Arlington resident Marco Capaldo amplifies his Autumn-Winter 2025 collection, drawing inspiration from the cinematic aesthetics of the 1980s.
The fashion world gathered in London's Almine Rech gallery for a private dinner, marking the presentation of 16Arlington's Autumn/Winter 2025 collection. The event was more than just a fashion show; it was a memorable experience for the label's community of friends and collaborators.
Marco Capaldo, the designer behind the London-based fashion label, chose an unconventional setting to showcase the latest collection. Capaldo, who founded 16Arlington in 2018 with his late partner Federica 'Kikka' Cavenati, dedicated the collection to his dearly missed partner.
The dinner was accompanied by a one-night-only exhibition, displaying Capaldo's A/W 2025 collection as a series of vast prints by American photographer Ethan James Green. Green, known for his depictions of raw glamour, was chosen for his command of 'storytelling' and the photographer's aesthetic fit with the collection's roots in the bold sartorial statements and power dressing of the 1980s.
The collection reflects a quiet intensity, aggression, vulnerability, and a sense of longing. Capaldo found inspiration for the collection from various sources, including David Lynch's Blue Velvet, Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas, and the video for Robert Palmer's 1985 song 'Addicted to Love'. The characters played by Nastassja Kinski in Paris, Texas and Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet served as muses for the collection.
The collection features abbreviated mini-skirts, bold flashes of color and sequins, and a new logo belt. The designs empower the wearer to be the best version of themselves, embodying the spirit of the 1980s while maintaining a newfound rigor in construction and an artistic, intellectual bent.
Models Caroline Trentini and Yasmin Wijnaldum graced the event, wearing Capaldo's A/W 2025 collection, styled by Dara Allen, the it-girl fashion director of Interview magazine. Simone Ashley, a friend and fan of the label, presented the award.
The exhibition of the Autumn/Winter 2025 collections by 16Arlington, created by photographer Ethan James Green in collaboration with Galerie Almine Rech, was a testament to the label's earlier elements of irreverence, joy, and fun, but with a newfound sophistication and artistic depth. The collection continues to showcase these elements while celebrating the past and present, with a 1980s aesthetic viewed through a 16Arlington lens.
Capaldo received the New Establishment Womenswear Award at the Fashion Awards in 2024, marking a significant milestone in the label's journey. The A/W 2025 collection is a testament to Capaldo's vision, creativity, and dedication to his craft, carrying on the legacy of 16Arlington with grace and style.
