MaxMara: Chic clothes for real women ,The house of Marina Rinaldi . Chic clothes for real women with curves and attitude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marina Rinaldi inspired a label that caters for every shape and every occasion, says Hilary Alexander Presiding over an haute couture atelier in the historic Italian town of Reggio Emilia in the 1890s, Marina Rinaldi would probably have been well-known throughout the municipality. But as the plump matriarch created her fabulous frocks for the area's elite, little could she have dreamt that one day her name would be recognised around the world. However, when the founder of the MaxMara empire, Achille Maramotti, decided to add a plus-size collection to his fashion stable, his generously proportioned great-grandmother was his principal inspiration. Established in 1980 for sizes 12 to 26, Marina Rinaldi is designed for those who find themselves ignored by mainstream style. Its aim is to translate fashion's most important trends for women who do not conform to standard sizing - with the emphasis on high-quality tailoring techniques and Italian fabrics. The collections always take a practical approach to dressing, with clothes for every conceivable occasion from couture-inspired cocktail suits to swimwear. Each season it features looks that can be loosely separated into five categories: Giorno for formal day wear; Elegant for evenings and special occasions; Voyage, which offers sophisticated casual wear with travel in mind; Sport, which provides sportswear with technical details and fabrics; and, lastly, Basic, consisting of wardrobe essentials and classics. This autumn/winter, the colour palette is focused on chocolate brown, grey and monochrome, with flashes of violet and red. Tailored suits and coats are in high-quality Prince of Wales, windowpane and dog tooth checks, while tweeds in soft greys and browns are mixed with cashmere knits.