SemSem Resort 2018. Courtesy of SemSem
SemSem’s Resort 2018 collection is a nod to Italian noblewoman, art collector, socialite, and style icon Marella Agnelli. “There’s this image of Agnelli that has captivated me for years,” says the brand’s creative designer Abeer Al Otaiba of a mid-century portrait of the noblewoman arm-in-arm with her husband, Gianni Agnelli. “It’s a black and white photo of Marella and her husband walking into what I imagine to be a fabulous masquerade ball. She is wearing an ethereal white kaftan with incredible yet subtle details, a simple eye mask and dramatic feather pieceS cascading from her head,” the Egyptian-born designer explained.
Simply put, this one image is what inspired the luxury brand’s (which counts Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Kourtney Kardashian as clients) entire Resort 2018 offering. “I translated those elements onto a bold dress and bright skirt with feather trims. Asymmetrical, structured turbans also find a home in my collection.”
The offering is rife with dresses, tops, skirts, and separates that feature exposed shoulders, streamlined silhouettes, and dramatic accents to celebrate the female form. Multi-colored stripes in red, blue, yellow, and beige are also present throughout the collection. Eveningwear options take shape in the form of mini-dresses and sequined pants for the bold. “When people see the Resort collection, I want them to initially feel a little mystified and then slowly appreciate the style statement I am trying to make.” The collection is set to go live as an online trunkshow on Moda Operandi today. Check out the full SemSem Resort 2018 collection here, and start compiling your shopping list.
