13C10-CSS13S10 Parrot SKIRT. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13R02 Tamino RAINCOAT. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13R03 Pamina RAINCOAT. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D11 Laura DRESS. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D12 Cocktail Laura DRESS, Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D09 Parrot DRESS, Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D13 Bubble DRESS. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13S08 Bubble SKIRT. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D15 Day Queen DRESS. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D50 Papagena ballerina. Photo by Marc Wainwright
13D51 Pamina ballerina, Photo by Marc Wainwright
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"The Magic Flute"
Carlotta Actis Barone’s Spring-Summer 2013 collection is based on the opera “ The Magic Flute”,
composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder.
The main principle of the opera is the eternal ght between good and bad forces, where eventually the
good wins.
The Queen of the Night, that is interpreted by Mozart as the symbol of the evil becomes in Carlotta’s
garments the Queen of the Day.
Sarastro, symbolising the sun, shines through the bright colours of the whole collection, from bright
oranges, to neon greens and intense purples.
The prints designs, inspired by the costumes of Papageno and Papagena, are an elaboration of feathers
patterns that becomes a uid marble drawing on the fabric as well as the luxurious feathers that enrich
few items.
Light cottons and silks take inspiration from the oriental location of the opera and emphasise the beauty
of life when things end up being good after all.
Garments’ buttons, beautifully hand crafted speci cally for this collection, represent two people
embracing. They are symbol of protection and love, which is one of the main principles of the
freemasons, the secret a liation that Mozart belonged to and that is the basis of the opera.
The ribbed-shape of the garments comes from the cages carried in the opera by Papageno and
Papagena. In this collection they are intended as “liberating cages”, where the wearer brakes through
them and nds freedom in the mutual help and care for each other.
The cage shapes can be seen in structured hips, big rigid skirts as well as structured jacket tails and
pointed structured shoulders. They also take inspiration from the underskirts so typical of women fashion
of the 1700’s.
This collection is a celebration of happiness, protection, sisterhood and love.
