Website is www.alessandrodellacqua.it
Alessandro Dell'Acqua was born in Naples, Italy, on December 21st, 1962. He studied at the Art Institute of Naples graduating in 1981. In 1982 he started working for the Marzotto Group as well as Maska, Byblos and Gilmar. He worked with Genny alongside Gianni Versace, who was also there. He also spent some time designing for Les Copains and Iceberg.
Initially he specialized in knitwear and worked as an apprentice to Pietro Pianforini, the famous knitwear designer. He rose to be Head Designer for them in 1988. He also worked with a small group of artisans in a mill in Bologna, Italy. He credits this group, who now work for him, with the unusual delicacy of his hand-finished knitwear, lace mohair was particularly beautiful when used by him.
In 1995, Alessandro Dell'Acqua started his own label and his collections are shown twice a year in Milan. His debut show was in 1996 which hecalled "Punk on a Mediterranean Woman". This was a womenswear collection, followed by his menswear in 1998 showing his debut menswear show at the famous Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy.
Dell'Acqua's Spring 2002 collection included soft, yet structured chiffon separates in solid earth tones like clay and cream, as well as rich violet, sky blue and the palest of yellows. Sheer smoky black and mocha peasant dresses fell off one shoulder and slouched slightly over gorgeously hand-crafted belts, hung wide around the hips. Silk trousers, boot-cut and low-slung, were paired with the slimmest of thread-strapped camisoles.
The editors of all the fashion magazines who watched his show, were ecstatic about his breath-taking clothes and his women clients feel exactly the same.
Alessandro is also designing for the Swiss house of Bally, well-known for elegant footwear, but now presenting their womenswear clothing lines.
Spring/Summer 2003
Dell'Aqua presented his Spring/Summer 2003 Ready-to-Wear collection at the Milan Fashion Week in September 2002, which was greeted with aclaim. This outfit on the left, is from that collection.
Fall 2003
Alessandro Dell'Aqua showed his Fall 2003 collection during Milan Fashion Week in March 2003. An outfit from the show is shown on the right.
He showed soft slithery fabrics and pale boudoir colours. Chiffon tops cascaded over skintight pants, ostrich feathers fluttered from halter tops and mini-dresses were of the ruffly unruly type. He added romance to his collection even when he tried to be serious and severe with snug black separates in satin and velvet.
La Perla
Dell'Aqua style of designing clothes, appealed to the leading lingerie company La Perla, who started up their womenswear line in 2000. In early 2003, they appointed Alessandro to design the line. Bypassing bustiers and bras, he has whipped up chiffon and silk into billowing blouses cinched with satin bows, glamorous state-of-undress dresses and jewel-trimmed jersey pants. He uses powder colours and sensual fabrics.
Spring/Summer 2004
Alessandro's ready-to-wear line for this season, was shown during the Milan Fashion Week in October 2003. One outfit from the show is on the left.
His show paraded the fragile interplay of chiffon pieces and lingerie, in shades of beige and boudoir pink. Pretty little sheer ruched camisole tops and asymmetrically-ruffled dresses had fine-knit underpinnings to create an opaque base over which to layer. Dell'Aqua was inspired by actress Monica Vitti who played Modesty Blaise with 60s glamour.
Debut in America
To celebrate the new year, Alessandro has opened his first U.S. showroom, launched a full-fledged website and opened his first U.S. store on Madison Avenue. They will carry his full line of men's and women's ready-to-wear, footwear, eyewear. fragrances and bags. In Fall 2004, he also opened his first London store.
Fall/Winter 2004 ready-to-wear
Dell'Acqua presented his Fall collection in Milan during Fashion Week in February 2004. He was inspired by Courtney Love and a twenties-cum-seventies wardrobe. Antique-looking tiered velvet dresses with sweaters and glitter-heeled ankle-strap shoes mixed with Lurex knits, jersey turbans and Deco-patterned cropped pants like those shown on the left. He is Milan's homegrown eccentric, especially this season.
Spring/Summer 2005
Alessandro Dell'Acqua's ready-to-wear collection for this season, was shown during the Milan Fashion Week in October 2004. One beautiful blue chiffon dress, with intricate neckline embroidery from the collection is shown on the right.
It was a collection of his favourite fluid jersey dresses and chiffon lingerie looks, butterfly cutouts, a discreet paisley print, with animals applique and jungle motifs.
Autumn/Winter 2005
Alessandro Dell'Acqua presented his Autumn/Winter collection during Milan Fashion Week in February 2005.
He showed mostly gypsy skirts, peasant blouses along with his signature floating chiffon dresses.
Short empire line dresses in swinging sixties style were worn with thick tights, lame tunics and metallic ultra-mini topper coats and knit jackets. Alessandro loves lacy little tops which he sent out with lean black trousers tucked into knee high boots.
Spring/Summer 2006
Milan Fashion Week
Alessandro presented his Spring/Summer 2006 collection during Milan Fashion Week in September 2005.
On the right is a dress from the collection, a red chiffon creation with a swinging feathery skirt.
The Dell Acqua woman was inspired by Marilyn Monroe this season, as well as seventies disco. Hot pants and tube tops, shirtdresses, pencil skirts and midi flowing dresses were sent down the runway. It was a very sensual collection with a touch of innocence and great tailoring.
Alessandro Dell Acqua (W)