For resort, Alessandro Dell’Acqua dipped back into his bag of tricks, tweaking the recipe rather than reinventing it. In today’s retail climate, he argued, customers need a reason to walk into stores, but not so much novelty that they lose sight of what they came for. The balance lies somewhere between surprise and familiarity: a recognizable signature, seasoned with just enough fresh spice to keep things appealing.
Being Neapolitan, Dell’Acqua might appreciate a culinary comparison. Think of his style as a classic pizza margherita with an extra flourish of mozzarella, a more generous scattering of basil, and perhaps olives and lemon zest. Richer, tastier, a touch more indulgent, but still a pizza margherita. Because some lines should never be crossed: pineapple topping remains firmly beyond the pale.
Dell’Acqua has a knack for smuggling a dash of extravagance into the classics, and his contrast driven styling can make even kooky combinations look cool. “I’ve often blurred the lines between the masculine and the feminine, but this season I wanted to bring them together in a way that felt less like peaceful coexistence and more like an engaging dialogue,” he said. Resort wasn’t about gender codes sharing a table; it was about making them argue their case. Hyper-feminine flourishes like lace, ruffles, and delicate embellishments were dialed up, so they could spar with the sharper tropes of menswear.
Lingerie-inspired tops, embroidered details, and tulle and silk skirts were paired with canvas cabans; nylon anoraks and tailored staples, striped shirting and chunky cotton knits created a play of delicacy versus structure. “It’s femininity that refuses to play a supporting role or remain discreetly in the background,” he said. “Instead, it steps forward, entirely at ease alongside strength and discipline.”
