Since its inception in 1989, BCBGMAXAZRIA has been sophisticated, yet accessible. I remember a few years ago when I found one of their shirts at Winners and felt really upscale walking around in it after I inevitably bought it. Founder and CEO Max Azria has strived to bring the fashion of his hometown of Paris to North American women since moving to California over 25 years ago. The SS16 collection brings together flowy 70s silhouettes, bold and daring prints, chic and creative layering and a So-Cal vibe inspired by the state Max Azria and his wife and Chief Creative Officer Lubov have come to know and love.
I’m not a huge fan of mixing prints and having a lot of colours in one outfit, but the colours here are slightly muted and the patterns bold yet subdued. I love the dress on the left, as well as the fringed moccasin sandals, but I just can’t bring myself to like bucket hats. They remind me too much of this denim hat my mom used to wear to the beach when I was about three. No hate to bucket hats, but they just don’t do it for me.
My overall favourite look from the whole show is the one on the far left here. I adore it as a whole, but the pieces that stand out the most to me are the bad and the sweater. Simple yet structured, this periwinkle purse is in the cross-body style I simply cannot live without and is high-fashion yet does not look out of place in the normal world. The sweater captivates the eye and has visual interest without looking too busy.
All in all, this collection is a bit too far out for my taste and doesn’t encapsulate a lot of the feminine appeal that I tend to look for. However, I really love how versatile many of the pieces are on their own and could fit into virtually every woman’s wardrobe, whether you’re a celebrity A-lister or a student. The muted colours allow to mix prints and textures without being visibly overdone. It’s edgy yet elegant, and I can appreciate it and say that there are definitely a few pieces I could see myself in.
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