Italian Fashion: Alessandro Dell'Acqua

The New Femininity

A brilliant young Italian designer, Dell'Acqua creates clothes for women who love to be feminine. Famous for his pretty, shimmery dresses and using materials such as chiffon, lace, and tulle, he once said that he wants every woman to be noticed.

Born in Naples in 1962 Dell'Acqua studied at the Art Institute of Naples and graduated in 1981. His career began in 1982 when he worked for the Marzotti Group. He has also worked in a knitwear mill - his fellow employees at the mill now work for him. One of his colleagues when he worked with Genny was the famous designer, Versace. He became the leading designer for the famous knitwear company, Pietro Pianforini.

Their elegance and femininity led him to create pretty and attractive clothes in an age when t-shirts and jeans seem to be all the rage. He remarked that: "These are the women I imagine, when I design my collections...they are free, they are powerful and they are not ashamed of their desires, they want to be beautiful."

He has also stated that: "I love knitwear, I love nude, and I love black," Many of his clothes combine lacy knitwear with other materials and most include nude or black. Dell'Acqua's new collection featured strapless dresses, bustiers, silk dresses and belted coats. His model's sultry eye make-up was probably inspired by Anna Magnani. According to Vogue Magazine, 'A touch of green or papal purple came into the nude-and-black mix once in a while, and a beautiful full coat in nude cashmere and a paneled bustier that bubbled over the hips proved that even at voltage this high, Dell'Acqua is still a romantic at heart.'

The handsome designer is a true Renaissance man. Recently he has started designing lingerie, menswear, shoes, and eyewear. He designed lingerie for the famous Italian company, La Perla, and likes to include touches of lingerie in his women's clothes. He also created shoes for the Swiss company, Bally.

His latest menswear collection is influenced by military and safari styles and features lots of black, leather pants, sharp jackets and patent leather shoes. His menswear styles are refreshingly masculine, compared with some other designers who favor the 'Metro sexual style'! According to Tim Blanks at Manchic.com: "But what's enduringly odd about Dell'Acqua is the way in which the women's clothing he shows alongside his men's collection is fleshily sensual, while the clothes he makes for guys are so cool and detached, they're practically arctic. Come to think of it, perhaps that's why he cited the aloof Ms. Smith as his menswear muse."

Dell'Acqua's sexy and elegant shoe wear collection was launched in 2000 and he also has an agreement to design for the shoemaker, Ballin. His perfumes include fragrances for women and men.

Alessandro Dell'Acqua's designs are sold in exclusive stores all over the world and have won excellent reviews from high-end fashion magazines such as Vogue and Style. This talented designer's star looks as though it will rise even further.

By Lisa-Anne Sanderson