Here comes the sun
Power dressing with a dreamy, steamy summer vibe? Altuzarra’s SS19 collection is just what your wardrobe is crying out for
If long, cold winter months have left you craving sunshine and mood-enhancing pops of color, desperate to pack away your knits and coats and swap them for bare legs and some stellar dresses, then Altuzarra’s joyful SS19 collection is just the antidote. These are clothes not just created with warmer weather in mind, but inspired by it. “I wanted to capture the feeling of being in love during the summer – of happiness and elation, but also of vulnerability and fragility, and the inherent tension and thrill that comes with first love,” says Joseph Altuzarra. The Paris-born, New York-based designer knows a thing or two about dreamy summer days; as a teenager he spent his summers in Italy, and it is those memories, as well as the influence of cult coming-of-age movies like Call Me By Your Name and Stealing Beauty, that weave throughout the collection.
The label marks its tenth anniversary this year – a decade since Altuzarra set up shop with his truly modern, utterly desirable take on power dressing. He has a canny knack for creating clothes that have a seductive edge but make women feel confident the second they slip them on, and it is that balancing act that has made him a favorite with discerning and stylish women from Emma Stone and Evan Rachel Wood to Carine Roitfeld and the Duchess of Sussex. It’s also what gives his latest creations their appeal: polished pieces with an effortless, undone feel that can tip from city-appropriate to vacation-ready with a spot of clever styling.
“I wanted the collection to evoke a garden of sensual delight, lush and dazzling, drenched in sunlight and echoing with the sound of waves
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Rainbow-bright shades of lemon yellow, burnt orange, baby pink and deep blue will really make an impact when they hit your closet – and the silhouettes will work hard for you. The swishy cut-away dresses are just the thing to see you through the whirl of weddings that the season is sure to bring, before you wear them after dark on your summer vacation. And the irresistibly elegant pencil skirts will look as good with a white shirt and a pair of sling-backs in the office as they will worn over your bikini beachside. “I wanted the collection to evoke a garden of sensual delight, lush and dazzling, drenched in sunlight and echoing with the sound of waves,” says Altuzarra. And isn’t that just how you’d like your closet to feel right now?