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