Brazilian designer Barbara Casasola transported us into her native country by celebrating her homeland and the Brazilian woman. The setting of her SS16 show for LFW which had cotton string-door curtains hanging in the entrance to each room where the guests were seated and an arrangement of chestnuts, palm tree and chestnut leaves served to remind the guest of the South American country.
As the music with Portuguese lyrics filled the Serpentine Gallery where the show took place, models with crimped hair and eyes framed by a white eyeliner strolled down the runway in flat black leather sandals adorned with gold and silver earrings and pendants in the shape of a hand inspired by Brazilian talismans for protection and fertility called “figas”.
For SS16, Casasola concentrated on knitwear. Silky long slip-on dresses and off-the-shoulder gowns with contrasting pleated chiffon bottoms in nacreous white, black and maroon fitted like a second skin. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the designer incorporated jumpers, maxi skirts worn with knitted bandeau tops and dresses in earthy tones of ivory and olive green using an open weave.
Striped smooth figure hugging strapless knit dresses and crop tops worn with either slouchy tailored trousers or matching long skirts continued the knitted theme, finished by a couple of short-sleeved jumpsuits with matching scarves and delicate see through skirts.
Another focus of the collection was tailoring. Suits and long spring coats in grey, tobacco brown, pinstriped cream and silk ivory were showcased on the rainy afternoon accompanied by light airy shirts.
by Sara Hesikova
Images courtesy of A.I. PR