Review of Giada Fall 2022 Fashion Show
Gentility, Beauty, and Strength
By Lizzy Bowring
The mesmerizing magic of the Pinacoteca Braidense di Brera in Milan once again held us as willing captives to view the A/W 22 Giada collection.
In the hands of its Creative Director, Gabriele Colangelo, the beauty and timelessness of this presentation is even more powerful as the brand continues to evolve. “
Understanding the sensitive and thoughtful nature of Gabriele Colangelo is tantamount to comprehending the evocative thought process behind each unique piece.
Gabriele draws on the sensitivity of the world around us, absorbing the nuances of nature and combining them with profound messages. For A/W 22, his inspiration found depth from a recent journey to Helsinki. Here, the colors of the northern lights, the reflection of the water, and the grey-blue drew parallels to his metamorphosis. The presentation revolved around these beautiful premises – as he articulated,
Art is the imitation of nature – the translation of nature gives me happiness and an inspiring dream”
It was both poetic and passionate, the clothes conveying a true feminine sensibility that was delicate and strong –
A flower amongst the rocks – representing fragility, beauty, and strength”
A flower emerging between the rocks was transposed and delicately placed on languid silhouettes, exuding strength and power by its singular being.
Here too, colours and prints were illuminated by the connection with nature – a volcanic landscape, the nordic light, the face and colors of the rocks.
Beige, white, warm brown, mineral blue, amber, black; these hues flowed in accessible harmony with the texture of the materials – cashmere, wool, organza, and silk.”
There is no fuss in these pieces; the designs speak volumes by their streamlined simplicity – long, flowing, or short and revealing yet with a fragility that exudes a woman’s confidence in herself.
It was evident that Gabriele drew on his love of architecture; the tailored sartorial cuts were gently softened with a discreet sensuality while the construction of the shoulder line was kept soft and fluid without losing the dexterity of the cut. New shapes appeared in the neckline, again, revealing the beauty of a woman’s body unexpectedly. Gabriele has always stressed the importance of details in clothing. Sensual accents appearing subtly at the back of the clothes are just as important – “bare shoulders, plunging necklines, were all counterbalanced by sharp cuts while transparencies added another layer of delicacy.
“The unexpected peek of skin, it all plays into the innate clever and artful craftsmanship of Gabriele Colangelo. There is no doubt that we are witnessing the growth of a truly creative designer; after all, fashion is another form of art lest we forget”!
Elsewhere, the silhouette remained long, and streamlined. Jackets with square necklines were worn as short dresses and oversized turtle necks enveloped shoulders. Coats gave way to flowing printed pleats, all with an air of sublime fineness and held in place with luxurious materials.
As for the jewelry, the fall pieces had a zen-like appeal, surfaces as weather-worn rocks but smooth to touch; there were irregular pearls, crafted into necklaces and earrings, while the leather totes came with the chromatic cut of crystals. These special elements are all part of the continuing aesthetic – placing jewelry in places not expected,
Where this becomes a beautiful discovery and makes the dress a jewel in itself.”
This gentle, beautiful, and powerful collection gave a sense of just that and more – as a flower growing between the rocks, Giada is no longer in bud but in full bloom.