Even the most dedicated of fashion people have two sides. There’s the Fashion with a capital F side, complete with Anna Dello Russo-levels of feathers, bedazzling, sky-high heels, and statement everything. Then, there’s the off-duty side—those comfortable, casual, so-not-trying times when Tommy Ton’s lens isn’t trained on you, but you still want to be chic.
Tomas Maier designs for those times. The creative director of Bottega Veneta separates his eponymous line from his high-fashion day job thusly: “Bottega Veneta provides you with the exceptional, while Tomas Maier provides you with the necessary.”
And how necessary they are. Deceptively simple cashmere knits, streamlined swimwear, pared-back leather pieces, and positively anonymous (in the best possible way) bags are the pieces we’ll be reaching for again and again—on-duty or off.
How would you describe the Tomas Maier aesthetic?
I try to keep it simple. My label is focused on the time off—so what you would wear out of the office, on the weekend, at home, on vacation. All of this time needs a wardrobe too. It’s effortless, easy, and essential.
Would you say you have any signatures?
I do have signatures for my products, but I prefer that you are struck by their quality and make rather than by any one noticeable thing. I like to keep them as discreet as possible, as that is what I gravitate towards myself.
If you had to choose a favorite fabric, or silhouette to work with, what would it be?
That is tough. I would say the most challenging is swimwear because to do it well—and make it both minimal and flattering—is tricky.
Do you think of fashion as more functional, more decorative, or somewhere in between?
My eye is always drawn to the make and structure of clothing. If something is well-made and well-designed, I can spot it a mile away. Fashion has to bring all of this together and help the wearer look and feel better. I don’t care for fashion for fashion’s sake.
What was the inspiration behind your Resort 2015 collection?
An edited and essential designer’s point of view.
What inspires you? How do you continue to move your collections forward every season?
Architecture, art, and nature. A photograph or a person on the street. I am a visual person, so I find inspiration in some obscure—and disassociated from fashion—things.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning and the last thing you do before you go to bed at night?
Walk the dogs. Walk the dogs.
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