Bottega Veneta Cruise 2018

As the last vestiges of summer begin to fade, Bottega Veneta turns up the dial on the colour spectrum with its Cruise 2018 collection.

Bold, brilliant and certainly not boring, the collection brings forth a plethora of intense shades – deep red, espresso, pink, moss burnt orange, and espresso – which meld together in a most unusual yet uplifting way. Colours aside, Cruise 2018 is all about intricate details and botanical prints: wildflowers, field grass, and butterflies (a Bottega Veneta heritage symbol) adorn everything from shift dresses to cashmere cardigans, windbreakers, bags and boots, lending an air of relaxed elegance to the collection.

In true Bottega Veneta form, luxury takes precedence in the form of textures. Rich fabrics such as Nappa leather, shearling, double face cashmere make strong appearances in the collection while lighter, breezier fabrics like cotton drill, poplin, and jersey knits add an almost weightless fluidity to each piece.

Two new bag shapes make their debut in the Cruise 2018 collection:  an expanded version of The Chain Knot and the Piazza, a new silhouette which comes with both a long shoulder strap and a shorter top handle.

Creative Director Tomas Maier delved into Bottega Veneta's archives to bring back the Loop (right), a roomy design from 2002 in the iconic Intrecciato motif. Echoing the rest of the collection, vibrant tones of cobalt, bright pink, and fiery red reign supreme.

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