Luisa Beccaria is the Milanese wunderkind of Italian pastoral couture. She and her daughter Lucilla Bonaccorsi are at the helm of the fashion house that made its debut in the 1980’s. Their designs are well-known for the ethereal beauty of their flowing dresses, each marked as much by meticulous craftsmanship as by a barefoot ease. To ensure security and consistency Luisa Beccaria chose to showcase her new Spring / Summer 2021 collection through a digital short movie « Know Thyself » shot during lockdown by artist and filmmaker Lola Montes Schnabel at Feudo del Castelluccio, Beccaria’s family estate in Sicily. Besides its cinematographic mastery, the film is a catalyst of innovative 19th century fashion visons each more beautiful than the last. We imagine ourselves evolving among the eclectic characters of the film, putting on Beccaria dresses to go on about their daily chores : baking bread, making almond milk, chatting, painting, dining, hanging out in the forest, in the veranda or at the barn.
With gentle serene music playing in the background, we are shown long, loose-fitting white poplin dresses with scalloped florals embroidered in delicate colors, sequinned evening gown which are more reminiscent of mermaid scales than flashy red carpets. Bohemian coton playsuits and dresses meet immaterial chiffon garments coloured with pigments distilled from Sicilian skies. The collection’s look book which was shot during the filming of Schnabel’s short movie allows us to take a more detailed look at the clothes which are actually freely mixed with pieces from different collections and seasons. The photographs capture moments frozen in time in a series of vignettes that draw inspiration from Pre-Raphaelite paintings. A contemporary « Ophelia » lies in the water dressed in a ravishing lilac Beccaria dress. The timeless repertoire of this SS21 collection full of flimsy floral concoctions is truthful to the romantic and decadent charm of Luisa Beccaria’s sartorial signature. Most importantly, it makes it available and wearable to 21st century fashion enthusiasts.
