By Jessica Ye (Jessica Yap)
For Spring/Summer 2026, Max Mara turns to Capri, drawing on the island’s long association with relaxed summer dressing.
Capri has never really been just a destination in fashion. Since the 1960s, it has stood for a specific way of dressing in summer: simple, unfussy, and shaped by heat, sea air and long days outdoors. Linen shirts, understated swimwear and loose layers became part of a visual shorthand that still appears in collections today.
Part of that image was shaped by visitors who preferred ease over excess, including Jackie Kennedy, whose understated wardrobe helped define Capri’s reputation for quiet, polished dressing.
That sense of ease carries into Max Mara’s latest beachwear collection. The swimwear is cut close to the body, reflecting the precise construction that has defined Max Mara since its founding by Achille Maramotti in 1951. Even in its most relaxed category, the brand’s focus remains on clarity of line and controlled simplicity.
Cover-ups extend that idea into everyday wear. Fluid caftans sit easily over swimwear during the day, then shift into evening with minimal styling. The collection is built around movement, with pieces designed to move across different parts of a summer day rather than fixed occasions.
The colour palette draws from southern Italy. Sand and chocolate tones sit alongside deep coastal blues and aubergine, while white and black bring contrast. Cornflower blue adds brightness, recalling ceramics and tiled surfaces found along the Amalfi coast.
Prints take cues from traditional majolica patterns, reworked into quieter motifs that feel modern rather than nostalgic. Monochrome foliage and fine geometric details add texture without overwhelming the silhouettes.
New this season is a line of shapewear-inspired swimwear featuring raw-cut edges and heat-sealed finishes. The effect is minimal, with an emphasis on fit and function. Reversible two-tone pieces add versatility, reinforcing swimwear designed for travel as much as for the beach.
Materials remain central to the collection’s tone. Silk crepe, silk and cotton voile, stretch poplin, cotton jersey and macramé are paired with matte and silky Lycra, balancing comfort with refinement.
More than anything, Capri continues to shape how fashion approaches summer dressing. It is less about nostalgia and more about a consistent idea of ease, where clothing feels light, practical and considered without trying too hard.
With its Spring/Summer 2026 beachwear collection, Max Mara returns to that rhythm — clothing built for sun, movement and simplicity, where everything feels quietly resolved. Online, the collection sits between SGD 250 and SGD 1,300.
