Spring Summer 2021
The collection was inspired by stills from Luchino Visconti’s film ‘Deathin Venice’, set in the early 1900s, and by Coco Chanel’s original designs from the same period which she developed at the inception of the House of Chanel. Stills from the film, in which composer Gustav von Ashenbach becomes obsessed with Tadzio, a beautiful Polish youth who is holidaying with his family in Venice, show maritime themes - Tadzio in his sailor tops, the men in boating jackets with gold buttons – and period costumes on the women – linen suits and black bows worn at the neck, waist and on hats – all in predominantly monochrome colours of white, black and neutrals.
‘The details and colours from those stills really resonated with me as they chime with some of the hallmarks of my designs, especially the bows - the bow has been a constant motif throughout my collections and is a hallmark of the Anna Mason brand.’ - Anna Mason
‘Most of the cast are also wearing monochrome clothes - black, white and shades of beige. I loved the purity of that. What could be more classic than black and white?’ Those monochrome colours and motifs also brought to mind Coco Chanel’s first designs from the same period. Mason explains, ‘Looking back at her first collections, you can see how she was influenced by fishermen’s Mariniere tops and sailors’ Matelot clothes. Chanel was credited in the post-World War I era with liberating women from the constraints of the ‘corseted silhouette’ and popularizing a sporty, casual chic as the feminine standard of style. She introduced deluxe casual clothing, suitable for leisure and sport.’
