Maison Mesa

Líneas de la colección

“I’m No Angel”

I have always been fascinated by people with a strong, distinctive personality, especially women with a philosophy of their own, such as Mae West. Her worldview is the inspiration behind our new collection, “I’m No Angel”: an attitude towards life defined by hedonism, independence, and a sharp mockery of the conventional morality of her time. She refused to become what society expected of her, ultimately turning into an erotic myth without ever showing skin or even kissing on screen, completely outside the physical beauty standards of the era.

The most forbidden and provocative “bad girl” of Hollywood’s star system rose to fame through biting wit and intelligent one-liners, writing her own scripts and directing her works while skilfully evading censorship. From her earliest musical productions, such as Sex, centred on a prostitute, or The Drag, which explored the homosexual world and unsuccessfully attempted to include drag performers, Mae West challenged norms relentlessly. She entered the film industry at the age of forty, starring in her most famous Oscar-nominated film, Lady Lou (She Done Him Wrong), which caused further scandal by featuring black actors.

After achieving cinematic success and making only a few films, she abandoned cinema to return to the theatre, where censorship was less strict. By then, she had already established the foundations of a philosophy that endures to this day, principles that we at Maison Mesa follow unwaveringly: living life to the fullest “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”; freedom to live and let live, a remarkably progressive stance for the time; independence and self-confidence “If you don’t respect yourself, how can you expect anyone else to?”; embracing one’s darker side “When I’m good, I’m very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better”; the reclamation of sexuality, for which she was even imprisoned for “perversion” due to her play Sex; and rebellion against convention “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere”. Through this defiant attitude toward traditional norms and her preference for a life of adventure and self-discovery, Mae West helped open the conversation around sexuality and individual freedom, inspiring future generations to challenge norms and live more authentically. Her stance was a clear precursor to women’s liberation and sexual expression in Western culture.

For this new fashion show, “I’m No Angel,” we once again collaborate with artistic director Dani Pannullo and his dance company, alongside video artist E-dito, a scenography developed with Cement Design, one of the world’s leading cement companies, and an original soundtrack composed especially for the occasion by Loliwüan.

The collection presents both menswear and womenswear, designed to strengthen self-awareness through garments that enhance personality and encourage the expression of identity, both mentally and physically, allowing individuals to present themselves to the world exactly as they wish. The proposal combines tradition and transgression: comfortable silhouettes ranging from pure, loose geometric patterns to more anatomical, fitted shapes. Tailored suits with wide pleated trousers, harem pants, or pencil skirts and godets appear in pinstripe, cheviot, or tartan, paired with comfortable knitwear such as bombers, turtlenecks, V-neck sweaters, cardigans, and terry or ribbed dresses. Lurex knit jumpsuits with plumetis tulle coexist with cashmere cloth coats, pleated garments, and color-degradé printed fabrics, alongside washable suedes and velvets in voluminous dresses and sporty pieces with shirt-style construction. Almost invisible transparencies reveal as much as they conceal, contrasted with micro-sequins or cotton velvets in eveningwear that plays with volume through embroidered tulle, crystal embellishments, lurex fabrics, and feather-effect jacquard waves that evoke the 1930s, culminating in bridal looks crafted in white velvet and sequins.

The colour palette takes us on a journey of stylistic freedom, moving from earthy browns and mélange tones to pale pinks and mid-to-light blues, contrasted with vivid reds, fuchsia, and intense orange. Blue gradients, luminous greens, deep navy, copper tones, and gold and silver metallics lead to a final statement in white. This chromatic voyage offers endless possibilities for self-expression and authenticity.

The collection includes traditionally crafted knitwear made in Caravaca de la Cruz by Perssa’m, along with low-heeled shoes and riding boots from the same region that fuse leather with tricot knit. These more commercial pieces merge with those produced in the Basque Country in collaboration with El Tío Claus. Jewellery is designed alongside Lisi Fraccia in her studio on Calle Mayor in Madrid, the city where we also create and produce our artisanal Spanish cowhide leather bags with Anabella Boffa, bespoke shoes by Jorge Larrañaga, and gloves crafted by the family-run company Samaniego. Together with the work of our atelier and the expertise of our seamstresses, we offer absolute freedom of personal choice, allowing everyone to be themselves and to express whatever they need, regardless of age, body, gender, race, nationality, or condition. As Mae West said: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”