Max Mara and Colette's poetry for autumn/winter 2024/25

The black and white photographs depicting the beauties of the Belle Époque in the Bois inspire the abundance of full black looks for the Max Mara autumn winter 2024-25 fashion show . The Japanese-influenced ovoid silhouette is found in new coats, sometimes with kimono sleeves, sometimes with a large volume on the back. Long or short, the silhouette is highlighted by a wide knitted band at the waist, combined with a belt, like an obi. Soft leather bags with stylized buckle complete the look. Colette said: “There are connoisseurs of blue just as there are connoisseurs of wine.” Max Mara offers a dark ink navy and cobalt to match with jet black and smoky grey.

Colette often dressed as a man. Her beautiful alter ego, Chéri, shows off great classics: impeccable officer's coats, pea coats and the inevitable Max Mara jackets. Scenes set in a boudoir in strong dim light inspire camisoles, splip dresses and Teddys. Interpreted in drap, flannel and tweed with visible stitching they become a seductive counterpoint to Max Mara's urban look. Delicate ruffles give new femininity to skirts and tunic dresses. Fluttering pajamas and flowing dressing gowns in flannel or midnight blue velvet give a new meaning to day and evening; when night falls, the glimmer of blue and black crystals underline their rigorous geometry.

Colette described in detail the scrupulous beauty routine of the characters in her writings: the outfit chosen to elicit compliments, the light veil of powder, the lipstick or the nail polish: those small touches that generate magic. Who is this careful care of one's appearance intended for? Colette had no doubts: “Beautiful? For who? But like, for myself, obviously.”