Marni dives deep for spring summer

It feels a natural progression that Marni designer Consuelo Castiglione’s love of high-tech fabrics should eventually lead the house to be inspired by the occasions where you would need such materials. For spring summer, this was realised in a scuba/swimming hybrid of neoprene tunics and wet suit knee-length shorts topped with nude leather swimming caps.

Marni’s talent for layering and colour-blocking was still very much in evidence with circle prints tops and coral skirts with mint leather jackets. A shell-like frill asymmetrically hemmed along the bottom of tops and dresses to support the sea reference and rubber-soled sandals were designed to be practical above being lovely.

Drawstring hem cagoules and flower appliqué gauze dresses will stand the test of time for those not interested in the swimmer aesthetic. This Marni show was example of Italian designers pushing the experimental envelope – a rarity – but the down/up side to this (depending on your view) is that it becomes less commercial. For many there will be a few too many literal pieces to work on the shop floor.