The collections Francesca Ruffini designs for her brand FRS are discreetly personal; memories and impressions from her travels inspire the lavish designs she prints on her loose, elegant pajamas, dusters, and caftans.
A historic palazzo she recently visited captivated her imagination—the penumbra filling the high-ceiling salons, the faded grandeur of timeworn tapestries, and the intimate ambiance that seemed steeped in history’s protective embrace. Here, ornate details like curlicues, crowns, and coats of arms were magnified and reinterpreted as motifs adorning a voluminous bat-wing silk shirt in shades of aqua green, matching straight-cut trousers, and a flowing shirtdress left unbuttoned and layered over a saffron-yellow pajama set.
While Ruffini treasures intimacy and tranquility, she also has a free-spirited and curious nature. She delighted in leisurely strolls through the palazzo’s manicured gardens, while also enjoying the open horizons of the surrounding countryside. This sense of freedom was captured in botanical motifs—wildflowers, four-leaf clovers, and ears of wheat—that swirl in vivid hues across a crisp white background on slender tunics and chic long robes.
To balance the boldness of the all-over ornamental prints, she included options in solid colors. One highlight of the attractive collection was a three-piece pajama set in emerald green dévoré velvet, enhanced with an overprinted liquid lamé effect. It looked languid, and sumptuously laid-back.
