As we find ourselves in the heart of winter in New York City, with temperatures barely reaching the double digits, it’s easy to long for the warmth of balmy sunsets and summer evenings dining al fresco. The city is shrouded in darkness before 5 pm, and the biting wind around the World Trade Center forces us to bundle up as we make our way home from work. However, in just a few short months, those long July nights will be upon us, and Mary Katrantzou has created a collection that perfectly captures the essence of summer.
Hailing from London but now calling Greece her home, Katrantzou has drawn inspiration from the Mediterranean for her latest collection. Spending time between Athens and Florence, where she serves as the creative director of leather goods and accessories for Bulgari, the designer has infused her collection with a distinctly Mediterranean flavor. The delicate embroidered scalloped edges on a halter neckline evoke images of neatly stacked napkins in a villa overlooking the sea, while gingham checks on stretch jersey dresses bring to mind a picturesque picnic blanket adorned with fil coupé flowers.
One of the standout motifs in the collection is a colorful swirling pattern inspired by Murano glass, a nod to the upcoming Venice Biennale dinners that will surely be a highlight of the summer social calendar. Each piece in the collection exudes a sense of elegance and sophistication, perfect for those warm summer nights spent dining under the stars.
