Italy has long been a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance, influencing each others culture, art and fashion. There is no other Italian fashion house that best combines the influences of East and West like Etro. For the Fall 2009 collection Veronica Etro looked to the Byzantine Empire for inspiration. Before we begin our runway critique, a little history lesson is needed. Emperor Constantine moved the center of the Roman Empire to Byzantium during the middle ages and renamed it Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey). Constantinople became a flourishing metropolis bridging Eastern and Western cultures.  The same can be said for Etro’s Fall 2009 collection which was inspired by the current Bzyantine exhibit at The Royal Academny of Arts in London.

Veronica sent byzantine goddesses down the runway in bronze, gold and copper. The spice-tinted collection included gilded leather, geometric prints and fringed bibs, belts and halters. The collection also contained some classic Etro flares, such as paisley prints hidden in the inseam of coats and flowy halter-neck scarf dresses for evening that loyal followers have come to expect regardless of trends. Veronica has successfully bridged the gap between Eastern and Western cultures in her Byzantine inspired collection without loosing the house’s sense of idenity.