Milan Fashion Week: soft and sensual at Max Mara

Autumn/Winter 2015 is set to be a luxuriously snug affair, if the Max Mara runway show at Milan Fashion Week is anything to go by.

Cashmere, quilting and supple tweeds were the lynchpin of the collection, with form-fitting dresses and oversized ouer twear creating an elegant, romantic yet decidedly soft and sensual look.

As is often the case at Max Mara, the coats were the main attraction, ranging from generously cut fur-lined creations to billowing quilted trenches and sophisticated cashmere duster jackets. The three-quarter hemlines, long sleeves and extra-wide lapels were made for cocooning, with slouchy sweaters and outsized knitwear following the lead. Dresses and pencil skirts were the exception, with the label using nipped-in waistlines and long hemlines to create an hourglass silhouette, although the fabrics remained sumptuous.

The color palette, too, was soothing, with calming shades of camel, taupe, cream and charcoal lifted by eggshell blues, soft lemons and minks. Patterns came in the form of classic houndstooth checks or animal prints, but the collection was by and large unadorned, with the fabrics and the cut doing the talking.

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Accessories were simple, focused largely on classic totes in matching hues with the occasional outsized clutch or pair of horn-rimmed glasses thrown into the mix. Tasseled loafers in tan, navy or cream kept the overall effect casual and low-key, and -- most importantly -- looked as though they could be kicked off at a moment's notice to recline by a fireplace somewhere cozy.