It was a menagerie at Alberta Ferretti’s Pre-Fall presentation. Wild cats prowled across cropped jackets and miniskirts, and a snake slithered down the front of a coat. Zebra and leopard prints abounded, and there were fur coats galore. Much of this was accessorized with knee-high boots in patchworks of yet more animal prints. It made for a rather heavy-looking lineup, especially considering the fact that these clothes ship at the beginning of the summer.
Inevitably, the lighter parts of the collection had more appeal. Frilly little dresses have long been an essential link in the Ferretti DNA, and here a white frock trimmed at the bodice in black lace and a pair of silky black dresses bisected and trimmed in yet more lace stood out among the best pieces. Elsewhere, the designer explored rich prints with a vaguely Art Nouveau effect; they decorated daywear separates and long, diaphanous dresses. Other evening numbers were more elaborate, like a cocktail dress with ombré-dyed silk embroidery and matching paillette encrustations on the bodice and hem. It was a more successful showcase of Ferretti’s flair for embellishment than the animalia.
