Max Mara pre fall 2020

Let’s see… I guess the easiest way to say this is that the collection is chic, wearable, appealing, somewhat minimal, slick, with a great color range and oh did I forget to say urbane, feminine and classy… not with a K.

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The clothes speak for themselves; the restrained yet beautiful color palette including jewel tones is a case in point as to what will appeal to their clientele… no trendy shit,  no gimmicks, no political statements, no manifestos… just exquisitely made clothes for women of discerning taste who want to be envied and stared at!

 

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PS... id be lying if I didn’t notice or say there is more than a whiff of vintage YSL within but who cares when it's skillfully adapted within a collection… 

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Max Mara Spring 2020

Imagine that after NYFW and LFW Max Mara appears without a costume without the overdone diversity issue and with clothes meant to be worn. Simplicity with a slight military feel and yet imagine a spring collection with spectator shoes! Well it’s practically a revelation these days.

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Do i think this collection is fabulous?  Well, no but I know wearable salable urbane clothes when I see them. Clothes for women who appreciate quality and style without all the bells and whistles we have been blinded by for far too long.

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A restrictive color palette and yet so very spring... it’s almost hard to believe that you see a collection that actually looks like the season it is meant to be. Max Mara was never meant to set the world on fore  but it has always been a hallmark for style and chic for those who grasp those ephemeral qualities which seem to have disappeared from most runways and replace by look at me, spectacle and worst of all.. The very deadly trendy!

 

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So here is what happens when you dial it down and still keep it on the fashion map………. Simplicity for the most part and at times even minimal… how refreshing!

Max Mara fall 2019 Milan

Ah yes, I remember it well! REAL CLOTHES!

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What I seem to remember is beautifully executed and designed clothes for women of all ages who want to present themselves as chic, urbane and slick women of the world. Max Mara Fall 2019 embraces what was and captures what is…. Well the beautiful parts of what is anyway.

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The collection stands alone as it is not a clown show, a freak show or seemingly a student competition... It is the epitome of a precise look that so many of us grew up on in this business; Fashion presented as fashion and not fashion to gawk at or to espoused about by the designer.

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Do not think the collection is nostalgic or retro because what it is is a collection that has been massaged and morphed to look totally modern without changing the MO of the brand.

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What a relief to know that there are some brands that actually want to attract clients and sell clothes rather than hope for a photo with some D list “it” girl and a lot of markdowns. There is a reason that Max Mara has withstood the  test of time and the ever changing winds and whims of fashion so look at it and be reminded when there were more of these and less of the clowns!

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Please note NOT A FEATHER, A RUFFLE OR A PIECE OF LACE IN SIGHT! And yes I could have lived without the saddle bags belt!

Max Mara spring 2019

If you take away some of the patent leather, the suede leg warmers and some of the overworked twisting and ruching in some pieces you would have a collection of modern clothes for woman to WEAR! What came to mind here is that firstly the  collection looks a bit too fallish and second of all this is that this is what Burberry might have looked like if Tisci wasn’t so prissy, safe or over the top.

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 The reptilian ruffles are a bit tired by now as are the hem treatments but within the collection there are some totally soigné elegant pieces that should have the Max Mara clientele swooning…. and oh yeah the ruffle belt thing … tired and over with!!

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 I don’t care much for that below the knee length as I find it unflattering on models no less on real people; overall there is a lot worse out there than this and  if anything this brand remains a true fashion brand without leaping over the line toward what they think is trendy fashion or trying to follow the flock.

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 PS….  On final perusal there might have been few less one shoulder looks since that has never been a strong seller to women of any age!