Alberta Ferretti
The Label
For more than 30 years, the name Alberta Ferretti has been synonymous with ethereal goddess gowns for women who want beautiful dresses without any tricks. Likewise for her diffusion line, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, a younger collection of equally pretty crowd-pleasers, which launched in 1984. In 2001, she introduced accessories, underwear, and beachwear collections for both lines. Both labels have since gained quite a bit of Hollywood traction. Christina Ricci, Natalie Portman, and Uma Thurman have all shown their feminine wiles in Ferretti confections.
The Look
Pretty, please—romantic chiffon gowns, A-line shifts, and beaded, bejeweled details.
The Designer
Ferretti inherited the fashion bug from her mother, a dressmaker in their small coastal town in Italy. At the age of 18, Ferretti brought high fashion like Armani, Versace, and Krizia local when she opened a small clothing boutique called Jolly Shop. In 1974, she launched her signature collection, which hit the Milan runways in 1981. Ferretti might be best known for her diaphanous designs, but she’s also big on business. She and her brother, Mossimo, operate Aeffe, a manufacturing company that produces and distributes such labels as Moschino, Pollini, Basso & Brooke, and Jean Paul Gaultier.
