Who says that shows in Milan aren’t entertaining enough? Luisa Beccaria rose to the challenge for her Spring collection, staging a game of badminton in the city’s Palazzo Reale courtyard, transformed for the occasion into a lush manicured lawn fit for an English country manor. Models seemed to enjoy playing in the sun, hitting the shuttlecock with thin, elegant rackets; in pure Beccaria fashion, the net was made not with ordinary rope, but handmade white crocheted lace. “It’s like what happens in real life,” mused Beccaria. “You try always to hit the ball, sending it back to the other player.”
Beccaria and daughter Lucilla have to be given credit for a consistent vision, which encompasses not only fashion but also their entire lifestyle. They are the best ambassadors for their label, living the kind of life their dresses are made for. Yet behind their dreamy, ethereal concoctions of tulle, fil coupe, and embroidered organza, there’s a lot of care and hard work. And life isn’t just an endless series of garden parties, debutante balls, and royal weddings, for which they design sensational numbers of exquisite allure. Their collections also offer more sensible daywear options, obviously filtered through the Beccarias’ romantic lens. For Spring, there were fresh, short scalloped dresses in broderie anglaise; prim pleated skirts in practical stretch cotton; and little sundresses with ruffled skirts in crisp poplin, cut in roomy yet feminine shapes that could fit diverse body types. “We dress mothers and daughters, different generations,” said Lucilla. “Our creations are beautifully age-friendly.” Diversity was also an issue the designers addressed head-on this season, casting fresh-faced models of various ethnicities, who all looked ravishing in their creations. It made for a joyous celebration of modern feminine grace.
