The N.21 lookbook was shot at night on the empty streets of a deserted Milan. “I love the city’s old buildings with their imposing entryways and front doors, and its eerie nocturnal atmosphere,” designer Alessandro Dell’Acqua said. But the new collection wasn’t intended for late-night parties or after-hours adventures. Quite the opposite. Dell’Acqua is a quiet contrarian, and resort is centered on the quotidian-with-a-twist look he does so well.

At a showroom appointment, the racks overflowed with neoprene-bonded Fair Isle cotton sweatshirts paired with ankle-grazing light wool skirts, sequined pencil skirts styled with sporty striped polos, and pale brocatelle skirt suits whose bourgeois vibe was upset by worn-in denim shirts. Dell’Acqua explained that he wanted to “go back to basics,” but sharpened with a sort of “essential imperfection” to make them not so safe—a built-in mix of masculine and feminine, with a dash of 1940s vintage glamour to give it some louche edge.

Everyday staples—like black leather perfectos and checkered dusters—were tossed over sequined evening dresses and hand-pressed silk slips dotted with sparse florals. Dell’Acqua’s styling leans just eccentric enough to surprise, but always stays grounded in wearability. Clichés get a gentle shake-up, never a full rejection. “I encourage a bit of adventurous spirit—intuition, creativity, and a dash of nonchalance,” “he noted. “Fashion isn’t just for big moments, it doesn’t have to be intimidating, either. I want to give women the tools to zhuzh up the everyday.” At a fair price, it’s definitely a smart, feel-good move.