Walking into the luxury furniture store, Jardan, for Hansen & Gretel’s Resort 20 show I knew we were in for a treat. Surrounded by beautiful interiors, the models glided down the runway in dreamy pastels, cream crochet, shimmery florals and a touch of animal print. “There are definite castaway vibes, bearing a mood of femme liberation, and a touch of nocturnal magic with a dusting of party ensembles,” designer Ainsley Hansen told marie claire before the show, summing up the mood of the collection.
![Hansen & Gretel Resort 20](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/54976/17052019-hansengretel.jpg)
“Inspired by Botticelli’s portrait of Venus” the show celebrated “a woman’s coming of age and her continued expression of Self”. ‘Venus’ was a perfect balance of fun yet sophisticated, offering easy to wear pieces for all occasions.
![Hansen & Gretel floral dress](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/54977/17052019-hansengretel-floral-dress.jpg)
The Serafina dress in white silk was a standout, the rushed waist and cut out draped shoulder, reminiscent of 1930’s Hollywood glamour.
![Hansen & Gretel silk dress](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/54978/17052019-hansengretel-dress.jpg)
The addition of menswear for the first time was a delight, offering staple pieces with a point of difference with subtle prints and coloured stitching.
![Hansen & Gretel Mens](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/54979/17052019-hansengretel-mens.jpg)
The show left me with a sense of nostalgia for the ’90s and 2000s, showcasing how the brand is able to re-invent pieces and make them relevant for today’s audience. Bucket hats, white denim and puff sleeves all made appearances, turning into pieces that will surely (if not already) become must-have items for any summer wardrobe.
![Hansen & Gretel jumpsuit](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/54980/17052019-hansengretel-floral-jumpsuit.jpg)
“Venus is ultimately a spectacle of female adolescence into adulthood, where virginal sheer anglaise swathes our muse in one look, and shapely-suiting sculpts her in the next. This collection has been designed to exult the female form – celebrating a woman’s coming of age and her continued expression of Self. A fashion-scape of floral tributes, feline stripe and stately diamond motif capture the ebb and flow of our modern dame and her prism of personalities,” Hansen added. We’re hooked.