While Dimitra Petsa’s designs celebrate the female physique through body-conscious creations, they often draw inspiration from mythology. For Di Petsa’s fall collection, she channeled divine feminine archetypes such as Venus, the goddess of love, and the Virgin Mary. “Exploring the contrasts of the female experience, I looked into the ‘Madonna-whore complex’, where female sexuality is both exploited and revered,” Petsa shared. “Despite societal stigmas, I view female sexuality as something pure, divine, and, in a sense, healing.”
Petsa is known for staging live performances and integrating herself into her runway presentations. This season, she orchestrated a ceremonial procession embodying female goddesses adorned in beautifully draped garments that accentuated the models’ forms. At the top of the runway, Flora Yin Wong mesmerized the audience with live Guzheng music while Petsa recited Greek poetry, creating an immersive experience heightened by the cleansing chimes of bells and wafts of incense. Describing the concept, she explained, “It was an imagined ritual exploring themes of love, seduction, visibility, and unity with one’s beloved—a tapestry of emotions surrounding romantic connections.”
The initial series of looks showcased all-white ensembles, featuring shades of ivory, bone, and cream. Among them were boned corsets revealing a single breast, sheer coats adorned with cotton discards for a feathery effect, and asymmetrical tops. Notably, Petsa’s infamous “wet look” dress underwent a transformation, revealing a pregnant model’s stomach while elegantly maintaining its signature skin-clinging allure. Two brides made a striking appearance, one in a tiered satin suit and the other in an off-the-shoulder satin gown. The show took an intriguing turn as a pair of models, both clad in sheer nude gowns, dashed towards each other on the runway, with one seamlessly merging into the other’s stretch mesh dress, symbolizing a union of two individuals into one.
As the show progressed, the performances took a step back, and the colors in the lineup intensified. This included cobalt blue leather pants, liquid jersey dresses, and a burgundy leather mini dress with mesh inserts. Denim crop tops and jeans briefly graced the stage before the collection shifted its focus to all-black leather pieces, ranging from strapless dresses to cut-out gowns with lace-up details, as well as jackets and underwear sets. The finale featured a seductive, skin-baring midnight blue dress adorned with talismanic stones across the chest, which the model wore along with a silver embellished netted veil. Petsa understands how to harness her distinct aesthetic, maintaining familiar silhouettes while innovating with fresh ideas and fabrications.
