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.
“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.
The Serafina dress in white silk was a standout, the rushed waist and cut out draped shoulder, reminiscent of 1930’s Hollywood glamour.
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.
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.
“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.
