MEXX colour block dress, $110.

ELLE Canada’s Christina Fanioudakis chats with Lino Catalano, the brand-new director of concept and design with
MEXX Canada, about trends, style icons, and what he’s excited about this spring.
What are your favourite Spring/Summer 2012 trends? I’m loving the mixes of bold colours and prints, as well as layering of soft translucent fabrics. Very fresh!
Any trends that you’re happy to see go? The body-con ultra mini mini-skirt with sky-high heels. Unless you’re on the beach wearing flip flops with a mini, only then is it okay!
Your top style icons? I love the sophisticated edge of Anja Rubik, and I drool over the cool street styles of models like Abbey Lee.
Tell us about this spring’s MEXX collection. My involvement with the collection will start trickling in this fall and will be in full swing for Spring 2013. For this spring, it’s very much about fresh colours and layering! What’s important to our girl is that the clothes empower, not overpower, her. She loves the trends but she doesn’t want them to scream. There is a sophisticated elegance that is part of our European heritage and a touch of the North American sensibility which is part of our roots as well. I’d like to bring in a twist and an edge to the mix that will make it current and timeless.
What are you most looking forward to this spring, for yourself and for MEXX? Personally: warmer weather! For Mexx, a bright future full of sparkle and music. We’re a global brand with a talented team always ready to take it to the next level. Our Mexx girl only asks for one thing: that we bring her there with us!