element of geometric minimalism. Impactful jewellery, in antiqued sterling and pink sterling, takes its inspiration from the workings of a meticulously crafted timepiece, with a compact accumulation of delicate yet precise wheels and gears. “The collection is about movement, energy and confidence,” says Creative Director Tomas Maier. “We are always thinking about what clothes should do for a woman and her personal experience of them.” Personally, we think wearing the new Bottega Veneta collection is something every woman will want to experience.