Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVII

1 8 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Salvatore Ferragamo Women’s Spring/Summer 2015 Collection T he House of Ferragamo might be most accurately called a triple threat. With a rich history that dates back to the 1920s, when Salvatore Ferragamo emigrated to California to craft high-end footwear for Hollywood royalty, the brand has always been known for its iconic shoes. In the intervening decades, the brand’s mastery of leather led it to branch out into handbags and other accessories, as well as ready-to-wear clothing. For spring/summer 2015, Salvatore Ferragamo serves up its trademark craftsmanship and construction sense alongside a thoroughly modern design aesthetic. Ready-to-Wear For spring/summer 2015, the iconic facets of the Salvatore Ferragamo signature style are reimagined by Massimiliano Giornetti across a range of womenswear. Playing with textures – whether cut, frayed, or even melted – the collection experiments with craftsmanship and a sense of homemade uniqueness. Materials and patterns meet with perfect imperfection, but always seeking balance. The three-dimensional allure of varied surfaces is expanded to showcase the purity of precise and vibrant tailoring. Giornetti’s silhouette is elegant with an almost invisible waistline, whilst meticulous lines flow closely around the body. Knitwear dresses defined by fine ribbing and crossed by neat bands create density and dimension. Tops and skirts are marked by sculptural details possible only through the skill of the atelier; pouch coats and short capes fastened at the waist with reptile leather belts are crafted from structural woven fabrics that also recall the original Salvatore’s use of mixed materials. Elements of the collection hint at what is unseen: halter necklines revealing shoulders or voluminous trousers allowing a glimpse of the calf. In keeping with the themes offered in rest of Ferragamo’s spring/summer offerings, the colour effects of Murano glass are explored and transformed into jacquard prints; animal-print motifs merge with geometrical patterns in a dynamic graphic and chromatic fusion. The collection is permeated with warmth, almost as if to capture the process of creating Murano glass: natural colours are broken up by sudden bright fleck of colour and metallic elements that suggest metamorphosis. Although it references past archives and incorporates a number of signature motifs, the cumulative impact of the entire collection is completely contemporary and modern. It’s Ferragamo’s pure understated elegance, created with the highest levels of craftsmanship, and it feels as fresh and relevant today as ever.