By Celina Lafuente de Lavotha - Monaco Reporter

The 4th edition of Monte-Carlo Fashion Week® (MCFW2016), ran from June 2-4, 2016, with 30 local and international designers presenting in avant premiere their resort, swimwear and Spring-Summer 2017 collections, in the Honor Hall of the magnificent Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. This highly anticipated fashion industry event, was organized by the Chambre Monegasque de la Mode (CMM) or Monegasque Fashion Chamber, with the support of the Principality’s Government, the Town Hall and Tourism Office. Federica Nardoni Spinetta, President of the CMM, and her team have been working relentlessly on this important project for several years, and with considerable effort and perseverance they are making remarkable progress as proved by the success of this year’s event.

The main objective of the MCFW® is to promote Monaco as an up-and-coming Fashion Capital, while promoting new talents in fashion design to multi-brand boutique buyers, large stores, local and international journalists, bloggers and opinion leaders coming from different countries, as well as a fashion-addict audience. Rosanna Trinchese, the Art Director of the Monegasque Fashion Chamber, wisely entrusted the development and management of the event to Rene Olivier Productions / Elevent who is in charge of all the MCFW® shows, and has been collaborating with the Monegasque Fashion Chamber since the event’s first edition and strives to respect the quality standards of the international Fashion Weeks.

MCFW® 2016 Conference – International fashion trends

The program commenced on Thursday, June 2, at the Salon Bellevue of the Café de Paris in the heart of Monte-Carlo, with a conference entitled “The evolution of global fashion retailing”, and a round table moderated by fashion experts, enabling the economic fashion actors to mingle with local and international designers. Federica Nardoni Spinetta opened the floor with a brief presentation, followed by other qualified speakers who discussed the latest trends in international fashion, the new developments in the European and Asian markets, with an emphasis on China, as well as digital media underlining the importance of the voice of social networks with the participation of well-known fashion bloggers.

Opening reception at the Monaco Town Hall

On Friday, June 3 at high noon, Mr Georges Marsan, Mayor of Monaco, offered an exclusive reception at the Town Hall’s beautiful art deco building, for event organizers and special guests, as a prelude to start of the Fashions Shows.

Grinko opened the ball

The MCFW® started with the defile of Anglo-Russian designer Sergei Grinko who established his brand in 2009, and who had also opened the show at the Fashion Week in Milan last February.

MCFW® Awards – Philipp Plein, Giovanni Gastel & Stella Jean

The MCFW® Awards ceremony, recognising top talents in fashion, was presented by Victoria Silvstedt, and this year HSH Princess Charlene added prestige to this event by presenting the top award to the German designer Philipp Plein. Irina Goudkova gave the award to photographer Giovanni Gastel, while Federica Nardoni Spinetta presented it to stylist Stella Jean. The beautifully designed awards were created by the brilliant artist Marcos Marin who lives and works in Monaco.

International MCFW® Award – German fashion designer Philipp Plein

MCFW® Career Award – Italian photographer Giovanni Gastel

Special MCFW® Award – Ethical Fashion Brand – Italian designer Stella Jean

Among the distinguished personalities present at MCFW® there was first and foremost HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco; Stephan Valerie, Health Minister of the Principality; Robert Calcagno, Director of the Oceanographic Institute & Museum; Tanya Dziahileva, the beautiful Belarusian top model, artist, designer, stylist and fashion photographer; Victoria Silvstedt, model, actress and presenter; Irina Goudkova of International Fashion Diffusion; Sophie Rochas, author of the book about her father Marcel Rochas in 2015, just to mention a few.

Models trotting the runway in beautiful creations 

The shows continued with Russian stylist Chapurin, already well known in the international runways; the young Alessandro Angelozzi Couture who presented a collection of clothes both refined and sensual with the symbol of the rose and pure femininity; the SS17 collection of Beach&Cashmere Monaco, local brand founded in 2005 by Federica Nardoni Spinetta, producing swimwear, pret-a-porter women wear and accessories based on joy and humor; The Portuguese brand Didimara by the namesake Paris born designer; A’Biddikkia, a Sicilian brand created by Giovanna Mandarano proposing a collection dedicated to the contemporary woman; Artramus, the brand of Tatyana Ramus, that unites modern art and high fashion, proposes for the next SS17 a colorful collection, like paintings on a canvas, with cats the elegant predators, as a symbol of her timeless clothes; Naira Khachatryan whose creations are dedicated to the wise woman, decisive and determined, a woman who loves to play with form and colors, that go from pastels to a vivid palette using tridimensional innovative textures.

The well known Monegasque stylist Elisabeth Wessel created a collection inspired on the images by Polish artist Tamara de Lempicka, and the emotions evoked by her splendid Art-Deco paintings, combined with her natural elegance. Her defile was a true voyage back to gracefulness and style.

This year saw the debut by Istituto Marangoni di Parigi presenting the collections created by four promising French students: Fleur Bougon, Marta Rios, Clara Bizzocca, Tiffany Arystaghes.

The first day of fashion shows culminated with a fun party organized by Philipp Plein at Jimmy’z, where designers, models, organisers and privileged guests could let their hair down and relax, until the wee hours of the morning.

On Saturday, June 4, it was the turn to other talented designers to graze the catwalk, in the presence of Stephane Valerie, Minister of Health of Monaco, who is a loyal supporter of the MCFW, and was representing the Government.

The show started with the Neapolitan designer Eliana Riccio; followed by Dressmee, designed by Angela Fadani; Christian Luongo; Rusian stylist Lolita Shonidi, and Nando Muzi with his exclusive and fantastic shoes. Italian blogger and friend Alina Grey came dressed up to the nines and wearing light blue Nando Muzi shoes to honor the designer.

A special mention goes to the splendid couture collection “Hanakotoba” of Rumanian born young designer Iuliana Mihai, now living and working in the heart of Rome, whose use of fine materials like silk, satin and lace, adorned with feathers, flowers and butterflies, redefine woman’s femininity and beauty. Her Nippo New Gothic style derives from threes concepts of Japanese culture: the Geisha, the Samurai and the Butterfly. It comes to no surprise that one of his sources of inspiration is no other than famous Alexander McQueen.

Then followed the elegant creations of Parisian brand Josephine Bonair; the Association Art Nobless’ selection of 9 artists representing Sicilian values: Tina Arena, Mariella Di Miceli, Fily Cuenza, Rosaia Adelaide Aiello, Davide Leonardo, Sebastiano Tramontana and Valentina Bua di Gattacci, Amalia Peditto, Silvia Campione and Barbara La Lia. The shows continued with the collection of Bellavitis; Nanaeel by Nanaaleo by Ivana Pantaleo; Tadini Monte-Carlo; Creazioni Antonella. After a long time waiting we could finally appreciate the creative collection of the Arabian brand Lakasian by Shalema, a last minute addition to the program; Iuliana Mihai collection with accessories by Stardust Monte-Carlo; Rhea Costa; the sublime fur coats by Carlo Ramello and last but not least Christine Kostoff with her beautiful made to measure beautiful clothes.

Back to the drawing board planning the next MCFW®

Federica Nardoni Spinetta, her team and partners, deserve to take some days off and relax after a laborious and successful MCFW®. But they will surely be back to work soon after to start planning MCFW® 2017, that promises to be even more glamorous and exciting. As the saying goes, like good wine it gets better with time! See you in 2017!

Today’s Quote

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” Coco Chanel