Translated by
Nicola Mira
Published
Sep 20, 2018
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N°21’s simple, sophisticated dark ladies

Translated by
Nicola Mira
Published
Sep 20, 2018

Alessandro Dell’Acqua has designed for his N°21 label one of his most triumphant collections. For the Spring/Summer 2019, the Neapolitan designer decided to go back to the most basic, classic staples of a woman’s wardrobe, such as the simplest little dresses, which he then sublimated by using rare, precious fabrics, never losing the thread and staying focused on essentials.


An ostrich feather harness beautifies a straightforward back dress at N°21 - PixelFormula


To make his point, (and to be absolutely clear about it), Dell’Acqua opened the catwalk show on Tuesday with a series of total-black, no-frills looks: twelve dark ladies clad in short dresses or skirts, legs bare, treading the runway on stiletto-heel mules. Each of them wore a distinctive model, which was then replicated in a palette of powder pink and other colours, always in rigorously monochromatic looks.
 
From a pretty silk faille dress with a bow at the back, to a fine knitted top over a straight skirt, or a shining trench-coat in eco-ostrich skin with oversize pockets, a ruched vinyl dress or a slightly sporty zipped nylon jacket: Dell’Acqua explored all the different facets of femininity, from ultra-chic to nonchalant.

Each of these outfits, as if by the touch of a magic wand, was transformed by a detail or accessory, like the thin chain of glittering crystals, draped down the length of the body, which made the lady wearing a top and a straight skirt look suddenly very special. Or a sort of harness in ostrich feathers, transforming even the simplest dress in a stunning evening outfit. And what about the oh-so-chic back-pack, it too in ostrich feathers?
 

Simple is chic at N°21 - PixelFormula


Dell’Acqua, who is also the creative director of Rochas, went for the unexpected by fashioning a series of impeccable suits out of tech fabrics, such as that used to make bras, or by carving out a gaping hole on the back of a domed nylon parka. “A bare back in a typical men’s item has something of an erotic frisson about it,” said the designer backstage.
 
“With the boom of streetwear, we were all a little lost. It's time for designers to start dressing women with fine clothes again,” he added. With such simple yet elegant models, N°21 will certainly be a hit next summer.

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