Marni

Like a box of Crayola - Marni S/S'06

You'd think colour was dead, what with the white white white and more white at all the runway shows so far. Marni, however, takes a different direction this Spring, and instead of showcasing a bland palette, their runway collection was a breath of fresh air, with richly dyed two-tone fabrics in lush colours of caramel, navy, sand, emerald and coral.

As usual, there were the typical Marni oversized but structured shapes but with lesser volume and lighter layering than those displayed in previous seasons. The boxy jackets and loose summer dresses were not surprising but there were also flared little mermaid-like babydoll tops, strapped at the waist with leather belts with that whimsical Marni touch - this time with circles.

The influence from nature and art was obvious, with some fabric looking like a artist's completed canvas - rich with colours from the tropical rainforest. While some prints looked like they were created from within a exotic paradise, others seemed remniscent of Miu Miu's previous S/S collections, with bright geometric prints.

Marni's forte has always been in its accessories. Remember its S/S'05 toy-charm necklace which spawned numerous copycats? I wont be surprised if their similarly chic handcrafted necklaces with overdyed resin discs make waves again. Handicraft was also seen in their crotchet hats and their hippie sandals with embrioded detail.

With such a strong collection, this short summary hardly does Marni's Spring/Summer collection any justice. This has been Marni's best collection I've seen so far and is sure to be hit once it hits the racks. Get ready for copycats.

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