Alberta Ferretti’s Approach to Creating Comfortable and Elegant Fashion
You can tell when a designer truly cares about women. It shows in how the clothes move, how they rest on the body, and how they let the wearer be herself, not put on a show. That feeling was clear backstage at Alberta Ferretti’s Autumn Winter 2026 presentation. The mood was calm and upbeat. Models did not look tense or rushed. They looked like they were about to head out for an evening with friends.
A Compliment That Landed
When Lorenzo Serafini stepped into the media room after the show, he reacted warmly to that observation. He called it a genuine compliment. He spoke openly about his approach to design, saying he wants women to feel beautiful and strong without relying on obvious sex appeal. Sensuality, for him, lives in balance and restraint. He hoped that the message came through in the collection.
Opening Dubai Fashion Week
That sense of quiet confidence carried onto the runway as Alberta Ferretti opened Dubai Fashion Week. The show marked the brand’s first appearance in the Middle East and launched the Autumn-Winter 2026 to 2027 season. Serafini, who became Creative Director in 2024 after taking over from Alberta Ferretti herself, presented a collection titled Portrait of a Lady.
The concept reworked the idea of a Victorian heroine for modern life. The result felt thoughtful and self-assured. Femininity was expressed through choice and intention, not spectacle.
Precision Behind the Scenes
Just before the show began, Serafini could be seen making small adjustments. He refined a sleeve here, shaped a waist there. Those final touches paid off. The collection felt sharp but poetic.
Tailored jackets were worn with skirts drawn neatly at the waist. Soft blouses featured gentle ruffled necklines. Flowing chiffon dresses moved easily down the runway, while leather pieces added structure and contrast. The colour palette shifted between scarlet, olive, khaki, and mustard, softened by blush pink and peach.
Showing in Dubai
After the show, Serafini spoke about what it meant to present in Dubai. He described feeling both happy and honoured to be invited. Working in a new country came with challenges, but he found the process exciting and rewarding.
Evolving a Legacy
Alberta Ferretti has long been associated with romance and femininity. The challenge now is translating that identity for women living in 2026. Serafini feels aligned with the brand’s values and sees his role as one of careful evolution.
He spoke about designing for women who dress for themselves, not for approval. Women who find joy in pleasing their own sense of beauty and comfort.
Meeting the Women Who Wear the Clothes
Presenting at Dubai Fashion Week also offered Serafini direct contact with women from the region. He described them as confident and clear about their place in the world. Meeting them, dressing them, and learning from them was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.
Modesty and Sensuality
That connection led naturally to a conversation about modesty and sensuality. For Serafini, the power of a garment has nothing to do with how much skin it shows. Elegance comes from balance. He expressed admiration for women who dress with intention rather than to attract attention, a quality he sees strongly reflected in the region.
The Meaning of Modern Luxury
When asked about restraint in fashion, Serafini was direct. For him, modern luxury is about discretion. He sees romance in subtlety and believes richness lives in detail. Those who overlook that may miss its depth.
Respecting the Past Without Repeating It
Rather than relying heavily on archival references, Serafini prefers to draw from the emotional spirit of the brand. He focuses on preserving the feeling of the Alberta Ferretti woman, not recreating past designs.
Clothes Meant to Be Interpreted
The collection was already in development before the Dubai invitation arrived. Serafini felt no need to change course. He sees today’s woman as global, open-minded, and creative in how she dresses.
Each piece was designed to work in multiple ways, styled with items already in a woman’s wardrobe. Mixing and personal interpretation, he believes, are central to modern style.
Confidence Above All
At its heart, Portrait of a Lady was about the woman who would wear the clothes, not an abstract fantasy. When asked what he hoped women would feel in his designs, Serafini’s answer was simple. Confidence.
Watching the models move from backstage to the runway with ease and assurance, that intention felt fully realised.
