33 Favorite Moments from Milan Fashion Week
Curated by Andrew Villagomez. Words by Matthew Wexler.
#VersaceFendiSwap
What would happen if two of our favorite luxury brands, Fendi and Versace, had a fashion baby? It'd get more attention than Prince George of Cambridge. "It's a first in the history of fashion: two designers having a true creative dialogue that stems from respect and friendship," stated Versace in a press release. "It led to us swapping roles to create these two collections." The event was so epic that it brought Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss out of runway retirement.
Emporio Armani
It's been 40 years since Giorgio Armani his youth-driven line, and he must have drunk an elixir or have a mirror hidden somewhere to reflect his ability to stay tapped into today's Gen Z and millennial shoppers.
"I started the Emporio line in 1981 because I saw there was a gap in the market. There was a hunger from younger people for something new and fresh, and that was what I wanted to offer them. I started with jeans and then expanded into a complete line that was like a container. It brought a new democracy and openness to my world," Armani said in British Vogue. "Today, the brand has widened its purpose, and its audience: youth today is a state of mind. The spirit is bold; metropolitan."
Niall Horan and Becky G were among the celebrity guests.
Salvatore Ferragamo
New CEO Marco Gobbetti is soon to lead the brand (founded in Florence, Italy, in 1927) towards its next chapter, but in the meantime, we have spring/summer 2022. Grazia described the collection as "safe but well-crafted: soft cotton day apron dresses, structured leather coats, ribbed jersey sets. Draped evening dresses with seductive cutouts were eye-grabbing, as was a fresh color palette—mustards, tans, sky blues, and limoncello yellows."
Brooke Shields was in attendance, looking striking with daughter Grier Henchy.
Burberry
Burberry decided to go digital, which is too bad because we would have loved to have seen the dropped jaws as a trench-wearing model turned around and revealed an alluring cutout and high-cut briefs, which one fan described as "Business in the front, party in the back."
Prada
Prada broke ground, hosting simultaneous shows in Milan and Shanghai. "Doing these shows simultaneously demonstrates a new possibility — that a Prada show can happen anywhere," said Prada co-creative director Raf Simons to WWD. "It's about sharing — not just sharing imagery, not just sharing through technology, but sharing a physical event. Community is a vital idea: drawing together people who share ideologies, values and beliefs."
Missoni
Creative Director Alberto Caliri put sensuality front and center in his first collection for the brand, relying on graphic motifs, floral prints and a lot of skin. One of our favorite pieces was a multicolored Murano glass beaded top with a midriff handkerchief hem.
DSQUARED2
Are fairy wings now considered ready-to-wear? If you ask Dsquared2 co-founders Dean and Dan Caten, yes. Their latest collection combines florals, a bit of camouflage, lace and tulle.
GCDS
"God Can't Destroy Streetwear" — at least according to Giuliano Calza, who launched the brand in 2015. "Calza created the ideal wardrobe, fit for an island vacation fantasy," reported Nylon. "The new GCDS collection, which debuted on Thursday, Sept. 23, includes swimwear, wide-brim hats, chunky slip-on clogs for the beach, as well as blazers, knitwear, embellished jumpsuits, and deadstock denim for nights out."
Speaking of nights out, Dua Lipa is a fan of the brand and was seen on the streets of Milan wearing a look from the SS22 collection.
Roberto Cavalli
It takes a certain kind of main to pull off a tiger print brief, but model Edoardo Sebastianelli was up for the task.
N°21
N°21 describes its latest collection as "a prejudice-free rereading of the vocabulary of fashion." One wonders if it also pays homage to all of us who took up knitting during the pandemic, given the large number of hand-crocheted garments in the collection.
Street Style
You didn't have to be on the runway to catch someone's eye (or camera) on the streets of Milan during Fashion Week. Here are some of our favorite spontaneous finds.