Max Mara Takes to the Sea This Spring

They had us at Bluebeard.

Max Mara’s program notes for their spring ’16 collection announced that “ships and seafarers, love and longing, hazard and hope” were the key inspirations behind a collection full of artful order and a stylish return to (relative) simplicity.

Bold stripes cued classic ideas, and an overt attempt to channel Jean Cocteau’s illustrations and to reference military and naval tradition allowed for a black and white palette that pretty much yielded only to blue, blue and red.

Here’s more on nautical knots, hand-blocked prints, long-line jackets and the crisp white promise of ships at sail.

New York DJ Johnny Dynell and British illustrator Brian Grimwood came together to create a scene for the collection; Grimwood also contributed T-shirt and duffel bag designs that riff on the theme.

Seafaring rope was a graphic reference point as well as a fastening tool, and stars—a sailor’s best bet for navigation and guidance—gave a spirited pop.

We love a good Max Mara topper, and spring’s have ultra-clean lines but lots of visual presence. Also shown were jackets with plenty of polished gold buttons and peacoats with subtle feminine detailing.

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—Laura Cassidy

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