Make Your Mark
The latest collection from Akris offers up perfectly polished pieces that you’ll want to wear your own way
Albert Kriemler isn’t just the creative director of Swiss luxury fashion house Akris. He’s also an integral part of its heritage: not only has he been at the helm of the label for almost four decades, an almost unheard of feat in the ever-changing fashion landscape, he’s also the grandson of its founder, Alice Kriemler-Schoch. It’s almost 100 years since the label began when she started sewing polka-dot aprons in her small studio, and in that time the Akris has become synonymous with quiet, meticulously considered luxury, with clothes that are impeccably crafted from beautiful, carefully chosen fabrics.
Kriemler has long mastered the art of balancing those timeless pieces that form the building blocks of most women’s wardrobes with a flair for the statement-making. His talent is for designing truly beautiful clothes; discreet, elegant and perfectly polished pieces that look good the moment that you put them on. And while he knows how to whip up a show-stopping gown or print-heavy piece of outerwear, it’s the understated, elevated day-to-day pieces that will do the heavy lifting in your wardrobe – if Akris isn’t already your go-to for boardroom-appropriate pieces that blend confidence with sophistication, then it soon will be. No wonder the label has struck a chord with discerning women around the globe, including Lily Collins, Michelle Obama and Priyanka Chopra.
“Akris has become synonymous with quiet, meticulously considered luxury, with clothes that are impeccably crafted from beautiful, carefully chosen fabrics
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The FW19 collection centers around the idea of self-expression and making your mark; a huge art fan, Kriemler looked to Richard Artschwager’s All in Good Time, a series of exclamation marks in horsehair (long an Akris signature) and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s color-inspired Farbtafel prints to steer the patterns and spirit of the clothes. The collection is packed out with the kind of investment pieces that, once in your closet, you’ll want to reach for again and again. There’s the ultra-flattering, wear-anywhere navy sweater dress with voluminous silk sleeves that will take you from work to evening out; the blue velvet suit with its high-waisted, wide-legged pants and neatly cut blazer that’s just the thing to add quiet glamour to your day-to-day or, worn with high heels and a dash of red lipstick, to really make an impact after dark; or there’s the heritage checked jacket, the perfect piece to showcase Akris’ knack for precise tailoring, that you’ll want to wear with everything from a midi skirt and boots to a simple tee and jeans. Just add one of the label’s origami-inspired ‘Ai’ shoulder bags and your closet will be complete.