Jean Seberg, the gamine charmer of Jean-Luc Godard’s masterpiece Breathless and unofficial Nouvelle Vague muse, was the inspiration behind the Piazza Sempione Resort collection. Her pixie blonde haircut and her unfussy Breton striped sweater and capri pants were once so famous that Madonna replicated them in her “Papa Don’t Preach” music video. The contemporary superstar Kristen Stewart has been cast in the role of Seberg in the upcoming independent movie Against All Enemies, directed by Benedict Andrews. (Yet beyond her beauty, effortless elegance, and androgynous style, Seberg’s tragic life is a painful reminder of the depression and unhappiness that is often hidden behind a glamorous facade.)
Seberg’s unique mix of Parisian chic and American ease was what Piazza Sempione’s design studio tried to capture in a collection focused on wearable, no-nonsense pieces for day in a lean, minimal silhouette. Shirting was given pride of place, offered in many iterations including crisp striped cotton with a menswear vibe and elegant yet relaxed silk combined with organza. Striped shirtdresses had elongated, comfortable lines, while jackets cut short and boxy and worn with cropped capri pants looked modern and laid-back.
A small graphic motif, inspired by Bauhaus muse and textile designer Anni Albers, graced the cotton jacquard surfaces of sleek pantsuits, fluid day dresses, and trapeze-cut shirt jackets; it was a delicate decorative touch to an otherwise neutral palette of blues, khakis, and pearl grays.
