Dressing Uppy Down

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Top to toe total matchy matchy looks.  Clothes that apparently have transforming qualities.  Two things that have had a bad rep in my past books. Somewhere, lodged deep in my brain is a list of things riddled with negative connotations and along with film posters with white backgrounds and red fonts and stinky cheese, these two sartorial post-its sit there waiting to be proven good.

Well Roberta Furlanetto has done it.  I think I may have omitted her from my Dover Street Market wish list even though she is stocked there along with other esteemed stores such as Corso Como and L'Eclaireur.  Me thinks it would be a little bit optimistic to find a Furlanetto frock on the rails so I'll look forward to her A/W 10-11 collection instead.  Like previous collections, this Milan-based designer, who has collaborated with Lacroix, Dior and Alaia in the past, has articulated finery and precious gowns with a daywear approach or vice versa.  All of the layered ruching and tiers of ruffles are given a practical approach so that the distinction between daywear and eveningwear is purposely blurry.

Back to matchy matchy and transforming garments though.  Furlanetto has specifically added matching leggings, gloves and muffs that are intended to complete the monochromatic outfits in blush, gold, black and camel.  This is the kind of striking top to toe that I don't mind doing, down to the flats which incidentally emphasise the casual possibilities of these clothes.  I'll have no shame buying chicken livers at Morrisons wearing nude organza ruffles so long as other shoppers see I have all the intentions of REAL grocery shopping when they get down to the flat sensible brogues.  The transformational aspects can be seen in the jackets which apparently can be taken apart to form a gilet and a bolero and on dresses with removable sleeves.  Given the sleek cutting that is apparent in these images, I'm sure that the flat pack nature of these clothes is ACTUALLY functional and not just a showmanship ruse.

Another striking feature about Furlanetto's work is that she moulds her pieces on the body as opposed to cutting from patterns which is impressive given that these aren't shapeless pieces of work that overly rely on drape.  With a lot of pinching, folding and tucking, metallised textiles are scrunched up to emulate the cuts and facets of gemstones glittering away whilst grounded by some flat feet…

Roberto

…speaking of which, Furlanetto's current S/S 10 oversized tasseled brogues are completely the right shoe to be bringing her beautiful textile work down to the ground… 

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20 comments

  1. I love that cape with the cut out arm holes! The brogues are also very tasty <3
    skiepies.blogspot.com/

  2. with so much organza, textures, shape and etc. I love how the designer stuck with such a neutral palette.
    most of all, i love how many pieces are practical enough for everyday wear.

  5. Something about the cut, the draping (ish) of that first beige dress is so beautiful! The shoes have just enough point to look elegant rather than harsh-I usually don’t like pointed toe shoes

  6. I LOVE these looks … they’re visual confections, that I know would be amazing to have against my skin. Matchy, matchy has it’s place, but I really prefer pops of the unexpected in an outfit that really says who the wearer is! After all … isn’t that what’s so beautiful about fashion? Making your own statement, through another person’s creations. Thanks for the blog. xo

  7. I absolutely love Roberta’s work. In fact I just featured her SS 2010 collection. I’ve also featured her work in the past. Her PR people always send me her lookbook and it never fails to amaze. She is just one of those designers who do the tulle and organza well.

  9. I don’t know why I’ve never visited your blog before but it is amazing! I am definitely adding you to my blogroll. I love all the ruffles in this, especially the red dress
    -shoelesssimone.blogspot.com

  15. I love all the looks. not too girly, not too dressy.
    those brogues are amazing – they kinda remind me of chinese handicraft lanterns.

  20. hi all,
    i like your article,
    thanks for view this article.
    *******************************
    Jeff
    Fashion

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