To mark the end of his collaboration with Emilio Pucci and the start of a new chapter in his personal and professional life, Massimo Giorgetti dyed his hair peroxide blond. The look suits him just fine; he could easily be mistaken for the hip frontman of one of the indie garage bands he loves so much. He didn’t do it to be deemed cool, however; he’s far too authentic and grounded, and he takes life in stride.
Color has always been a strong component of the designer’s style, and the Pucci experience honed his chromatic sensibility with a dash of sophistication. That flair for color, his instinctive appreciation for both contemporary music and art, and a keen sense of fun are the canvas that grounds MSGM’s aesthetic.
Giorgetti has recently found himself fascinated (like so many others) by Ugo Rondinone’s spectacular installation Seven Magic Mountains in the Mojave Desert, which looks like fluorescent meteorites stacked in an arcane children’s playground. Their colors inspired the collection, together with the severe geometry of John McCracken’s work. The designer visited his exhibition at David Zwirner in New York and was blown away—so much so, he reproduced some of the artist’s minimalist sculptures as props in his lookbook. Their polished surfaces were lacquered using the same techniques used in surfboard construction, which leads us straight to another theme that Giorgetti holds dear: Southern California surf culture. Throw in a touch of Banksy’s explosive black graffiti, and his heady mix of inspirations was complete.
Despite the plethora of disparate references, a sense of focus was apparent in the compact lineup. Street-inspired and sportif elements were reworked with oversize proportions and fabrics mash-ups, and a riot of acid colors and abstract floral prints gave a jolt of energy to feminine shapes. Exaggerated ruching snaked along minidresses or techno moiré skinny pants, ending at the back of matching high-heeled pumps, while macro flounces graced a voluminous jungle green evening top paired with black jersey track pants featuring a tape logo on the sides. Elsewhere, hooded jackets boasted bright floral prints, and sporty knitwear came in intarsias or with surf-inspired detailing. With their hyperbolic, loud volumes, they seemed to scream for attention; yet, they could be perfectly at ease in urban landscapes, where they could be of help lightening up even the most despondent, intractable mood.
