Maison Di Prima

Italy, France, California, New York, Tokyo. No matter where she has studied and worked, Manuela Di Prima has always carried her talent for fashion design, which is the epitome of a widely recognized Italian style. She founded Maison Di Prima in 2009 and, as its creative director, she manages to share her chic and romantic fashion dream.

The spring/summer 2013 collection draws inspiration from the European neoclassicism, which once revived the classical art and culture of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. That being said, the influence is more than obvious: fluttering bare-armed dresses resembling those famous Greek tunics dominate in this proposal. Silhouettes are feminine, seductive and provocative in a sophisticated way, and they come as a result of the perfect draping technique, mostly on silk chiffon in white, cream, navy, light pink and soft purple. There are no more than two hues on one piece and they are in clever contrast. Therefore, transparent navy frills look stunning on thicker orange fabric. Materials from Como were used for the sewing of each garment and it was all made in Italy (with love).

Many pieces are either plunging neckline or open-back gowns, and some of them even have stylish neck ruffles. Furthermore, what stands out here is a navy front and back plunging dress with gold antique brooch, a style that has not been overcome yet, although this aesthetic permeates through many centuries back. The designer played around a little with the asymmetry in some cuts, but especially in the shape of a floral wreath on an enchanting one-shoulder frock.

While still a student at Parsons, the New School for Design, in New York City, Di Prima made a small collection of jackets and showcased them during London fashion week. That was her springboard and, shortly after that, her clothes were worn by many prominent people in New York and her name and work appeared in various magazines, including the Italian Vogue.

Jelena Askovic
@jelena_askovic