Bottega Veneta Fall 2016 - Runway Review

From the first look out onto the runway–a long black cashmere coat, black turtleneck, slim pants and long scarf–the stage was set for a beautiful Bottega Veneta collection that delivered unabashed precision of cut and quality of style. Tomas Maier’s subtlety for nuance in design harnassed flamboyant accessories for the simplest of touches: skinny belts crisscrossed at the buckle to accentuate the leanness of the looks, while shiny metallic shoes popped out of the dragging hemlines of wide-legged pants. All in all, this was a collection for grown women–women who appreciate richness of fabric and timeless elegance.

What made the collection modern, however, was Maier’s push into new techniques. Knitwear tops and dresses presented a sportier facade, while Maier created knit bras out of matching fabric worn overtop for a neat camouflage. Dresses tended to be sleeveless wool shifts, while tiny sequins gave sparkle to plaid overcoats that fastened with a diagonal strap across the lapels. They were followed by yet more innovation: pintucked dresses in smoky chiffon, layered over fine satin underdresses, printed with tiny flowers.