During what should have been the normal bustle of NYFW, designer Chiara Boni chose to honor her Italian heritage and host her eponymous brand’s SS21 runway show virtually along the Tuscan coastline in Forte Dei Marmi.
Boni grew up vacationing at luxury oceanfront resort Augustus Hotel, which now frames her collection of cream, tan, and beige neutral ensembles against the sunlit sandy beach. The showcase similarly embraces the nostalgia for the days of Boni’s youth, bringing a 1950s aesthetic into modern times through precise tailoring and impeccable styling.
The airy SS21 looks highlight an empowered attitude, while in turn celebrating the rebirth and positivity of a post-pandemic Italy. Simply, Chiara Boni La Petite Robe captured both elegance and optimism during a year in which both seemed to be gone forever.
The runway opener immediately wowed while setting the laid-back tone of the show– a barefoot model sashays forward wearing a perfectly slouched top with matching paper bag waisted trousers and a pom pom beret. Through the grains of sand, she seems to have wandered off set from a Godard film, heading into the awaiting shore.
Sarong-like skirts, cigarette pants, and La Petite Robe’s signature one-shoulder gowns follow, flowing in the breeze. Jerseys, tulle, and sustainable fluid silk were used to craft such ethereal ensembles. Each piece stands out in its own way; Boni’s runway is stunningly cohesive, like a vintage starlet’s summer holiday luggage being unpacked in its effortless beauty.
Through all the pain and turmoil of 2020, we can all look forward to 2021, if only to be one step closer to donning one of Chiara Boni La Petite Robe’s garments. The brand brought light and happiness, even if just for one Italian sunset. As the models and Boni herself frolic in the foaming sea post-show, it’s impossible to not feel the same hopefulness through the virtual screen.
