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MILAN (AP) - Max Mara has clean looks for next summer that are alternatively playful and workaday.
The women's collection, presented on Thursday, the second day of Milan Fashion Week, had an austere quality reflected in the monochrome neutral shades and simple lines that by contrast lent emphasis to playful touches: layers of sheer fabrics, lame shimmers, and youthful romper or jumpsuit silhouettes.
For the urban professional, there were straight pencil skirts and spaghetti strapped sheaths all landing discreetly below the knee. Max Mara topped them with sleek button-less jackets, varying in length. There were few trousers, a trend emerging this season in Milan.
The label recognized the demands of today's professional woman and equipped her with not just one bag but two: the versatile JBag and a clutch.
For evening, there were shimmery sheer below-the-knee sheaths worn over mini dresses or rompers. And for playtime at any hour, Max Mara broke out the color: eye-popping orange, green, fuchsia, royal blue and purple. The single-shade outfits with rompers or dresses were layered with jackets or tops and accessorized with color-coordinated sheer hosiery, bags, stiletto heels and oversized rounded sunglasses.
Hair was worn straight behind the ears, sometimes fastened with a matching kerchief tied at the chin _ protection from the sun or wind. The only makeup for the collection was a touch of shimmer on the eyelids.
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