A.C.9 SS22 COLLECTION: ALICE IN MODERNLAND

Fearless. Brave. Stubborn. She is innocent, yet she has a dark side that makes her stand out.

Alice in Wonderland constantly goes with her gut instincts and meets new difficulties head on.

The Alice character becomes the most essential source of inspiration for the Spring-Summer 2022 collection for the first fashion show of A.C.9 – the company founded and directed by Alfredo Cortese – in Milan. And it’s told in three parts.

The first is associated with Alice’s purity. In fact, the outfits come in a variety of white tints, and the textiles are made from a variety of materials, including vintage recycled Japanese satin for underwear and slips, as well as lace. Then there’s the sheer, light-as-air knitwear, which becomes three-dimensional with the addition of drawstring games. A genuine turning point: Alice has had a thousand experiences, but she is just now beginning to comprehend them. The AC9 x N21 capsule collection is also brought to life in this scenario.


The second story marks a turning point in Alice’s life: her awakening to the world and her resistance against it. Denim now reigns supreme, alongside coated cotton that takes on the appearance of a mirror. The clothes have viscose and cellulose inlays, macro ruche on the skirts, and manly pants with two waists of different heights overlaying each other.


Finally, the final part: as people mature, black becomes one of the most difficult colors to wear since it draws attention to every detail. Alice matures, yet she refuses to let go of the child soul that resides within her. Dresses have geometric one-shoulder designs, knitwear has pointed stud shoulder pads, and the leather jacket, like the rest of the outerwear, is oversize, as if it were wrapping a tiny Alice.


To round out the looks, Baseball hats with punk-soul feathered mohawks are proposed by A.C.9 SS22, in stark contrast to the tenderness of the earrings, which are decorated with crystal pendants and a maxi bow. Ox eye sandals and wedges, leather or eco-fur slippers, and boots with an exaggerated and subterranean platform are among the footwear options.

Show Credits Creative Direction: Alfredo Cortese Art Direction: Gloria Bertuzzi Styling: Alfredo Cortese Photo/Video: Imax Tree Sound Design: Simone Baratta + Nicolò Chenet Make Up: Simone Piacenti w/ espressOh Hair: Mattia Bonacina w/ Maria Nila