Alessandra Rich’s presentation took place in her brand’s expansive Art Deco showroom, featuring black-and-white marble floors and opulent gilded finishes. The setting framed her elegant spring collection, designed for women with a packed social calendar filled with cocktails and soirées. Rich is known for weaving a naughty edge into her seemingly prim and proper dresses. “My collections are for women who are seriously sensual,” she remarked.
The hallmark of Rich’s aesthetic lay in the tension between the bourgeois surface of her designs and the provocative spirit simmering beneath. Delicate white lace or piqué collarettes, dainty bows, and soft ruffles were deliberately juxtaposed with silhouettes with an ingenue twist. For daytime wear, Rich’s fluid silk crepe dresses, featuring pussy bows and pleated skirts, were subtly subverted by daring front slits, tempering their demure appeal with an edge of sensuality. A masculine pantsuit was introduced as a counterpoint to more dramatic evening pieces, overlaid with layers of black Chantilly lace that evoked a seductive ésprit lingerie.
