The quintessential y2k collection — Blumarine SS 2005

Is it Roberto Cavalli? Is it Chloé? Is it Etro? Is it Anna Sui?
⠀
It’s easy to mistake the authorship of this collection, as it is so well-rooted in the stylistic influences of its time. As designers departed from the rowdy sexuality of early 2000s styles, they moved onto exploring other aesthetics and influences — specifically, bohemian ones.
⠀
Exploring global influences has always been a common theme in fashion: be it in the 90s, early 2000s, or currently. However, bohemian and hippie influences became especially well-loved in the late 2000s, especially as the decade saw a revival of 60s and 70s fashion and counterculture
⠀
Titled “Desert Rose”, Blumarine’s SS2005 collections presents an eclectic mix of flowing silk and muslin blouses, skirts, and dresses, paired with safari jackets and capri shorts.
⠀
Floral and animal prints were present in almost every single look — oftentimes, combined together. Several garments were embellished with silver mirrors or were cinched with belts reminiscent of antique coins.
⠀
For this collection, Anna Molinari combined African motifs, Turkish influences and themes of colonial explorers, distilling them into a wild, yet cohesive assortment of garments.
⠀
Blumarine’s SS2005 show is a perfect representation of the decade’s drive for this free-spirited maximalism, especially when compared to its contemporaries.
⠀
And although some may mistake the designer of this show to be Roberto Cavali or Phoebe Philo, Molinari leaves plenty of signature details that Blumarine lovers will instantly recognise.