Mercedes-Benz Presents: Florentina Leitner // SS22
Collection Recap
FLORENTINA LEITNER’s namesake label has become synonymous with big shapes, exuberant prints and contrasting textures, along with a proclivity for pre-loved items. Presented by Mercedes-Benz, she opened MBFW with panache descending on the runway with a flurry of luxe intergalactic creations in metal, white and minty hues, punctuated by pale rose prints.
Her new spring/summer 2022 semi-couture collection, aptly titled Vacation on the Moon, is something of a postcard from her childhood, with an idiosyncratic Leitner-twist. It draws inspiration from family sailing trips to the scenic, crescent-shaped alpine lake Mondsee in Upper Austria. “As a child I liked the name a lot as it means “Moon Lake” translated. The name of the lake made me think of how it would be to have a vacation on the moon,” she explains.
This is evident in her playful take on sailor jackets juxtaposed with spacesuits, oversized puff sleeves, optical moon patterns, ostrich feather detailing and eye-catching floral prints. “I got inspired by typical Austrian flowers like Edelweiss, which also have an out of this world feeling to me. Another inspiration were the roses in different colours around the moon lake,” she continues.
The collection marks a natural continuation of her well-received Fall/Winter 2021 collection, The Royal Leitners (inspired by Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums), and is her first runway show with a live audience since her bachelor’s show in Antwerp.
Words by: CC Borjeson