Blumarine. Pre-Fall 2026 - Lookbook

 

(Images: Blumarine 2026) 

David Koma's hedonic overdrive continues on for Blumarine, clearly inserting his liberating stylizations from his own signature label, onto the mid 1970s Italian brand, which did indeed capture the renewed bohemian chic of the sybaritic that very much encapsulated the 70s sexual counterculture well into the 1980s.  And despite the galvanization of Generation Z, which is fighting fascism breaking out everywhere around the world, more so in America under Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' obsession, with its mix of paleolibertarianism and Far right ideology, Gen Z have the battle from hell on their hands.  And unfortunately, they do not have a counterculture to buffer or fall back on.

So, the question is; can the past counterculture years offer some inspiration to fill that void?  At least an idea of how can can outlast the Far Right, but returning a subversive counterculture base. Be it lifestyles that are antithetical to the order, and not just the day at a protest.  But, the night after.  Can it be done?  Considering over 40 years of 1960s, 1970s and 1980s subversion, has literally be wiped from the history books.  As the boomers begin to leave this realm, and Gen X and Y, have been a disaster of complicity to proto-Fascism (let's be honest here), once again can Gen Z, and it's transgenerational comrades reverse the course?   And can a renewed sexuality assist?

Koma has cited the late photographer Helmut Newton darker elements of eroticism, whilst invoking a Venetian backdrop, to which Koma has been influenced for his Pre-Fall 2026 lookbook for Blumarine.  Aligning the collection as a mainstay of "control" over "provocation" and could indeed be a calling card of the current generation, who no longer require or want to be part of digital feedback loop and its visual narcissism, ala the so called social media repetition sexualisation, which has stripped us of self empowerment, rather than libreating.

Yet, one does not want to overstretch Koma's epicurean imprint, as a aesthetical homage or forcast to reinvigorating hedonism,while not romatsizing its importance.  However, his latest collection does want you to escape, slowdown or even freeze time, and enter a parallel world, one that is sexual, open and powerful.   Be it, mysterious, dreamlike, dark, and sensual, dressed for the part, whilst visiting an unusual small bar and bookstore downtown, whilst sharing with your lover, a Black Forest cake,  sipping on a Dark Zenith cocktail, and smiling that you assisted in locking Fascism into its digital world, and throwing it into the abyss.  

Now, we are liberated.  

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(A.Glass 2026)