The legendary Duke-Semans Mansion on New York's Upper East Side was, from every indication, the ideal location for Salvatore Ferragamo's recent debut resort show. The massive former residence of the late heiress and socialite Doris Duke features a glorious spiral staircase leading to an interconnecting warren of high-ceilinged, salon-style rooms with lushly draped windows.
So much the better for showing off those clothes, says Massimiliano Giornetti the day after the show. The former head of menswear was installed as the label's creative director a year ago in a major expansion of his responsibilities.
'I could just imagine Doris Duke coming down that grand staircase wearing these clothes,' Giornetti says. 'The Upper East Side is so exclusive, chic and conservative.'
These are all adjectives that could be used to describe the Ferragamo name. The label has a storied 83-year history and originally became known for the shoes that Salvatore Ferragamo made for Hollywood celebrities. Today, it is a fashion empire. The debut official resort show in New York happened to coincide with the brand's decision to launch an initial public offering.
Giornetti is happy to bask in the glory of the show's success. It offered up soignee and elegant pieces for women who need something new to take them from summer to autumn, be that a lean tailored jacket with bejewelled buttons or an accordion-pleated evening gown in pallid sky blue. The long runway was awash in silvery grey and ivory, navy and cream, adorning A-list models that included Karolina Kurkova, Karlie Kloss and Vanessa Traina.
White-and-gold striped cashmere tops with roomy, wide-legged pants, and a capsule offering of sinewy halter-neck gowns are the sort of thing that will be snapped up by fashionistas who are traditional Ferragamo customers. A younger breed, who have started to look to the brand for of-the-moment offerings that will still look fresh next season, will also like them.