Erdem Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear Collection at London Fashion Week

Sunday, February 18, 2024 Lifestyle Fashion & Style

Erdem Moralıoğlu celebrates Maria Callas' centenary with a stunning collection.

A Tribute to Maria Callas

Erdem Moralıoğlu has been celebrating the centenary of Maria Callas' birth with his latest fashion collections. For his pre-fall collection, he imagined the private and public life of the American-born Greek diva. Now, for his fall collection, he takes a deeper dive.

Moralıoğlu wanted to explore the contrast between Callas as a person and her stage persona. He presented models dressed in grand coats with dramatic shawl collars, wearing fluffy flats and with wig tape stuck to their heads - a representation of the opera star on her way home.

To truly capture Callas' essence, Moralıoğlu sent his lavishly dressed models to Room 18 of the British Museum. This space houses the Elgin Marbles, objects at the center of an ownership dispute, which epitomize Callas' 'Greek-ness.'

Inspired by Callas' Life

Moralıoğlu focused on the year 1953, when Callas played the tragic Medea directed by Leonard Bernstein. He also looked at the decade when she became a pop icon, adored by fans who would shower her with roses.

With a light touch, Moralıoğlu incorporated details from Callas' everyday life into his designs. Rosettes were added to kitten-heel slingbacks and the waist of a slinky leather cocktail dress. Gold brooches in the shape of roses adorned the front of dramatic coats.

Even practical clothing received a glamorous edge, with a frothy marabou cape added to a cotton anorak, and touches of velvet and shiny embellishments on satiny pajama suits. These designs were perfect for divas in need of rest and relaxation.