For Fall 2019, Antonio Berardi looked to the late 60s as inspiration. It was a time of drastic cultural shifts and the fashion industry was straying away from old-school haute couture traditions and more into the rebellious and youth-centric streetwear arena. It was also around the same time that the designer was born, making this referential decade a personal one. And so with freedom and rigor, Berardi constructed an array of floaty evening frocks and mini cocktail dresses that combined the mischievous defiance of the time and the classic elegance it was leaving behind. Weirdly enough, what resulted wasn’t necessarily an ode to the late 60s, but looked more like a parody of the exuberant 80s—still beautiful, nonetheless. This season, the collection was modeled by silver-haired costume designer and Paris-based stylist Catherine Baba, further emphasizing the age versatility of the garments. The black-and-white plaid pantsuit would look just as chic and strong on a twenty-something woman as it will a dame in her fifties. The same goes for the billowy floral maxi dress with a keyhole neckline and exposed shoulders. While it’s a shame there wasn’t that much daywear, this plethora of fabulous frocks was still a commendable effort by Berardi in offering something new to his devoted clientele!
Photo: Courtesy of Antonio Berardi
