LFW SS 20 – 16Arlington Forte Forte Forte!

British Luxury brand 16Arlington transport you back to their Italian roots for their Spring Summer 20 collection – specifically 1960’s Italy, during the reign of pop legend Raffaella Carrá, their long-term muse and icon. Delving into the world of the iconic show girl, 16Arlington have playfully fused their signature minimalistic aesthetic with the high octane, feel good glamour of the 60’s.

Playing heavily with volume, and the idea of pieces sitting away from the body, the designers have experimented with fully cocooned dresses; hand sewn struzzo feathers, dip dyed in ombré pink to red and lilac to yellow delicately fall away from the body to give extreme form. Elsewhere, hand dyed chiffon drapes hang long and loose, tied effortlessly around the neck and cascading downwards to the floor. Movement is explored through beaded fringing, with heavily embroidered evening gowns and catsuits swirled with continuous black and silver beads.

Juxtaposing the delicate chiffons and ombre colour palette, gunmetal leather hot pants sit alongside strong black and white leather looks, hand cut and stitched into 60’s optic patterns, bring the collection firmly back to current day. A floor length leather trench coat, featuring the brand’s signature oversized collar, work with accentuated flares and feathered mini dresses. With a nod to another Italian legend, Emilio Pucci, psychedelic prints appear again in lame 3 piece tailored trouser suits, encapsulating the brand’s notion of igniting the party girl in everyone.

16Arlington’s Spring Summer 20 offering strongly reinforces the idea that their collections are designed for women with a London energy, who are the life and soul of the party and exude a certain confidence. The pair’s Italian heritage offers an added substance to the London aesthetic with the Raffealla Carrá references enhancing the glamour.

Famed for her three hour long, live television broadcasts of “Buonasera, Raffaella,” known colloquially by Carrá as “non-stop fun”, Raffaella sang live with guests including Ella Fitzgerald. Transcending from television to film, Raffaella became adored globally, from Italy to Spain, South America and beyond.

Original 1960s eyewear from Oliver Goldsmith and shoes by Dorateymur finesse the world created by the designers; immerse yourself in 16Arlington’s 1960’s Italy.