MFW – Aigner S/S 2013 collection

It was in a delightful and busy room in the philological circle of Milan that Christian Beck, chief designer for Aigner, welcomed us to introduce his SS13 womenswear collection.

The collection is for the energetic girl who’s totally in love with her social life, inspired by the lively court of Marie Antoinette of France and by current icons of self-confidence such as the artist Daphne Guinness.

The show opened to 60s cut coats in bright pastel shades; lines were dry and modern, but soft at the same time, and made by fabrics with metallic mesh and decorated with Swarovski pearls.

Suit shirts had huge pointy collars. We saw hot-pants and over-knee skirts and metallic high belts, double buckled, and decorated on the front with stones and gems.

The 70s floral print blouses were made trendy by powerful fluorescent accents. Printed day dresses added a romantic twist to a range of minimalist and practical daily solutions.

As the show closed, we saw evening gowns in flowing chiffon and silk with asymmetric lengths and pleated at the waist in intense colours and macroprints.

Each outfit played on a combination of different materials: knitted pearl, metallic fabrics, delicate chiffon, lace strict, exclusive prints and floral motifs, or on an interesting use of a rich palette of pastel and bright colours such as almond, caramel, champagne, lilac and apricot combined with the most intense magenta, rust, indigo and green.

Accessories were distinguished by excellent materials, high technical skill and innovative design. Bags in vibrant colours are customised by drilling, lacquered studs, embossed 3D effects, and medals and decorations borrowed from the equestrian world and made with inserts of ostrich or python leather.

Overall, it’s an attractive collection which fully expresses a renewed and sparkling joie de vivre.

Laura De Vittori