As fashionistas, we have our own version of March Madness. After a month of multiple fashion weeks taking place all over the world, mass retailers begin unleashing their spring designer collaborations. While these collaborations can be exciting (scoring a dress that was actually sketched into creation by Karl or Alber himself for under $150) they can oftentimes end in disaster, as cheap fabrics don't exactly help to translate a design from high to low.
Marni for H&M thankfully does not fall into the latter trap. Relying on their signature kooky 1960's-inspired prints, and mod cuts of our favorite Marni staples (A-line dresses, boxy tops and playful separates), the collaboration is flying off the shelves in 26 stores around the U.S. (250 worldwide). We ventured to the Beverly Center in Los Angeles to check out the scene on March 8th and were greeted with a line that snaked across the mall, assigned numbers, shopping restrictions (2 pieces per type per customer) and fifteen-minute time limits in the Marni section of H&M. Fellow shoppers were much better prepared than us with snacks and sharp elbows. A similar scene was repeated in stores from Dubai to Denver.
As with most designer collaborations, accessories and wacky statement pieces were the highlights. A few of our favorite pieces were the sequined collar, the chunky white stretch-bracelets, the buttonless short-sleeved coat, and of course the classic Italian vintage-style straw hat.
If you weren't able to get to a Marni store or everything you love has already been snatched up, don't fret. The funky label has an easy-to-emulate style that you can recreate at home with vintage finds. To get the Marni look, stick with a muted color palette of grey, navy, beige, maroon and other dark colors. Look for dresses and skirts in graphic patterns with bell hems. Blouses that hit at the hips and have a boxy cut to them, high-water pants, and short-sleeved blazers all make regular appearances at Marni's runway shows. Style your look by colorblocking, adding chunky shoes, bold (usually plastic) jewelry and a square handbag and you too will be able to look like a rich, Italian art teacher.
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