The Return of Milan Fashion Week

Milan fashion week has quickly become one of the most important international fashion events, happening twice a year. This year, returning after covid, Milan hosted some of the biggest global fashion brands, such as Prada, Fendi, Versace, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta. For some brands, Milan fashion week marked their re-emergence back into the spotlight after years of independent ventures. Milan’s recent fashion renaissance has provided the perfect outlet for international brands and people to come together to celebrate fashion and design once again.  

This year’s week in February showcased the new trends for spring-summer and autumn-winter. Popular models such as Kaia Gerber, Bella Hadid, Parker Van Noord, and Gigi Hadid showed off high fashion clothes. In addition to the breathtaking new looks and the high fashion clothes, there were stunning audiovisuals that captivated the audiences. Dolce & Gabbana used an intricate and vibrant backdrop of a moving sci-fi-like cityscape, Sunnei abandoned the traditional catwalk and had models walking down the street, while Versace constructed a moveable reflective runway. Not only did Versace’s set design go viral, but their edgy song choice of “attitude” byLewisOffMan also become increasingly popular on social media platforms both in the US, France, and Italy.

Marco Rambaldi, a bold and provocative newcomer, also contributed to the significant increase in model diversity by including a variety of body types, non-professional LGBTQ models, and gender-fluid clothes. Celebrities also increased brand awareness by drawing huge crowds and paparazzi outside each venue. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Julia Fox, and Rihanna were some of the most photographed stars during their return to fashion week in Milan. 

So What Trends Emerged?

• Some designers seemed to embrace the growing phenomenon of elevated office clothing by styling tailored suits ranging from double-breasted to slim-fit, flashy sequins, velvet, and Prada’s iconic structural suit jacket.

• The Moschino show provided a new meaning of the word ‘camp’. Jeremy Scott effectively dismantled a home and turned it into imaginative garments for the Fall 2022 collection. Some of his unique pieces include a floral patterned lamp headpiece and an adorned clock dress. Underneath all of his brilliant houseware pieces were the Moschino essentials for this season which included, crisp jackets, outerwear, and clean-cut skirt suits.

• In terms of colors, there were numerous shades that stood out such as royal blues, barbie pink, and every single hue of yellow. Designers such as Diesel and Caprasa Milano chose euphoric colors from banana to marigold and other sunshine shades. When it comes to texture, leather and denim were a staple in almost every collection. Classic trench coats with a weathered, almost beat-up look took over the catwalk. 

Streetwear During the Week: 

Whether attendees were A-list celebrities or social media influencers, there was a uniform dress code throughout the crowd. Most opted for sleek high fashion, monochrome outfits with pops of color. Clashing textures and experimental chic y2k subversive basics were all essentials as well. Numerous fashion channels and other social media accounts also cover the other side of Milan fashion week by showing a wide range of street styles by fashion show attendees. Fashion influencer brand, TheUnkownVlogs has recently been gaining popularity both on youtube and Instagram. Kofi, the creator, goes around the streets asking people what they’re wearing in Milan, in his two-part video series. His vlogs like many other media content help bring awareness to the impact of fashion on a global scale. 

Fashion events are so much more than just clothes. They bring together people from all over the world to celebrate design, music, art, and the expression of creativity. The showcased clothing, hand-picked models, and progressive designers from the week reflect and influence the overall culture in Milan both in the present and the future.