L’eto Bridal continues the story of an escapist in their new collection, this time in Palm Springs, the heady Sonoran Desert town. Sun-baked colours of Salvation mountain and the dramatic mountain range make a wonderfully nostalgic backdrop of the mid-century heyday of the place, Anya Ostapenko delivers a collection of bridal separates with offerings of sensual fitted gowns and an ethereal sheer cape interspersed between.
Masterfully executed motifs of metallic leaves follow through from her first Seascape collection and pleats in dramatic silhouettes are introduced this time around. Strips and gentle panels of silk satin are a breezy reminder of a youthful desire to tap into the ghostly but glamorous memories of the retreat town in its star-studded peak. The urge to reach out and immerse oneself into the experience of a world lived offscreen is strong.
Unfussy and elegant, these gowns are an effortless way to showcase the L’eto bride as a woman of her own standing. The subtle fluidity of the pieces is exhibited in soft volumes of sleeves, flowing skirts, and trailing sashes. Blouses are cropped at midriff and offer a refreshing take on the pastoral combination of high collars and long skirts that caress exposed skin with a barely-there touch. Each duo is birthed into a sophisticated and quietly cool bridal outfit that seamlessly integrates into each bride’s existing lifestyle. Post-ceremony blues don’t exist on this season’s pieces only because there’s the possibility of wearing it again and again, in any way they like.
Palm Springs, iconic in its glamorous heyday for the rich and famous, is the backdrop of L’eto’s second collection this fall of ‘18 for a desert oasis of cinematic style is nestled under the San Jacinto mountain range.
The faded colours of the widely-recognised architecture exude heat and feel sun-baked; and call to mind the mid-century desert modernism of the area. As we yearn for a time that might never have been, the landscape promises escapism into a mirage world. Slightly melancholic and yet still romantic in following the story of our escapist, the collection is a sheer delight of fluid movements, languid silhouettes, and an abundance of lightweight silks.
Designer Anya Ostapenko links the inspiration of an era long past into her signature delivery of contemporary designs with an approach to newness. A dimensional play on twists, panels, and sheerness manifests in voluminous chiffon and delicate cover ups. Glistening leaves come to life in the light and a visceral sense of sentimentalism is heavy in the air.
Bridal separates are the key direction this season, and they serve as delicate canvases of for glimmering patterns of embroidery and beads. The warm desert wind carries languid beatnik vibes around wisps of blouson sleeves and organic pleats and the choice of lustrous silk gracefully evades the look of traditional heavy-handed decoration and fabrics. There’s a common thread of worldliness and wistfulness that dictates this story, and Anya reimagines nostalgia into a restrained sense of voyage and juxtaposition. Fine fabrics and softly crafted gowns in the unforgiving Sonoran Desert may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the collection hardly looks out of place in this balmy town.
Creative Credits
Photography and HMUA @stellarhours
Models @charlie_marie from @lamodels and @paulineiv from @twomanagement