London: Multifaceted star Ashley Park, known for ‘Emily in Paris’, collaborates with Weekend Max Mara to launch ‘A Weekend with Ashley Park’ for Spring/Summer 2025, featuring versatile pieces inspired by Mediterranean travel, available at 250 outlets globally.
Ashley Park, the multifaceted star known for her roles as an actor, singer, and musician, is now stepping into the realm of fashion design. The ‘Emily in Paris’ star has collaborated with Weekend Max Mara to co-create a new collection titled ‘A Weekend with Ashley Park’ for Spring/Summer 2025. This collection will be available at 250 outlets globally, including Max Mara boutiques and selected department stores.
The campaign for this collection was filmed in and around Italy, coinciding with Park’s filming schedule for Season 4 of ‘Emily in Paris’, a series that now ventures into the historic city of Rome, where the character Emily Cooper temporarily relocates. Park, drawing inspiration from her character Mindy Chen, explored the closet’s storytelling potential, emphasising her vision of crafting a perfect travel wardrobe for Mediterranean adventures.
“I wanted to delve into the storytelling capabilities of picking costumes for Mindy’s closet for specific scenes… We envisioned lightweight and versatile fabrics, chic prints, sophistication and classic silhouettes from the timeless elegance of the ’50s,” Park stated in an interview. The collection boasts numerous elements, including skirts with flirty silhouettes, fresh details, serene colour palettes, and classic styles that evoke a sense of wanderlust.
The collaboration places an emphasis on luxurious yet lightweight materials such as cotton ammagliato, silks, linen, and denim. Key pieces from the collection include revised takes on Max Mara staples, including a trench coat featuring a vibrant green-and-pink brushstroke pattern. “I’m so excited to see this on anyone, and honestly so happy to have it in my own closet!” Park enthused about her favourite piece.
Additional highlights from the collection include delightful sundresses, cropped blouses, Capri pants, and an array of summer accessories such as strappy sandals, mesh flat slingbacks adorned with pearls, and a revamped version of Weekend Max Mara’s iconic Pasticcino Bag—a puffy clutch first introduced in 2016. The new iteration features a detailed woven basket design.
Weekend Max Mara, known for its outdoors weekend capsule collection launched in 1983, has previously featured an array of guest designers, including American actor Lucy Hale and noted African-American editor and stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, showcasing the evolving landscape of retro-inspired fashion in contemporary collections.
In a discussion surrounding the fashion-centric show, Darren Star, the show’s creator, commented on the integral role of fashion within the series. Although initially hesitant about the costume styles, he later embraced the aesthetics, recognising their entertainment value, stressing, “I had to really divorce myself from reality and just embrace the entertainment value of it all. Because it is entertaining and… visually just amazing. It’s like a Met Ball every episode.”
Park reflected on the same sentiment, expressing, “Fashion is absolutely a main scene partner of our show,” and noting the significance of fashion as a storytelling mechanism. She understands that costume choices are pivotal in communicating characters’ emotions and experiences throughout the series. “This show starts all sorts of conversations around fashion,” she added, highlighting the personal journey of self-expression that fashion can inspire.
Acknowledging the profound influence of her co-star Lily Collins and costume designer Marilyn Fitoussi, Park articulated her gratitude for their collaborative spirit, crediting their guidance with bolstering her journey to define her unique fashion voice.
This collaboration marks a significant moment within the realm of vintage-inspired fashion, positioning timeless designs within the modern fashion narrative, thus ensuring that these rich histories continue to resonate with contemporary audiences.
Source: Noah Wire Services
