Backstage before her show, Veronica Etro talked about her season’s inspiration — a gonzo artistic type living in the middle of nowhere in the desert. She didn’t mention that this girl lives in a Seventies state of mind, but she didn’t have to. The point would soon be made with a Doors soundtrack and endless lovely bohemian flou.
Etro did digress from her romantic yarn to say something specific about the clothes: “The mood is not precious, but the workmanship is.”
She was referencing the casual nature of the clothes — ponchos, denim jackets, shorts, tanks and maxidresses, all fringed, beaded and paisley printed, photos of which could easily blend on People StyleWatch’s music-festival trend page, were it not for their price tag. What makes Etro’s worth it?
The retro Southwestern free-spirit look may have gone wide, but Etro claims ownership at the top of the luxury ecosystem. She defended her perch with incredible techniques and authenticity.
“ ‘Precious’ today is something that an artist has created for me,” she said. “It’s about uniqueness, craftsmanship and things that look like they have a history.”
She worked in broken-in fabrics, washed linen and canvas and light silks layered in relaxed silhouettes. Loose robes were done with extravagant details, such as patchworks of colorful beading, prints, knits and fringe. An oversize cocoon sweater — basically an artisanal sweatshirt — was hand-knotted in multicolor silks, and jean jackets came in precise collages of linen, lace, silk and beading. There was nothing basic about them.
