Never say never, especially when you are a designer, declared Anna October in her Paris showroom.
For years, she insisted that knitwear was not for her eponymous brand. “But then I found this texture and I became obsessed,” said the Ukrainian designer, holding up a long-sleeved white knit bodysuit with an eyelet pattern reminiscent of children’s tights, her first entry in hers category.
Elsewhere, she continued to explore her lingerie repertoire, playing with draped panels on dresses that appeared to have been removed to reveal satin underwear, or a new version of her best-selling slip design with a stitched outline that she said was a A humorous version of the VPL, or visible panty line. The lingerie details enhanced the fine tailoring and October’s knack for sensual cuts was undiminished.
Other highlights included trench coats with a row of eyelet closures down the back; relaxed suits in crinkled satin; and a long knit dress with crochet trimmed seams along the bust and hips.
October said the collection, her largest yet with about 60 styles, was inspired by her habit of taking note of the good things that happen to her in the summer and was dedicated to women living their best lives, always. There were trips with friends to Hydra, Antibes and Ibiza, but also bucolic moments in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, despite the ongoing war, where she was able to show off her lookbook in the city’s botanical gardens.
Guests at her presentation took away generous jars of rose jam made from flowers that grow in the Carpathian Mountains, a poignant reminder that one should not only smell roses but also preserve them.
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