Website: www.albertaferreti.com
Alberta Ferretti was born in Cattolica, Italy, in 1950. Her mother was a successful dressmaker with 18 seamstresses working for her to supply tourists of the 50's and 60's. Alberta opened her own designer clothes shop in 1968, when she was only 18 years old. It was in Rimini and she called it the Jolly Shop and filled it with clothes from Armani, Krizia and Versace.
In 1974 she launched her own label.
In 1980 she and her brother Massimo started the manufacturing facility Aeffe, and both her Alberta Ferretti and Philosophy lines are made here.
Ferretti helped restore and partially owns the Montegridolfo resort.
Her showroom is in Milan but her vast studio in the Aeffe building, is on the outskirts of Cattolica, her home town on Italy's Adriatic coast. She lives in the Castello di Montegridolfo, an ancient castle dating back to the Middle Ages.
Ferretti designs for many fashion designers, among them Jean-Paul Gaultier, Rifat Ozbek, Narciso Rodriguez and Moschino.
She has two sons Simone and Giacomo with whom she spends a great deal of her time, even though she is busy as one of the most powerful women in Italy.
Ferretti brought out her Tech collection in 2000.
The Ferretti style is not one of old-fashioned prettiness. Her vision is a delicate one, developing an appreciation for textiles, daintily beaded or embroidered chiffons and sari silks.
Spring/Summer 2003
Alberta Ferreti presented her Spring/Summer 2003 collection in Milan in September 2002. On the right is an outfit from that collection.
She also sent out the shorter prettier dresses that are the IN thing this season, crocheted, embroidered and even micro-shorts.
Fall 2003
Alberta Ferreti showed her Fall collection during Milan fashion Week in March 2003. On the left is an outfit from that show.
She is known for her super-sweet dresses and she kept with tradition and displayed floaty baby doll frocks adorned with ribbons gently tumbling down the side, paired with burgundy or plum-coloured opaqwue stocks.
Tops were delicate yet sensuous and came over the shortest of minis. Boxy jackets provided finishing touches for many outfits. A series of princess-style evening outfits completed the collection. It was a harmoniously beautiful and wearable collection.
Spring/Summer 2004
Alberta Ferretti's ready-to-wear collection for this season, was shown during the Milan Fashion Week in October 2003. One dress from the collection is shown on the right.
Her slight pretty collection confirmed her ongoing love affair with chiffon. She paraded plenty of airy nothings made lighter still with raw unfinished edges. Angelic little dresses were composed of layer upon layer of mousseline like a mille-feuille pastry. Her prints had a hand-painted feel or marbling effects like Florentine books.
Fall/Winter 2004 ready-to-wear
Alberta Ferretti presented her Fall collection in Milan during Fashion Week in February 2004. Her clothes had a sophisticated flirtation full of delicate feminity. Many stars like Uma Therman have requested her to create for them for the Oscars at the end of the month, and this beautiful beaded creation on the left is one of those gowns which will be snapped up. For day she offered delicate floral print dresses, ribbon-belted pencil skirts and lots of fur coats to keep out the winter chill.
Oscar Night February 2004
Scarlett Johansson is the 19 year old, new star in Hollywood, for her films "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "Lost in Translation". She is also the new face of Calvin Klein. She wore this beautiful Alberta Ferreti gown shown on the right, on the Oscar Awards Night in February 2004.
Spring/Summer 2005
During Milan Fashion Week in September 2004, Alberta Ferretti presented her Spring collection. A pretty dress from the collection is shown on the left. This was one of her elegant Little Black Dresses.
Colour was also the story from this designer, with patchworks of different coloured chiffon sewn together to create elaborate evening gowns and she also used tiny, dark patterns, mirror embroidery and built-in jewellery. She used feathery effects for shredded chiffon skirts, raw-edged flower prints and evening dresses with a layered different colour chiffon beneath. She also added decollete milkmaid dresses and smocked A-line bodices.
Autumn/Winter 2005
Alberta Ferretti presented her Autumn/Winter collection during Milan Fashion Week in February 2005.
As always her show was full of feminine elegance and delicate chiffon dresses, subtly ribboned and with silver sequins.
Coats were deep pink in a princess line, as well as cinched ribbon-waisted fur. Classic black dresses were inspired by Audrey Hepburn.
Her fulllengh evening gowns were pure elegance in sequined champagne pink or black.
She added astrakan collars on felted coats and showed lovely printed dirndl skirts.
A few days later, she presented her second line Philosophy by Alberta Ferreti.
This was a collection of separates, mostly warmer clothes for the coming winter season.
One of the coats is shown on the left here.
Spring/Summer 2006
Milan Fashion Week
Alberta Ferretti presented her Spring/Summer 2006 collection during Milan Fashion Week in September 2005. A brown taffeta coat over a silk dress with a chequered panel around the hemline from the collection is shown on the right.
She picked up on the Greek spirit so popular this season, using pleated insets making dresses which seemed to have a grid of squares. Satin and chiffon ribbons flowed around and the colours were as delicate as the fabrics, being powder pink, beige, light blue and an occasional dash of red. The collection reminded one of Lanvin's clothes in the early 20th century. Her red carpet occasion evening gowns were sensuous and elegant. She used this seasons high waistlines and detachable Peter Pan collars, the clothes being feminine without babyish. Beautiful workmanship was visible throughout the collection.
click below:
Alberta Ferretti (Made in Italy) by Samuele Mazza
2005
Femina (W)