Carolina Castiglioni is offering her own take on inflation, one that the loyal — and increasing — crop of fans of her Plan C brand will be happy to embrace. The designer has breathed fresh air into her quirky mix of workwear, tailoring and urban sophistication, balancing the masculine side of her fashion with feminine puffed volumes, balloon-like shapes and shiny textures. 

The contrast between Plan C’s utilitarian and functional spirit and these eccentric flourishes — jointly with Castiglioni’s eye for color combinations — resulted in a dressier vibe, yet still rooted in that cool wearability that sets the brand apart.

The balloon-like shapes of duchesse basques and miniskirts in jewel tones peeking from under bomber jackets or unfussy long dresses trimmed with drawstrings for extra volume combined the girly and the sporty with ease. Ditto for the feathery details zhuzhing up jersey or fleece separates and pleated skirts. Their detachable nature expressed Castiglioni’s focus on empowering her customers with stylistic versatility and helping them take care of the garments.

Her workwear archetypes were also updated with a glossier touch, as seen in padded bomber jackets in pastel tones and matching full skirts; a suede leather alternative enriched with shearling details; a hybrid version coming with blazer jacket-like lapels and sequined embroideries, or in the simpler but never banal poplin shirts replete with bow collars. 

Leopard-printed ponyskin coats and jackets shared across the women’s and men’s offerings made for the most unexpected and daring pieces in the lineup, but those opting for a more cautious approach could count on plenty of accessories to add a polished zing to their looks, ranging from deer-skin opera gloves and plush stoles to elongated wrist bags with metal ring handles.

Sculptural brooches punctuating the lineup clicked with the original artworks by Franco Mazzucchelli that appear in the look book and that will serve as a key installation when the collection will launch later this year at the newly opened Plan C Framework store in Milan.